B52gator Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 (edited) Haven't heard anything defenitive yet...stand by. Edited July 21, 2008 by b52gator Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Butters Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 From: KUAM News Guam Search and Rescue operation underway for down military aircraft An extensive search and rescue operation is underway 25 nautical miles Northwest of Guam for six crew members who were on board a B52 military aircraft. According to the Federal Aviation Administration Guam Office's Terry Pyle, the B52 left Andersen Air Force Base at 9am. Just before 10:30 this morning, the local FAA Office lost contact with the pilot of the aircraft. Andersen Air Force Base 36th Wing Public Affairs Sgt. Stephen Teel confirms that a B52 was scheduled to participate in a fly over during the Liberation Parade, but would not confirm any aircraft from the base had crashed. Coast Guard Lt. Lee Putnam says the Coast Guard Cutter Assateague was called to respond to the aircraft crash. The Coast Guard also sent two 25 foot safe boats to the scene while the Guam Fire Department's Search and Rescue arrived with a 35 foot vessel and the Guam Police Department's Marine Patrol arrived on scene with its 24 foot boat. Two Navy HSC25 air craft are also in the area searching for the 6 crew members that were on board the aircraft. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B52gator Posted July 21, 2008 Author Share Posted July 21, 2008 Here's hoping they find the boys okay. A BUFF hasn't crashed in 14 years so this could be a big deal. I knew it would sneak up on us sometime... they've got two crewdogs so far... http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,386981,00.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bergman Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 Damn! It tears me up every time something like this happens. Let's hope the 6th crewmember was still strapped in the gunner's seat and that everyone makes it! For the rest of us: regardless of outcome of this, it at least provides a good wakeup call to be more vigilant. We can't afford any more of this shit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbar Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 Seems like Guam is cursed lately. B-1 rolls into a fire truck, a B-2 crashes, and now a B-52... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlphaMikeFoxtrot Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 That's my squadron...words can't describe what I'm feeling right now. I pray they're all well! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Butters Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 Maybe I've just been paying more attention lately, but isn't this part of a very steep rise in Class As lately? According to the data from the safety center the rate is stable. Steep rise for bombers though. Hope they find all 6 safe. Everything reported so far say 1 or 2 recover, no word on condition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Container STS Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 I'm shocked...my bros are all out there, and 2 of 6 isn't good enough... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
backseatdriver Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 I've got a good buddy out there as well. I hope they find the guys alright. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Gonads Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 (edited) We lost a guy when we were out there last time. Nothing like this, but Jesus Christ... My hat is off for the Bucs. I'll be praying for you guys all day. F_CK. Edited July 21, 2008 by Gonads Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M2 Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 There is more info in the CSAF Ops Update on SIPRNET...can't be shared here. Cheers! M2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClearedHot Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted 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 from the bomber's six-man crew 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. 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. 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B52gator Posted July 21, 2008 Author Share Posted July 21, 2008 Not to take away the seriousness of a crash or fatality, but pointy nose jets going down are common. It is something we try to prevent but have grown accustomed to. A big jet going down though is another thing. Especially a BUFF with 6 crewdogs on board. Not to stir up speculation, but the last BUFF crash was in 94. The last time a BUFF crashed due to a mechanical failure was in 88 (I think). The BUFF has had a tough year and this is definitely something we don't need as a community right now, I pray those guys are alright floaing in their one-man yachts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mike Brogan Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 I just found out about this...I pray that everyone is OK. I was just out on Guam a couple weeks ago, and I know everyone who is currently deployed there. :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest thefranchise Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 According to the data from the safety center the rate is stable. Steep rise for bombers though. I dunno, seems Class As are higher this FY08 year than previous years. I think FY08 is cursed B-52 - 7/21/08 - http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25777752/ T-6A - 6/4/08 - http://www.enidnews.com/localnews/local_story_157002838.html T-1A - 5/21/08 - http://www.swtexaslive.com/node/6908 T-38C (2 fatal) - 5/1/08 - http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123096788 T-38C (2 fatal) - 4/23/08 - http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123095679 B-1 - 4/4/08 - http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23959384 B-2 - 2/23/08 - http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/02/23/stealth.b...h.ap/index.html F-16 (1 fatal) - 3/14/08 - http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23650740/ T-34C (2 fatal) - 3/14/08 - http://www.pnj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?A...1/80314041/1006 T-38C - 3/13/08 - http://www.enidnews.com/archivesearch/loca..._073000135.html T-45C - 3/6/08 - http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/03/ap_t...etcrash_030508/ F-15C x 2 (1 fatal) - 2/20/08 - http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...8022002774.html EA-6B - 2/12/08 - http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/02/navy..._crash_080212w/ F-15 - 2/1/08 - http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2008/02/...15crash_080202/ F-16 - 1/15/08 - http://www.afrc.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123082428 F-18 x 2 - 1/7/08 - http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/01/navy..._crash_080107w/ T-6A x 2 - 11/28/07 - http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2007Nov28/0,4...ceCrash,00.html F-15C - 11/2/07 - http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2007Nov02/0,4...etCrash,00.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
usaf36031 Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 I hope they find them! General question, are all crewmembers in a BUFF strapped to a rocket seat during all phases of flight? I have these memories of watching Dr Strangelove and seeing them walking around a lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlphaMikeFoxtrot Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 I hope they find them! General question, are all crewmembers in a BUFF strapped to a rocket seat during all phases of flight? I have these memories of watching Dr Strangelove and seeing them walking around a lot. No, 6 total e-seats and 4 "extra" spots. Please continue to keep the crew dogs and families in your prayers and keep this thread on track, this is a dark day for the B-52 community. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MD Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 The last time a BUFF crashed due to a mechanical failure was in 88 (I think). The BUFF has had a tough year and this is definitely something we don't need as a community right now, I pray those guys are alright floaing in their one-man yachts. IIRC, the last BUFF that went down for a mechanical (or combo mech/crew error) was the G-model that was RTB to Diego during Desert Storm in '91. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B52gator Posted July 21, 2008 Author Share Posted July 21, 2008 (edited) takeoff, landing, air refueling, and during weapons employment. that is generally when we are strapped in. we do get up and walk around a lot though...use the pisser, cook some food, take a nap on the bunk, or play cards...all in a days work! there are 6 ejection seats in the BUFF so hopefully all 6 guys were strapped in. The Gunner's ejection seat was left in place after the Gunner's were taken out of the jet. There is actually room on the jet for 10 guys. