A B-1B Lancer bomber takes off from Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, in February 2026. The same aircraft, now redesignated “Apocalypse II,” recently returned to the US Air Force fleet. (US Air Force/Courtney Landsberger)

B-1B Lancer Named ‘Apocalypse II’ Now Back in Service

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The new aircraft—originally named “Rage”—was renamed in honor of a lost World War II B-24 bomber, with the descended family of the original crew in attendance.

A B-1B Lancer long-range strategic bomber has come out of retirement., and i It recently received its finishing touches, including repainting at Tinker Air Force Base (AFB), in Oklahoma, before it rejoined the fleet at Dyess Air Force Base (AFB), in Texas.

The Lancer, tail number 86-0115, also received the nickname “Apocalypse II,” honoring a World War II-era B-24J Liberator bomber named “Apocalypse.” that was once part of the fleet at Dyess AFB. That aircraft and its crew from the 436th Bombardment Squadron were lost when it was shot down over Burma on December 1, 1942.

From the ‘Boneyard’ Back into Active Service

The B-1B Lancer was among the 17 B-1B bombers retired in 2021, as part of a planned fleet reduction., and It, along with three other B-1Bs, was placed in Type 2000 storage at the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona. The aircraft was one of 17 B-1Bs retired as part of the planned fleet reduction. Four of those aircraft, including the restored B-1B, were preserved in Type 2000 storage, allowing them to be returned to service.

Two active Lancers have been destroyed or........

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