▁The ▁C AL CM ▁became ▁oper ational ▁in ▁January ▁ 1 9 9 1 ▁at ▁the ▁on set ▁of ▁Operation ▁Des ert ▁Storm . ▁Seven ▁B - 5 2 G s ▁from ▁B ark sd ale ▁A FB ▁launched ▁ 3 5 ▁miss iles ▁at ▁designated ▁launch ▁points ▁in ▁the ▁U . S . ▁Central ▁Command ' s ▁area ▁of ▁responsibility ▁to ▁attack ▁high - p riority ▁targets ▁in ▁Ira q . ▁These ▁" round - ro bin " ▁miss ions ▁marked ▁the ▁beginning ▁of ▁the ▁operation ' s ▁Air ▁Force ▁component ▁and ▁were ▁the ▁longest ▁known ▁aircraft ▁combat ▁sort ies ▁in ▁history ▁at ▁the ▁time ▁( more ▁than ▁ 1 4 , 0 0 0   m iles ▁and ▁ 3 5   h ours ▁of ▁flight ). ▁ ▁C AL CM ' s ▁next ▁employ ment ▁occurred ▁in ▁September ▁ 1 9 9 6 ▁during ▁Operation ▁Des ert ▁St rike . ▁In ▁response ▁to ▁Ira q ' s ▁continued ▁host ilities ▁against ▁the ▁Kur ds ▁in ▁northern ▁Ira q , ▁the ▁Air ▁Force ▁launched ▁ 1 3 ▁C AL CM s ▁in ▁a ▁joint ▁attack ▁with ▁the ▁Navy . ▁This ▁mission ▁has ▁put ▁the ▁C AL CM ▁program ▁in ▁the ▁spot light ▁for ▁future ▁modifications . ▁Operation ▁Des ert ▁St rike ▁was ▁also ▁the ▁combat ▁debut ▁of ▁the ▁B - 5 2 H ▁and ▁the ▁carriage ▁of ▁the ▁C AL CM ▁on ▁the ▁weapons ▁bay - mount ed ▁Common ▁Str ateg ic ▁Rot ary ▁La unch er ▁( CS RL ).