Missouri’s stealth bombers have gone into combat for the first time in about eight years. And they carried more than bombs.

It took more than a day for three B-2 bombers to fly from Whiteman Air Force Base to an airbase near Muammar Gaddafi’s home town of Surt and to return during the first weekend of the coalition effort to relieve pressure on rebels from Gaddafi’s forces. Precision-guided two-thousand pound bombs destroyed 45 hardened aircraft shelters with jets and helicopters inside.

Air Force Captain John Saverns says each mission by one of the Air Force’s stealth bombers has a dual misison—hit the target, and send a message. He says the B-2s assure allies that the United States can launch an attack any time and anywhere.

The bombers had to be refueled four times during the 25-hour mission. 

 Interview with Capt. Saverns 4:23 mp3