Posted on 07/20/2008 9:45:42 PM PDT by kristinn
Ktal has learned that a B-52 deployed from Barksdale crashed in the waters off Guam this morning. TheB-52 was scheduled to fly in Guam's Liberation Day parade, when for unknown reasons, the aircraft crashed. An extensive search is underway for the 6 crew members aboard that aircraft ...Their conditions are unknown.... we'll bring you more information as soon as it becomes available to us.
Prayers sent.
Amen. Let’s hope and pray for the best and for the safe return of our crew members.
According to the AP, the Coast Guard is reporting two people, condition unknown, have been taken from the water.
Didn’t a B2 Spirit crash in Guam recently?
That sucks.
Wasn’t it the Chamorros (Guamians) who christened the B-52 “BUFF” (”Big Ugly Fat Fella”)?
According to the Pacific Daily News, the crash occurred 25 miles north of Apra Harbor.
On 23 February 2008, B-2 s/n 89-0127, named Spirit of Kansas, crashed onto the runway shortly after takeoff from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam.[24] The crash of the Spirit of Kansas, which had 5,100 flight hours, was the first ever for the B-2. Both pilots ejected before the crash and survived, but the aircraft was completely destroyed, at an estimated loss of US $1.4B.[25] No munitions were on board because it and three other B-2s were returning to Whiteman Air Force Base from a temporary deployment to Guam.
Well fella is PC for the real nickname......:o)
Robert Shikina
rshikina@starbulletin.com
An Air Force B-52 bomber crashed off the coast of Guam today with six personnel on board, Coast Guard and Air Force officials said. The bomber crashed about 25 miles northwest of Apra Harbor in Guam, said Coast Guard Petty Officer Luke Clayton.
Coast Guard officials received a call about 3 p.m. (Hawaii time) after a jet flew over the wreckage, Clayton said. Coast Guard crew members were helping the Guam fire department and the Navy look for the crew members.
Coast Guard rescuers found at least one man and took him aboard the Guam-based 110-foot Cutter Assateague. His condition was not available, Clayton said.
Philip Breeze, chief of public relations for the 15th Airlift Wing based at Hickam Air Force Base, said B-52s are stationed at Anderson Air Force Base in Guam.
Pacific Air Forces, based at Hickam, oversees Andersen Air Force Base.
The B-52, with its 185-foot wingspan and more than 160-foot length, is the country's first long-range, swept-wing heavy bomber, according to its maker, Boeing.
I know, I know.
By the way, a recent book, “Always Faithful” by a former USMC scout dog unit veterinarian who participated in the liberation of Guam gives an excellent description of what it was like. Especially when, as the Japanese are driven back, he finds it necessary to to take on human patients from the brutalized native inhabitants.
Thank you.
Prayers for the crew and families that they’re okay.
Someone at KTAL needs to edit the picture in the article. That’s no B-52.
Prayers for the crew.
At the bottom of my homepage on FR there is a link too a few PDF books like stopping power.......
I will go find Always Faithful on your recommendation !
thanks !
Prayers Up for my home town guys,,,
It really sucks if your the navigator and the radar navigator if the S4!t hits the fan at low level....
Prayers Up.
Prayers for the crew.
Here's hoping that Screaming Charlie doesn't get a roommate.
*Prayers for the crew.*
Damn! Just damn ............... God be with them ... gonzo
Prayers up for the crew!
No kidding! That’s a MiG 29 I think. Wrong type of aircraft, wrong nation, wrong everything- but this is the news media we’re talking about...
The B-52 was going to do a fly-over for “The Guam Liberation Day” parade.
Pastor who lives on Guam has a blog:
http://bradboydston.blogspot.com/
We’ll be back down there tonight for the fireworks.
Unfortunately, a B-52 which was supposed to fly over the parade has apparently crashed out at sea. Rescue efforts are underway.”
Local news (channel 3) just reported that there are unconfirmed reports of finding an oil slick, floating boxes and other debris in the Pacific at the crash site.
The Air Force will provide no comment until 8:00 AM Central Time.
I have two friends who are B-52 pilots at Barksdale. I’m nervous, but not 1/100th as nervous as some families at the base.
Oh no...!!!
Yes a B2 crashed there recently. It crashed on takeoff after sensors relayed faulty information to the flight computer. The flight computer caused a stall which the pilot was not able to recover from. The crew ejected when the left wing started scraping the runway and about 1 second before it went up in flames.
F14 Tomcat with the wings out??
One only needs to look at the hair color.
Back when the BUFF's had tail gunners, I am thinking D models and earlier, the tail gunner went out one of the lower escape hatchs. He was taught to immediately "ball up". Once he counted three bumps, he was clear of the aircraft.
A thru F models had actual Tail gunners. G’ and H models had gunners up front.
If this aircraft was just going to do a flyover,could it be possible that there was only the pilot and copilot on board. I’m not sure if the other members would be required for just a flyover.
Prayers up!
My first thought.
Also around the time of the Gulf War the guns were removed from all the BUFF’s as with new fighters and missile technology they did not have to get close to use guns to down one anymore...
I believe the gunner position because the defensive systems operator and controlled radar/IR jammers, countermeasures, and watched the radar for any planes or missiles.
believe the gunner position because the defensive systems operator and controlled radar/IR jammers, countermeasures, and watched the radar for any planes or missiles.
they became a empty seat. Only thing left was satcom and rear radar. no-one ever sat in them except us crew chiefs and Instructor EW’s or flt surgeons. Most of the gun equip was removed. But that was 10 years ago since i was a crew chief on them.
No, probably a B-1.
Nope that’s definitely an F-14 with its wings out.
My ex was stationed at Barksdale when we were first married. Spent a couple of years there. This is so sad. I hope they find them all. Prayers for the crew and their families.
The incorrect image on the news footage is an F-14 Tomcat.
Thoughts with the families and hopefully everyone is rescued safely.
Correction: that made up the B-52G egress systems. Only H models are still in service.
Not “required” but would have been aboard.
Your diagram is a bit off.
Pilot behind him about 10 feet is what was the gunners seat (left side of aircraft)
copilot and behind him about ten feet is the EWO seat( right side of aircraft)
When in Air Force tech school, (Crew Chief) the instructors told us that a few times in Viet Nam when the aircraft was hit, and communications was lost between the tail gunner and the rest of the crew, the tail gunner would bail out, not knowing that the thing was still air worthy. So the aircraft would return to base with no tail cone, and no tail gunner.
I can't verify that story, but they wouldn't lie to me , would they?
Of course not! ;) But I heard the same stories. The G & H models had the gunner in the main crew compartment behind the pilot and facing aft.
Yep Right next to the HONEY BUCKET..or DI seat (defense instructors Seat)
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