On Jun. 29, 1985, “The Star of Abilene” (83-0065), the second operational B-1B bomber, was delivered to the 96th Bombardment Wing at Dyess Air Force Base near Abilene, Texas.
On Jun. 29, 1985, the second operational B-1B bomber, “The Star of Abilene” (83-0065), was delivered to the 96th Bombardment Wing at Dyess Air Force Base (AFB) near Abilene, Texas.
About 45,000 people gathered at the Dyess flight line to witness the new aircraft. Before landing, over the city of Abilene, the bomber conducted a flyover. Rumors spread widely that the noise from the bomber would break windows all over town. This, of course, did not happen, but what proved satisfyingly loud was the first rumble of the B-1B.
According to the lore of this event, the Star of Abilene did not make its debut that day due to engine trouble. Instead, the only other operational B-1B (82-0001) on standby at Edwards AFB, with a Star of Abilene decal applied, flew in for the dedication. During the flight, the decal ripped partway off because the recently placed decal had not had time to adhere to the painted hull. According to Dyess AFB Memorial Museum and Linear Air Park’s Facebook page, no documentary evidence of this story was found, but several related individuals reported the story.
Following her final flight on March 1, 2003, “The Star of Abilene” (83-0065) was retired to the Dyess Linear Air Park for display inside the Dyess main gate. She gave 17 years and seven months of faithful service.
On Oct. 1, 1986, initial operational capability (IOC) for the B-1B bomber was achieved, and on May 2, 1988, the final B-1B was delivered.
In 1994, it was the U.S. Air Force (USAF) that eliminated the nuclear mission for the B-1. Even though the Air Force expended no further funding to maintain nuclear capabilities, the B-1 was still considered, until 2007, a heavy bomber equipped for nuclear armament. Under the original START treaty, in November 2007, the conversion to conventional only began and was completed in March 2011 under the New START treaty.
Today, what serves as the backbone of America’s long-range bomber force is the multi-mission B-1; in fact, it can rapidly deliver massive quantities of precision and non-precision weapons against any adversary, anywhere in the world, at any time.
Photo by U.S. Air Force
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