Prairie Knight Exercise 10-1 at Minot Air Force Base Published Feb. 9, 2010 Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- The 5th Bomb Wing launches a 48-hour exercise today to test the wing's safe, secure, credible and reliable capabilities in preparation for an August conventional operational readiness inspection. The two-day event, Prairie Knight 10-1, measures the wing's ability to survive and operate in a contingency environment and will include a launch of 24 B-52 combat sorties practicing to place bombs on target, said Col. Julian Tolbert, vice-wing commander at Minot Air Force Base. Warbirds will participate in training scenarios that include an indoor simulation of a deployed environment and the donning of chemical gear in the aftermath of an airfield attack. The exercise will measure reactionary procedures to the presence of a chemical or biological threat. Precautions are in place for training safely in region of extreme weather. For more information, please contact the Public Affairs office at Minot Air Force Base, 723-6212.