Last weekend, seven U.S. stealth bombers conducted a flight lasting approximately 37 hours to strike Iranian nuclear facilities. The Pentagon referred to this bombing mission, dubbed Operation Midnight Hammer, as the longest B-2 Spirit bomber flight in decades.
A B-2 Spirit stealth bomber takes off during the Bamboo Eagle exercise at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.
The record for the longest B-2 flight is currently held by Melvin Deaile and Brian “Jethro” Neal, two retired U.S. Air Force pilots. In October 2001, they piloted a B-2 for 44 hours, carrying out one of the first bombing missions in Afghanistan after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
They shared their experiences of executing these grueling, extended bombing missions, as well as how they managed the intense mid-air refueling operations to keep the B-2 operational, all while getting only a few hours of sleep and surviving on a bit of beef jerky.
The Longest B-2 Flight in History
Neal told Business Insider that the September 11, 2001, attacks occurred just as the two were participating in an annual nuclear readiness exercise. Amid chaotic reports of hijacked planes, Neal initially thought it was just part of the exercise scenario. But the truth quickly became clear, and his unit immediately began preparing operational options to present to high-ranking Bush administration officials, who were eager to retaliate with force.
According to Deaile, he and Neal were among the few B-2 crews dispatched to Afghanistan that very week.
Both were already intimately familiar with the B-2 Spirit. However, they only flew a few times a month to preserve this expensive aircraft, reportedly costing $2 billion, and to minimize maintenance issues. Most of the time, they trained on T-38s, a less expensive option for maintaining sharp flying skills.
Although they occasionally conducted cross-country flights in the B-2 for long-range practice, they had never piloted it in an actual combat operation. Until one evening in early October, when both took off at dawn from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri—home to the entire B-2 fleet—and flew straight west, toward Afghanistan.
Neal chuckled as he recalled the makeshift sleeping arrangements on the $2 billion stealth aircraft. He said that before takeoff, the logistics team thoughtfully prepared a cot placed at the rear of the cockpit, just long enough for one person to lie down.
“When they pull the ladder up into the cockpit, right on the floor is a flat space that’s over six feet long,” Neal described the “rest area.” “I think during those two days in that cramped space, I only slept on that cot for about five hours in total.”
Five hours of sleep for a 44-hour flight is far too little. According to Neal, air force doctors often provide pilots with a stimulant to keep them awake, commonly referred to as a “go pill.” He refused to take it, but Deaile did.
“When you’re young and you’re doing the job you trained for, you’re a little excited and your adrenaline is flowing,” Neal recalled. They took turns napping, but mission anxiety kept either of them from getting much sleep. Furthermore, flying west to Afghanistan meant the sun was always shining throughout the day. “It’s hard to want to sleep when the sun is beaming right in your face,” Neal said.
Piloting a B-2 Bomber
Neal explained that, compared to fighter jets like the F-16 Fighting Falcon and F-22 Raptor he had previously flown, operating a bomber like the B-2 was like driving a semi-truck after years of being accustomed to sports cars. Deaile had experience with the B-52 strategic bomber before transitioning to the B-2 fleet, but the B-2 Spirit was an entirely different machine. When a B-2 is in stable flight, only one pilot needs to be awake; the other can rest. However, maneuvers such as landing, takeoff, bomb release, and refueling all require the coordination of both crew members.
A B-2 is preparing to attack Iran’s nuclear facilities.
Refueling the B-2—a mandatory requirement for long flights, especially when carrying heavy loads—is no simple task.
The crew of the refueling aircraft must be specially certified to refuel each type of aircraft, including the B-2, to handle the unique characteristics of each model. Each refueling operation is a mentally taxing process lasting about 30 minutes, causing stress for both the B-2 pilots and the refueling crew.
The Northrop Grumman-produced B-2 is unique not only for its flying-wing design but also for its stealth capabilities, thanks to its aerodynamic shape and special coatings that help avoid radar detection. The aircraft’s surface plays a crucial role in reducing its observability. Deaile stated that even minor scratches on the surface, such as those caused by contact with the refueling boom, can affect its stealth.
“It’s a very focused process,” he said about refueling, adding that he and Neal had to refuel seven times during the two-day mission. Neal estimated they needed a total of about 340,000 kg of JP-8 fuel. The goal was to take on as much fuel as possible, as most of the flight time was over the ocean.
“It feels like you’re at a gas station that’s going hundreds of miles an hour,” Neal likened it. He described maneuvering the aircraft during refueling as a “taut exercise,” especially as the B-2’s design creates lift that tends to push the refueling aircraft away.
Setting the Recor
It was the refueling and an unexpected order from headquarters that allowed Neal and Deaile to set the record for the longest flight in a B-2.
Deaile and Neal had dropped 12 bombs on Afghanistan before leaving its airspace. But just as they had a moment to breathe, a sudden order came down, instructing them to return to drop the remaining four bombs. These were the last four bombs from their inventory of 16 Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs), each weighing 2,000 pounds (approximately 907 kg). JDAMs are unguided bombs equipped with a GPS guidance kit.
However, to return, they needed more fuel. A refueling aircraft was dispatched to their B-2, named the Spirit of America. But ironically, this aircraft’s crew had never refueled a B-2. They had to wait for another certified crew nearby to be dispatched.
By this time, both pilots had eaten very little, mostly just drinking water as they weren’t expending many calories. Neal said there were snacks in a cooler in the back, probably beef jerky, grapes, and sandwiches.
After dropping the last bombs, they flew south to Diego Garcia, where a small U.S. air base is located in the Indian Ocean. Knowing they would land there, Neal brought a rare item on a B-2 bomber: his fishing rod.
At Diego Garcia, another crew took over the Spirit of America, while Neal and Deaile boarded a military transport aircraft to return to Missouri.
“The return trip was much more comfortable than the outbound trip,” Deaile said.
Commenting on the recent B-2 mission in Iran, Deaile shared that he was incredibly impressed with the maintenance and management of the fleet. The entire B-2 fleet consists of fewer than 24 aircraft. This means that the mission in Iran, including decoy aircraft, mobilized most of the U.S. fleet to fly continuously for days without any malfunctions.
“In one night, the Air Force mobilized a third of its bomber fleet to execute this mission precisely,” Deaile said. “That’s unbelievable.”