Strikes On Iran, Insight from a Montana Bomber Pilot Veteran

Following the successful B2 Bomber strikes on the Iranian nuclear sites, one of the first people I thought of was Yellowstone County Commissioner Mike Waters. He's a B1 Bomber pilot veteran and retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel.

Commissioner Waters joined us first thing in the morning on Monday to talk about the strikes, and the pride he felt in the troops who conducted the missions over the weekend.

Mike Waters: "It was an impressive operation. What impressed me the most was just the operational security, how quiet they kept it, and the deception of having the B2's launching a couple to go west over the Pacific to draw some attention away. And then I think just the the precise planning that goes into that. I got to experience that- that air bridge, getting you overseas with all the tankers. And then quietly joining up with with their strike package. You know, fourth, fifth generation fighters that did the the offensive counter air, the suppression of the air defense capabilities that were part of the B2 package. And then, of course, the precision of which- just dropping the the ordinance and making sure that massive bunker buster bomb was delivered on time on target, which is always a motto of the bomber."

Waters and his crew was one of the first bombers to fly over Afghanistan following the 9/11 terror attacks.

Aaron Flint: "I know as a veteran, every veteran is proud of those that follow in their footsteps."

Mike Waters: "I am proud, and it's- I'm getting a little long enough in the tooth that most of the co-pilots that I helped train to fly the B1 are now general officers and retiring. So, but it's great to see that next generation just take up the mantle and do great things, which our Air Force is doing.

Full audio is below.