Inside the Classified B-52 Strike That Started Desert Storm | Operation Senior Surprise
About This Episode
Before the first bombs hit Iraq in 1991, seven B-52s quietly lifted off from Louisiana on a mission so classified most of the crews didn’t even know it existed months earlier.
On this episode of Combat Story, AJ Pasciuti sits down with Trey Morris, retired U.S. Air Force Colonel and former B-52 Electronic Warfare Officer, to break down Operation Senior Surprise, better known as Secret Squirrel, the 35-hour, 14,000-mile round trip strike that helped launch Operation Desert Storm.
This wasn’t just another strike.
It was the first combat use of GPS-guided cruise missiles, the longest combat mission in history at the time, and a test of endurance, trust, and leadership under pressure.
We cover: - What it felt like to be awakened at 0300 knowing you’re about to start a war - The moment a B-52 lost an engine just minutes after takeoff - Flying radio silent across the Atlantic and through Egyptian airspace - Near mid-air collisions during night aerial refueling - Running dangerously low on fuel over the Mediterranean - Launching 35 precision cruise missiles that changed modern warfare - The brotherhood behind Doom 34—and honoring those who have “gone west”
Col. Morris later captured the mission in his book Doom 34, a firsthand account of the classified strike that redefined how America projects power.
This episode isn’t just about aviation or technology. It’s about solving problem after problem, earning the right to come home, and what happens when a team trains for years… and finally gets the call.
If you’re interested in: B-52 bombers, Desert Storm history, military aviation, long-range strike, Air Force culture, leadership under stress, or the evolution of precision warfare—this one’s for you.
Trey Morriss is a retired U.S. Air Force Colonel and former B-52 Electronic Warfare Officer who flew one of the longest combat missions in history during the opening hours of Desert Storm. As part of Operation Senior Surprise, he helped execute a 35-hour, 14,000-mile strike that changed the future of long-range warfare.
In his book DOOM 34, Trey captures the crew culture, leadership under pressure, and relentless problem-solving required to launch a war from the air...and make it home.
AJ Pasciuti is a retired Marine Force Recon Scout Sniper and Infantry Weapons Officer (Marine Gunner), author of Darkhorse: Harnessing Hidden Potential in War and Life, and host of the Combat Story Podcast, where veterans share honest, unfiltered stories of service, leadership, and life after combat.
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Operation Senior Surprise
