B-52 Turns 60.
Very nice! Thanks for posting the link and bringing such a milestone to light. :-) Cheers.
I maintained these way back in the 70s, a com/nav troop.
flathead27ford wrote:
Very nice! Thanks for posting the link and bringing such a milestone to light. :-) Cheers.
Glad you enjoyed it flathead27ford. :thumbup:
I remember the BUFF (Big Ugly Fat F**ker)shaking the ground at Khe Sanh.
Years ago, the statement was made, "B-52 - someone over 30 you could trust".
--Bob
Q: What do you call a B-52 pilot as old as his plane?
A: Retired.
A. Alternative: General, but that was awhile back.
Will never forget the brave men flying the BUFFs to Hanoi during Operation Linebacker II, Dec 18-29, 1972. I was in Northern Thailand working F-4Ds. I have the deepest respect and admiration for these brave men.
15 total B-52s were shot down, 3 were seriously damaged, and 6 had minor damage. Overall they flew 795 sorties with a loss rate of less than 2%. 92 crew members were involved in the 15 losses, and 61 of the 92 were in the 10 acft that crashed in North Vietnam. Of the 61, 28 died, of which the bodies of seven have never been recovered, and 34 captured. One of the captured died from his wounds. Of the 5 B-52s crashing in Thailand or Laos, 4 more were killed and one is missing. 15,000 tons of bombs were dropped on 34 targets. About 1600 died in the Hanoi area and 300 in Haiphong. U.S. sources believe between 800 and 1,000 SAM missiles were fired during Linebacker II, but we will never know an accurate number for sure. Memories forever.
stephgc wrote:
I maintained these way back in the 70s, a com/nav troop.
Had I renewed my commitment in 83' they would've been my babies at Homestead AFB. I think I might have enjoyed working on them as long as I didn't have to get on the wings..(don't like heights). :lol:
They fly the crews who deliver the planes to the boneyard back in a B-52.
houdel
Loc: Chase, Michigan USA
Actually the article is almost three years old, which makes the B-52 63 years old this February. In three more years they can start collecting Social Security - if there are any funds left in the trust by then!
I was living in Seattle and witnessed early flights out of Boeing Field in the early 50's. The old bird still flies strong.
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