Latest news with #Neal
Business Insider
a day ago
- General
- Business Insider
Behind the scenes of a B-2 bomber strike: How crews prep for hard missions like 'Midnight Hammer'
Pilots and crews prepare for missions with complex practice and scenario planning. Crews have to work through what happens if their plan falls apart. For B-2 bombers, that means training for contingencies, learning how to manage fatigue, and simulating long flights. The bomber pilots who flew over Iranian airspace or whose aircraft served as decoys during this past weekend's Operation Midnight Hammer strikes on Iran's nuclear program didn't pull this complex mission off on the fly. It was a highly secretive and challenging mission that would have depended heavily on extensive planning and training. That the B-2s involved, per the Pentagon's account, dropped massive 15-ton bunker-busters one after another down an exhaust shaft at the Fordow nuclear site speaks to the precision required. Business Insider talked to retired US Air Force B-2 pilots about what it takes to prepare for difficult missions where stress and fatigue can easily take their toll on the bomber crews. Retired Air Force Colonel Brian "Jethro" Neal was one of two pilots to fly the longest-ever B-2 flight in 2001, just weeks after the 9/11 attacks. He and fellow pilot Melvin Deaile clocked in a 44-hour flight complete with over half a dozen aerial refuelings and a last-minute change of plans that sent them to drop more bombs. How do pilots and air support personnel prepare for such arduous missions? Neal said the key is constant practice and having a clear plan for when things go south. "No plan survives first contact with the enemy," Neal told BI, repeating a common phrase among US service members rooted in the writings of a 19th-century Prussian field marshal. It refers to the expectation of chaos with combat and the need to be ready when that moment comes. "So we have plans, we have back-ups to the plans, the plan B, and plan C," the former bomber pilot said. It takes a village His entire unit sprang into action upon learning B-2s would be deployed to fly bombing runs into Afghanistan. That meant groups of civilian government workers, pilots, aircraft maintainers, and airfield managers quickly gathering in planning groups and sharing intelligence to start deciding which targets would be struck and what it would take to achieve success. Northrop Grumman's B-2 Spirit bomber is a sophisticated $2 billion plane built to slip past enemy air defenses undetected and drop either conventional or nuclear payloads on an enemy. The aircraft is built to deliver tremendous devastation, and it takes a village to get just one of these aircraft in the air, Neal said. A bomber unit's mission planning process is painstakingly detailed and involves walking through numerous scenarios, identifying pitfalls or tricky enemy defenses to work around, and incorporating key intelligence assessments flowing from multiple avenues to pinpoint what the plan and contingencies should look like. While top brass and pilots are deep in staff planning, aircraft maintainers are getting planes ready and verifying with planners the right amount of fuel a bomber should carry and how much air should be in the tires. That corresponds directly with the payload size, which is mainly about the weight of the munitions on board. Meanwhile, the air control tower is working to make sure the stage is set for military aircraft take-offs and landings. They are "coordinating and orchestrating traffic in the air to make sure they're going the right way at the right time," Neal said. Neal recalled the munitions specialists who regularly inspected scores of Joint Direct Attack Munitions, unguided bombs fitted with a GPS-guidance kit. A B-2 carries anywhere between 16 to 80 of these weapons, depending on the munition's weight. Then there's the aircrew flight equipment team, the airmen who make sure that pilots have the right gear for the trip — different gloves depending on the season and environment pilots are heading to, helmets, oxygen systems, survival vests, and even the occasional sleeping cot, which Neal and his co-pilot used for their two-day journey. The same crew will also oversee preparations for worst-case scenarios, like making sure parachutes are ready to be used if needed, or that 9mm pistols are loaded and ready for the pilots to take, in case they are downed in enemy territory, a real possibility against adversaries with sophisticated surface-to-air missile