Aviator returns to stealth bomber as Air National Guard's first B-2 pilot

  • Published
  • By Capt. Bridget Zorn
  • 131st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  "Hey stranger, I thought you got out!" said Staff Sgt. Tim Owens, 509th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron B-2 crew chief, as Maj. David "Skipper" Thompson approached a B-2 Spirit stealth bomber in one of the aircraft docks. 

Indeed, Major Thompson, rated in both the F-15 and B-2 aircraft, left active duty Air Force in January 2005, but not of the military all together. Like many before him, he continued his military career as a traditional member in the reserve component when he joined the 157th Air Operations Group, an Air National Guard unit in St. Louis.

"The ANG position was ideal," said the major. "We moved here to be close to family while I started a civilian career as a commercial pilot.'

"I wanted to continue my military service and my wife's parents recently moved to St. Louis, so the Missouri ANG was a good choice," he added.

His civilian career would be put on hold a short time later. In early 2006, the 131st Fighter Wing is St. Loius was designated to become the first-ever B-2 classic associate unit. Being a classic associate unit means that the active duty retains ownership of the aircraft while both active duty and guard personnel maintain and fly them.

For the 131st FW, this means that approximately 450 total military positions, of which more than 200 positions are full-time, will move from St. Louis to Whiteman between 2007 and 2009 to support B-2 operations.

This transition would be difficult; nearly impossible without someone who understood the B-2 mission.

"This has never been done before," said Lt. Col. Ken Eaves, the 131st FW's transition officer. "There is no template for what we're doing. There are no checklists to tell us how to do this."

To help transition the unit from a fighter wing to a bomb wing, the 131st FW called on Major Thompson, who was not only a B-2 instructor pilot, but who also had combat experience in the aircraft.

"I first spoke with the 131st FW last fall," he said. "Then, earlier this year I was brought on full-time to help Lt. Col. Eaves with the transition efforts."

According to Colonel Eaves, the biggest challenge was developing the manpower requirements, concept of operations, and support agreements acceptable to the 509th Bomb Wing and 131st FW as well as Air Combat Command and the National Guard Bureau.

"We relied on his knowledge of B-2 operations and ANG capabilities to create a plan that would work for us," said Colonel Eaves. "Most of that planning was finalized this summer, which allowed us to put Major Thompson into B-2 training,"

Although Major Thompson is the second 131st FW pilot to enter formal B-2 training, his experience allowed him to attend a re-qualification course rather than the full version, allowing him to become the ANG's first-ever, fully-qualified B-2 pilot.

"I last flew the B-2 in December 2004," he said. "I didn't have to re-learn the aircraft entirely, but I did have to accomplish a lot of the academics and fly simulator missions before I could get back into the cockpit."

And get back into the cockpit he did. He re-qualified as a mission-ready B-2 pilot October 24. Now that he is qualified, Col. Robert Leeker, 131st Fighter Wing commander, has even bigger plans for him.

"Major Thompson's extensive experience and unique skill set are a good match for our current and future operations, and the timing with which he made himself available to us could not have been better," he said. "I'm confident that he will quickly return to status as an instructor pilot and evaluator. To have these qualifications in our initial cadre is critical for training ANG B-2 pilots and molding a solid foundation for this associate unit."

Although becoming the ANG's first B-2 pilot is a major accomplishment, Major Thompson refused to take full credit for this achievement.

"This milestone shows that we're making big strides and that the hard work and diligence of our transition team is producing results," he said. "I'm a pilot. I've done this before.'

"The real credit goes to those who have been with the 131st FW for years and are learning the B-2 mission for the first time - They're the ones making this possible for us all, he added."