Colonel Trey Morriss: The Secret 35-Hour Mission That Kicked Off Desert Storm | Author of DOOM 34
Colonel Trey Morriss discusses his role in the first GPS-guided weapon combat mission during Desert Storm in 1991, a 35-hour B-52 bombing mission that established world records. The conversation covers his Arkansas upbringing, Air Force career path, and the technical and operational challenges of this classified mission that helped transition warfare from analog to digital precision targeting.
Summary
Colonel Trey Morriss shares his military career journey from growing up in Northwest Arkansas with family aviation connections to becoming a B-52 electronic warfare officer. He explains the competitive process of joining the Air Force as an officer, initially serving as a navigator before the Cold War nuclear deterrent mission. The main focus centers on the January 16, 1991 Desert Storm mission codenamed 'Senior Surprise' or 'Secret Squirrel,' where seven B-52s flew the first-ever GPS-guided weapon combat mission. The 35-hour, 14,000-mile round-trip mission from Barksdale Air Force Base to Iraq involved numerous challenges including engine failure, radio silence, midair collision near-misses during refueling, encounters with Soviet naval radar and Libyan fighters, navigation through chaotic Egyptian airspace, and severe headwinds on return. The mission successfully delivered 35 of 39 conventional air-launched cruise missiles with unprecedented accuracy, hitting targets within feet rather than the typical miles of previous weapons. Morriss describes how this mission marked the transition from analog to digital warfare and established the foundation for all modern precision-guided munitions. He went on to serve 31 years total, including post-9/11 missions providing close air support in Afghanistan using B-52s in entirely new roles. The conversation also covers his transition to civilian contractor work, his book 'Doom 34' about the mission, and advice for young people considering military aviation careers.
Key Insights
- The January 1991 Desert Storm mission was the first combat use of GPS-guided weapons in warfare history, transitioning military operations from analog to digital precision targeting
- The 56-person aircrew averaged 26 years old with virtually no combat experience, and most had never fired the experimental missiles they were carrying
- The mission involved flying 35 hours and 14,000 miles round-trip without landing, setting a world record for longest combat mission that stood for 10 years until 9/11
- The GPS constellation in 1991 was incomplete with only a few satellites operational, making the precision targeting capability revolutionary for its time
- B-52s were successfully adapted from Cold War nuclear deterrent platforms to close air support roles supporting small special operations teams on the ground
- The mission classification level was comparable to the Manhattan Project, with the weapon system name 'Senior Surprise' being above top secret
- Multiple near-catastrophic events occurred including engine failure on takeoff, midair collision near-misses during radio-silent refueling, and severe headwinds consuming critical fuel reserves
- The weapons achieved unprecedented accuracy, with some targets being wiring bundles at the base of communication towers rather than the towers themselves
- Military personnel often struggle to translate their leadership experience and technical skills to civilian employers due to poor storytelling abilities
- The B-52 fleet has shrunk from 750 aircraft to 74, with some current aircraft built in 1960-61 still in service today
- Private pilot certification provides significant competitive advantage for military aviation candidates by demonstrating flight aptitude and radio communication skills
- The author used Marcus Luttrell's book as a structural template for balancing personal background with mission details when writing his own memoir
Topics
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