Munitions builders put 'bomb' in bomb wing

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Denise Nevins
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
It's no secret the 28th Bomb Wing provides world class Airmen and combat air power, anywhere at any time, but that mission could not be accomplished without the 28th Munitions Squadron.

The 28th MUNS provides conventional munitions and trained personnel to support the 27 B-1 bombers assigned to Ellsworth AFB.

"The mission at Ellsworth is to fly the B-1 and put bombs on target," said Master Sgt. Matthew Roberts, 28th MUNS conventional maintenance section chief. "Without [the 28th BW], we wouldn't be able to complete our mission."

The squadron, which consists of more than 240 Airmen, conducts various training sessions to stay brushed up on their skills while also preparing for the different environments they could build bombs in.

"A lot goes into getting the munitions ready, even if it's only for a training session," Roberts said. "It all starts when a squadron calls us and tells us what kind of munitions they need for their training sessions and how many."

From there, the storage unit is contacted for all the components needed to fulfill the request, including the bomb bodies, nose plugs and fins. These parts are then delivered to the crew members for inspections.

"Every piece of the munition is inspected prior to application and after it is placed," Roberts said. "There are numerous inspections that are made throughout the building process. Even if it seems like one little thing that would seem like 'no big deal,' it is replaced, whether it's a live or dummy bomb."

The Airmen then begin to build and put together the bomb, ensuring it is assembled correctly and safely. Finally, line delivery picks up the munition and takes it to the 28th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron where it is then loaded into the B-1 and ready for use.

Roberts added at the end of the day, he's glad he gets to work with such hardworking and dedicated Airmen who work every day to make the mission at Ellsworth become a reality.

"The work we put into these munitions is tedious, but seeing your product put into action is something so rewarding," said Senior Airman David Iha, 28th MUNS crew chief.