A U.S. B-52 bomber will fly over Riga with NATO allies, symbolizing a commitment to Baltic security. The event includes a photo contest, inviting civilian engagement.
At one time, the United States military went out of its way to avoid having its aircraft photographed from the ground.
The situation is very different today, and U.S. Air Force Europe-Air Force Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA) announced that a Boeing B-52 Stratofortress will conduct a flyover of Riga, Latvia, on Friday and is now encouraging observers to share photos of the long-range strategic bomber on social media.
“[The] B-52H Stratofortress is scheduled to conduct a flyover in Riga, Latvia, above the Monument of Freedom and Lielvārde Air Base on May 16 at approximately noon local as part of the Bomber Task Force Europe mission set, demonstrating the United States’ commitment to security in the Baltic region and across NATO’s eastern flank,” USAFE-AFAFRICA announced.
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and U.S. Air Force does not typically give advanced notice about Bomber Task Force (BTF) missions, and it is unclear if the B-52 is being deployed to Europe or if it is conducting a CONUS-to-CONUS mission from an Air Force Base (AFB) in the United States.
The most recent bomber deployment to Europe, BTF 25-2, began in February, with four B-52H bombers from the 69th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron (EBS), Minot Air Force Base (AFB), North Dakota, deployed to Royal Air Force (RAF) Fairford.
During the deployment, the U.S. bombers participated in a patrol mission over the Mediterranean, escorted by Israeli Air Force F-35 Adir stealth fighters. They also participated in a low-pass flyover in Sweden to observe the first anniversary of the Nordic nation’s accession to NATO.
The B-52 Bomber Fly-Over: A Symbol of Latvian Freedom
USAFE-AFAFRICA has announced the flyover of Latvia’s capital city and provided additional details.
“The B-52H Stratofortress will fly in formation with Allied fighter jets currently deployed supporting NATO’s Air Policing missions. This multinational flyover highlights Allied cohesion and the strength of coordinated air operations in defense of shared regional security objectives,” USAFE-AFAFRICA further explained.
“Baltic security is essential to the stability of the entire Euro-Atlantic region. This flyover showcases the continued cooperation between Allies to preserve peace, strengthen deterrence, and ensure a secure and prosperous Baltic Sea region.”
The “optimal flyover visibility is expected from the Monument of Freedom,” which was installed to honor the soldiers killed during the Latvian War of Independence. It was first unveiled in November 1935 to symbolize “Latvian statehood, national unity, independence, and freedom.”
The B-52 is Ready for Its Closeup!
In a post on X, USAFE-AFAFRICA announced the “Photo Contest” and called for those in Riga to “Capture the multinational flyover & submit your photo for a chance to be featured.”
Those wishing to participate should “Take a photo of the B-52 and Allied aircraft during the flyover,” and “Post it on Instagram or Facebook with #RigaFlyer and tag: @usafe_afafrica @HQUSAFE.”
The winner will get a spotlight feature on the USAFE-AFAFRICA social media feeds.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a thirty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
Image Credit: Shutterstock/ Christopher Chambers.
