Barrons head to the Indo-Pacific.
23rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron deploys to Guam for Bomber Task Force 25-2.
A Bomber Task Force deployment of multiple U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress aircraft, Airmen, and support equipment from the 23rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, arrived at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, July 8, 2025.
This deployment by the squadron affectionately known as the “Bomber Barrons” is in support of U.S. Pacific Air Forces’ training efforts with Allies, partners, and joint forces and strategic deterrence missions to reinforce the rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific region.
The squadron is one of the oldest in the U.S. Air Force, dating to 16 June 1917, when it was organized at Kelly Field, Texas. It deployed to England as part of the American Expeditionary Forces, being engaged as an aircraft repair squadron during World War I. The squadron saw combat during World War II, and became part of the Strategic Air Command (SAC) during the Cold War.
Barrons at night over Australia during exercise Talisman Sabre 2019- Jaryd Stock
The BTF missions enable different types of strategic bombers to operate in the Indo-Pacific region from a broad array of overseas and continental U.S. locations with greater operational resilience.
It’s expected that the Barrons will play a key part in training scenarios associated with Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025, training alongside the Royal Australian Air Force counterparts.
This is not a new exercise to the Barrons which last participated in the exercise back in 2019 iteration of Talisman Sabre conducting simulated strike missions over the Shoalwater Bay Training Area working with F-22’s from the 90th Fighter Squadron and F/A-18F Super Hornets and EA-18G Growlers from the RAAF’s No.1 and No.6 Squadrons respectively.
The squadron has been busy over the last few months having deployed to Morón Air Base, Spain back in May conducting another BTF to Europe.
Whilst in Spain the 23rd EBS conducted testing and demonstrate Agile Combat Employment concepts, operating from smaller, more flexible locations across Europe and Africa.
For this deployment to Guam the squadrons operations includes support for regional Joint events. A spokesperson from the U.S. Pacific Air Forces stated “The USAF uses cutting-edge capabilities to integrate with other Department of Defense components, our Allies and partners in delivering air power worldwide.”
Jaryd Stock is based in Sydney Australia. He has been a die-hard aviation enthusiast from a young age when he was chauffeured around by his father to various airshows and airports around Australia. At his first Airshow he witnessed the awesomeness of a General Dynamics F-111C and immediately fell in love with aviation.
Jaryd picked up a camera at a young age and has never looked back. He now combines photography and writing to highlight “Downunder” aviation; especially U.S. DoD units. Jaryd uses Nikon cameras and lenses.