systems. Battling fatigue Without Netflix or books readily available to pass the time, Neal said that he and his partner used some of their lengthy flight time to review rules of engagement. The team was briefed before departure, but the fast-moving mission left little time for rehearsals, leaving the two to make the most of in-flight downtime. A colleague had recommended the men pack baby wipes to help freshen up as they approached their target, an attempt to help their brains lock in amid flight fatigue. "That was just another human touchpoint to it of trying to stay in the game," Neal said. "Human factors" like sleep, fatigue, and morale can all affect wartime performance. "You get to the point where it's the most important part of the mission. And the frail human body is not designed to perform at its highest level under those conditions," he shared. After a tense 20 hours of flying with little sleep, the pair was "just trying to do whatever we could to stay at the top of our game." This isn't unfamiliar, though. B-2 pilots train for the exhaustion that comes with excruciatingly long flights. "It's part of your mission qualification to get certified to do combat missions in the B-2, to understand how to manage your time, whether that's a long duration sortie" or a simulator, Neal's partner Deaile explained. The pair even did 24-hour-long simulations to practice enduring such fatigue, trading off one pilot sleeping while the other piloted the simulator. Bomber pilots train for a wide range of scenarios and situations. Ideally, everything a pilot does in combat — whether it's special in-flight maneuvers like aerial refuels or dropping bombs — is something the pilot has already done dozens of times, Neal said. "I want to make sure that I've been out there on the dance floor doing that coordination on a regular basis so that it's second nature."
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
UK holiday park with three resorts goes into administration
Plus, the award-winning UK holiday park that you probably don't know about HOL NO UK holiday park with three resorts goes into administration Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A MAJOR Welsh holiday park has gone into administration. Celtic Holiday Parks in Pembrokeshire is now seeking a buyer, administrator Grant Thornton has announced. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Celtic Holiday Parks in Pembrokeshire is now seeking a buyer, administrator Grant Thornton has announced Credit: Celtic Holiday Parks 3 The holiday park company operates Noble Court Holiday Park in Narberth and Meadow House Holiday Park in Amroth Credit: Celtic Holiday Parks The holiday park company operates Noble Court Holiday Park in Narberth and Meadow House Holiday Park in Amroth as well as Croft Country Park. All three of the parks will continue to operate as normal, with jobs secure for the time being. Celtic Holiday Parks was established back in 2003 as a family-run business. And in 2022, the company's managing director Huw Pendleton gained an award for 'outstanding contribution to the UK tourism industry'. The holiday parks offer a range of static caravans, lodges, glamping and touring and tent pitches. Recently, the parks have seen around £6million in investment and back in 2020, Celtic Holiday Parks secured a loan to add 54 holiday homes to it's sites. Many of the accommodation types are dog-friendly and each park has a restaurant or tavern that serve lunch or dinner. Two of the parks feature gyms and all three have a swimming pool. At the Croft Country Park, visitors can also indulge in a range of treatments with massages from as little as £42. Treatments also include Neal's Yard products. Award-winning holiday park in St Ives Over the years, Celtic Holiday Parks have also won awards including the Best Caravan and Camping Parks in Pembrokeshire from The SME Welsh Enterprise Awards in 2020 and in 2021. According to Travel Mole, Grant Thornton said: "The joint administrators are continuing to trade the company's business whilst a buyer is sought, and employees have been retained to support this strategy. "Unless customers are contacted and advised otherwise, their bookings will go ahead and access to the parks will continue as normal for owners of caravans and lodges." There is also an affordable UK holiday park that mums say is like Center Parcs without the price tag. Plus, the award-winning UK holiday park that you probably don't know about – with a huge outdoor pool and near to a world-famous beach.
