B-52 bomber crashes off Guam, Air Force says No word on fate of 6 crew members; 2nd accident for island base this year updated 4:26 a.m. ET, Mon., July. 21, 2008 HONOLULU - Rescue crews were searching a vast area of floating debris and a sheen of oil Monday for crew members of an Air Force B-52 bomber that crashed off the island of Guam, officials said. At least two people were recovered from the waters, but their condition was not immediately available, the Coast Guard said. Six vessels, three helicopters, two F-15 fighter jets and a B-52 bomber were involved in the search, which had covered about 70 square miles of ocean, said Coast Guard spokeswoman Lt. Elizabeth Buendia “We have an active search that’s going to go on throughout the night,” she said Monday. The Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force and local fire and police departments were involved. En route to parade The B-52 bomber based at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana was en route to conduct a flyover in a parade when it crashed around 9:45 a.m. Monday about 30 miles northwest of Apra Harbor, the Air Force said. The Liberation Day parade celebrates the day when the U.S. military arrived on Guam to retake control of the island from Japan. The Air Force said a board of officers will investigate the accident. Second accident this year on Guam The accident is the second for the Air Force this year on Guam, a U.S. territory 3,700 miles southwest of Hawaii. In February, a B-2 crashed at Andersen Air Force Base shortly after takeoff in the first-ever crash of a stealth bomber. Both pilots ejected safely. The military estimated the cost of the loss of the aircraft at $1.4 billion. The B-52 is a long-range, heavy bomber that can refuel in mid air. Since the 159 foot-long bomber was first placed into service in 1955, it has been used for a wide range of missions from attacks to ocean surveillance. Two B-52s, in two hours, can monitor 140,000 square miles of ocean surface. According to the Air Force’s Web site, the B-52 Stratofortress has been the backbone of the manned strategic bomber force for the United States for more than four decades. It is capable of dropping or launching the widest array of weapons in the U.S. inventory, including cluster bombs and precision guided missiles. B-52 bomber crashes off Guam - Military - MSNBC.com
Like the venerable Russian TU-95 Bear Bomber, The B-52 is very old (53 yrs) yet an awesome plane with awesome power.
I do hope some crewmen if not all will be saved & there is a bright side to this tragedy. Thoughts & prayers go out. As for the TU-95, the recent patrolling & escalation of encounters is alarming & harkens to the "cold days". Hopefully it remains cold & does not escalate as predicted.
Yes, indeed, prayers up for the crew and their families and the SAR crews. The B-52 is "the" sub-sonic bomber having evolved over the years to meet changing operational USAF needs. The BUFF, though, is really getting long in the tooth despite all kinds of preventative maintenance and engine/mechanical/electronic upgrades. It really needs to be retired.(I know of BUFF crews whose Grandfathers flew the same plane!) It will not be easily replaced.
Just an update guys. Apparently they have found three of the crew, with three still missing. Unfortuneatly the three they found were all dead:mourn:
Yes, very unfortunate. Read about the three found.... I wonder what happend with bailing out? Any news on the parashouts? Hope the other 3 have better fortune.
Hi Slon, I'm not sure if they had a chance to bail out. From what I've read the three they found so far where found because their life vests had been put on. I do hope they find the other three alive though.
Makes two of us. For military personel to loose there lives in none combat missions seems simply senseless.... but then again accidents are a part of life.
Sad news. May they r.i.p.. The 52 does have ejection seats for all the crew. 4 eject upwards, & 2 downwards. Not knowing the circumstances of this incident, i wonder what their height was.
Sad news, The army Announced last night all six died in the crash. I don't think they found the other three. The story I read this morning is the same as above with this exeption: May they rest in peace:mourn:
