Sixty-six members from three North Central Region wings — Iowa, Kansas, and Nebraska — made a visit to Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, encountering not only glimpses of World War II history but also the rare opportunity to witness the fini flight of the retiring 509th Bomb Wing commander, who’s also a Missouri Wing member.
Upon arrival, the group was welcomed with a historical briefing from a Whiteman airman about the 509th, the only U.S. Air Force unit authorized to display two mushroom clouds on its patch. This symbolizes its legacy as the only unit to have used nuclear weapons in combat.
The wing’s history dates back to the 509th Composite Group, which dropped the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II.
The tour continued with a viewing of a B-29 Superfortress painted to resemble The Great Artiste — the only aircraft involved in both atomic bombing missions. Unlike the Enola Gay and Bockscar, which carried the bombs, The Great Artiste was an observation plane. The original was damaged in the late 1940s and eventually scrapped.
Inside the base, the group moved to an auditorium used by B-2 Spirit bomber crews for mission briefings. There, a senior B-2 pilot provided an unclassified presentation about the aircraft’s capabilities and the life of an Air Force pilot. He explained how the B-2 carries the Massive Ordnance Penetrator, one of the world’s most advanced “bunker buster” bombs, and discussed the bomber’s recent missions against Houthi rebels in Yemen. The pilot also shared insights into the bomber’s endurance, with missions lasting up to 44 hours.
The pilot described the B-2’s interior, which features two seats and a small area where crewmembers can rest. Each B-2 costs over $2 billion, is about the length of an F-15, and has a wingspan of half a football field.
Next, a Predator drone pilot briefed the group on remote operations conducted daily from Whiteman. He shared a humorous anecdote about a Predator flying near stall speed to frustrate Russian fighter pilots attempting an intercept. The slow-moving drone eventually forced the Russian aircraft to disengage.
Following a break for lunch, the group was escorted to the flight line for a surprise highlight — Col. Keith Butler’s final flight, conducted in the B-2 Spirit. Civil Air Patrol didn’t know Butler would be making his final flight until less than 24 hours before it happened.
Members observed as Butler landed a B-2 Spirit and taxied down the runway, where he was ceremonially sprayed with water from fire extinguishers by friends and family, including his son, CAP Cadet Col. David Butler, who was on leave from the U.S. Air Force Academy. Father and son are both Missouri Wing members, and the colonel’s wife also served as a cadet.
After receiving congratulations from fellow servicemembers, Butler gathered CAP cadets and adult members for a heartfelt speech reflecting on his roots as a cadet in CAP’s California Wing as well as the Civil Air Patrol service of his wife and son. He then invited the CAP visitors to tour the aircraft’s exterior.
Though they couldn’t board, the open cockpit hatch provided a glimpse inside while members viewed the weapons bays and exhaust ports. Many took the opportunity to purchase unit patches and challenge coins as mementos.
The tour concluded with expressions of appreciation from participants, who gained a deeper understanding of the B-2 Spirit and the critical role Whiteman AFB plays in the nation’s defense.
Butler retired from the Air Force on June 17 after 34 years of service, both as an enlisted member and a commissioned officer. He was awarded the Legion Of Merit at a retirement ceremony attended by Col. Jen Smith, Missouri Wing commander._____Lt. Col. Justin McDowellDirector of RecruitingNorth Central Region