Chicago Tribune
3 days ago
- Chicago Tribune
Lake County law enforcement officials say gun violence down; ‘We are getting illegal guns off the street'
Police departments, prosecutors, social service organizations and others all play a role in the effort to reduce the use of firearms for brutal acts. Waukegan Deputy Police Chief Craig Neal believes there is another vital ingredient in the fight — community. Statistics from the Waukegan and North Chicago police departments, as well as the Lake County State's Attorney's Office, indicate incidents of gun violence are declining. And, in some situations, community members are more willing to give information about gun-related incidents to law enforcement, officials said. Neal said he was touched at a Boys and Girls Clubs of Lake County event earlier this month focused on preventing gun violence. People told stories about losing loved ones to shootings. It touched him and others in attendance. 'They said, 'They took something from me I can't get back. Gun violence has hurt me,'' Neal said. 'My hope is that more people understand that (so) the community will come together and stop this nonsense.' Local law enforcement officials and State's Attorney Eric Rinehart are making a push to raise awareness of issues surrounding the impact of the use of guns during Gun Violence Awareness Month in June. In its proclamation making June Gun Violence Month in Waukegan, the city labeled gun violence an 'epidemic' and a 'public health crisis.' Both Mayor Sam Cunningham and Police Chief Edgar Navarro said at a City Council meeting on June 16 that community involvement is growing. 'You now become de facto police officers,' Cunningham said. 'You become our eyes, our ears. We can't be everywhere, but you can help us out. That car that's not supposed to belong on that block, neighborhood watch. That's how we reduce gun violence.' Rinehart started his initiative to reduce gun violence in June of 2022. It was about more than enforcement and prosecution. He said his office is now using a three-pronged approach to lowering gun crimes. 'We are holding offenders accountable,' Rinehart said. 'Lake County leads the state in the issuance of firearm protection orders, and we're rethinking the use of community engagement regarding the root causes of gun violence.' Working for the State's Attorney's Office is a group of peacemakers who can identify with people in the community — particularly young people. Reihart said they are violence interrupters who work with people who may be prone to violence. 'They are reaching out to at-risk youth to decompress situations before the bullets are in the air,' he said. Both homicides and killings using firearms dropped 30% in Lake County from 2023 to 2024, according to information provided by the State's Attorney's Office. In Waukegan, North Chicago and Zion, the decline was 61% between 2022 and 2024, as were non-fatal injuries from firearms. Along with the reduction in offenses, Rinehart said his office pushed firearm restraining orders issued by a judge from single digits between 2019 and 2021, to 25 in 2022, 32 in 2023 and 46 last year. In Waukegan, Neal said in 2022 there were 60 firearm offenses, 36 in 2023, 73 last year and 21 through Monday, which puts the city on pace for 44 this year. In 2023, Waukegan held a gun buyback for $100 per firearm, taking 107 off the street. 'We are getting illegal guns off the street from traffic stops and investigations,' he said. In addition to homicides, Neal said gun crimes include aggravated battery with a firearm, armed robbery with a firearm, armed robbery where a firearm was discharged, armed robbery where there was great bodily harm or death, and aggravated vehicular automobile hijacking of the elderly. In North Chicago, Police Chief Lazaro Perez said incidents of shots fired have dropped dramatically since the city started using ShotSpotter in late 2020. There were 399 incidents reported in 2022, 251 in 2023 and 96 last year. 'It has helped a lot,' he said. 'The police know immediately where it is. They dispatch themselves to the call. They get information from neighbors, which leads to arrests.' Opening a substation on 10th Street — the roadway dividing North Chicago and Waukegan — in North Chicago has made a difference in getting the community involved. North Chicago Deputy Police Chief Gary Lunn said it is making a difference in the neighborhood. 'It's building trust and partnership with the community,' Lunn said. 'They're forming watch groups and calling us. They're coming to us.' Neal said that people who see or hear of criminal activity, including gun use in Waukegan, can use an anonymous tip app that lets a community member make police aware of suspicious activity without disclosing their identity.
Scottish Sun
4 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Inside the B-2 bomber behind daring Iran raid laden with snacks as pilots lift lid on flying world's most secretive jet
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AN AMERICAN B-2 stealth bomber pilot has revealed what it's like inside the world's most inconspicuous jet. The warplanes, which carried out the daring attack on three Iranian nuke sites on Saturday, have long been riddled in mystery with very few people allowed inside them. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 8 The B2 Spirit Stealth Bomber completed its first flight at Edwards Air Force Base, California in 1989 Credit: Alamy 8 The cockpit is very small and can barely accommodate three people Credit: David Bohrer/ Wikimedia Commons 8 The aircrafts have long been riddled in mystery Credit: 8 Counting a fleet of 19, the powerful B-2 Spirit was the only aircraft capable of delivering the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator bombs which were needed to smash Iran's atomic site at Fordow, south of Tehran. But despite their military prowess, very little is known about the powerful jets. One pilot, Neal, who was part of a small crew sent to Afghanistan after 9/11, has lifted the lid on what it's really like inside the $2 million aircraft. According to Neal the planes are very small and can barely accommodate three people. Read more world news EDGE OF WAR Iran vows 'destructive & forceful' revenge if Israel launches nuke site strikes And with such long journeys, getting a good night's sleep is rarely on the cards. Pilots are often given a stimulant by flight surgeons to help stay awake, known informally as a "go pill", he said. But despite the cramped space, the planes come equipped with a microwave and cooler "filled with snacks" to ensure crew are fed and alert during long trips. A toilet can also be found onboard as well as a "cot" where pilots take it in turns to have a lie down. Neal told Business Insider: "When the ladder comes up and you enter the cockpit, there is a flat spot on the floor that is about a little over 6 feet long. "And so I think over the two days that I was in that little space, I spent about five hours in that cot total." "You're young, and you're doing something that you're trained to do, and there's a bit of excitement and a lot of adrenaline." Iran could unleash a DIRTY BOMB next unless evil regime is totally destroyed This comes as Operation Midnight saw the US blitz three of Iran's key nuclear facilities in an attack Trump has called a "spectacular success". The "prime" target was Iran's mountain-fortress nuclear site Fordow, buried beneath 300ft of rock and steel, which only the US had the firepower to eliminate. The uranium enrichment plant was pounded by an unprecedented blitz of 14 30,000lb bunker-buster bombs - called GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators (MOP). They were dropped from six B-2 bombers flying high in the atmosphere for 37 hours all the way from Missouri. Also hit were the nuclear plants at Natanz and Isfahan, which Israel had already targeted with its own missiles. The aircraft took off from the Whiteman Air Force Base outside Kansas City, Missouri - the home of the B-2 fleet. B-2 bombers took off from the US and were thought to be heading to the Andersen Air Force Base on the Pacific island of Guam. Satellite imagery of the destroyed bases has since revealed the extent of the damage. Two clusters of at least six holes are seen at the Fordow nuclear site, where the massive 30,000-pound bunker buster bombs were dropped. Bombs of this kind are believed to be able to penetrate about 200 feet below the surface before exploding. Following the bombing, Sir Keir Starmer reinstated his commitment to making Iran nuke-free. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said Operation Midnight Hammer was 'an incredible and overwhelming success' that took months and weeks of planning. He added that Trump has been clear that "any retaliation by Iran" against the US would be "met with force far greater" than what was seen on Saturday night. Hegseth said: 'Iran would be smart to heed those words. He's said it before, and he means it.' 8 B2 bombers took off from the US on Saturday to launch missiles at Iran Credit: Reuters 8 Planes come equipped with a microwave and cooler Credit: Reuters 8 powerful B-2 Spirit was the only aircraft capable of delivering the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator bombs Credit: Reuters The Defence Secretary went on to praise the US leader, calling it "bold and brilliant, showing the world that American deterrence is back". He urged: "When this President speaks, the world should listen." Fears loom that the conflict could spiral into a world war, with Putin puppet Dmitry Medvedev making a veiled threat to supply Iran with nuclear weapons. He said: "A number of countries are ready to supply Iran directly with their nuclear weapons." After declaring the US strikes as being a success, Trump warned that further action could be taken if Tehran doesn't agree to an adequate peace deal. He said in a nationally televised speech at the White House: "Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace. If they do not, future attacks will be far greater and a lot easier." "There will be either peace or there will be tragedy for Iran far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days."
The Sun
4 days ago
- The Sun
Inside the B-2 bomber behind daring Iran raid laden with snacks as pilots lift lid on flying world's most secretive jet
AN AMERICAN B-2 stealth bomber pilot has revealed what it's like inside the world's most inconspicuous jet. The warplanes, which carried out the daring attack on three Iranian nuke sites on Saturday, have long been riddled in mystery with very few people allowed inside them. 8 8 8 8 Counting a fleet of 19, the powerful B-2 Spirit was the only aircraft capable of delivering the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator bombs which were needed to smash Iran's atomic site at Fordow, south of Tehran. But despite their military prowess, very little is known about the powerful jets. One pilot, Neal, who was part of a small crew sent to Afghanistan after 9/11, has lifted the lid on what it's really like inside the $2 million aircraft. According to Neal the planes are very small and can barely accommodate three people. And with such long journeys, getting a good night's sleep is rarely on the cards. Pilots are often given a stimulant by flight surgeons to help stay awake, known informally as a "go pill", he said. But despite the cramped space, the planes come equipped with a microwave and cooler "filled with snacks" to ensure crew are fed and alert during long trips. A toilet can also be found onboard as well as a "cot" where pilots take it in turns to have a lie down. Neal told Business Insider: "When the ladder comes up and you enter the cockpit, there is a flat spot on the floor that is about a little over 6 feet long. "And so I think over the two days that I was in that little space, I spent about five hours in that cot total." "You're young, and you're doing something that you're trained to do, and there's a bit of excitement and a lot of adrenaline." Iran could unleash a DIRTY BOMB next unless evil regime is totally destroyed This comes as Operation Midnight saw the US blitz three of Iran's key nuclear facilities in an attack Trump has called a "spectacular success". The "prime" target was Iran's mountain-fortress nuclear site Fordow, buried beneath 300ft of rock and steel, which only the US had the firepower to eliminate. The uranium enrichment plant was pounded by an unprecedented blitz of 14 30,000lb bunker-buster bombs - called GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators (MOP). They were dropped from six B-2 bombers flying high in the atmosphere for 37 hours all the way from Missouri. Also hit were the nuclear plants at Natanz and Isfahan, which Israel had already targeted with its own missiles. The aircraft took off from the Whiteman Air Force Base outside Kansas City, Missouri - the home of the B-2 fleet. B-2 bombers took off from the US and were thought to be heading to the Andersen Air Force Base on the Pacific island of Guam. Satellite imagery of the destroyed bases has since revealed the extent of the damage. Two clusters of at least six holes are seen at the Fordow nuclear site, where the massive 30,000-pound bunker buster bombs were dropped. Bombs of this kind are believed to be able to penetrate about 200 feet below the surface before exploding. Following the bombing, Sir Keir Starmer reinstated his commitment to making Iran nuke-free. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said Operation Midnight Hammer was 'an incredible and overwhelming success' that took months and weeks of planning. He added that Trump has been clear that "any retaliation by Iran" against the US would be "met with force far greater" than what was seen on Saturday night. Hegseth said: 'Iran would be smart to heed those words. He's said it before, and he means it.' 8 8 8 The Defence Secretary went on to praise the US leader, calling it "bold and brilliant, showing the world that American deterrence is back". He urged: "When this President speaks, the world should listen." Fears loom that the conflict could spiral into a world war, with Putin puppet Dmitry Medvedev making a veiled threat to supply Iran with nuclear weapons. He said: "A number of countries are ready to supply Iran directly with their nuclear weapons." After declaring the US strikes as being a success, Trump warned that further action could be taken if Tehran doesn't agree to an adequate peace deal. He said in a nationally televised speech at the White House: " Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace. If they do not, future attacks will be far greater and a lot easier." "There will be either peace or there will be tragedy for Iran far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days." 8
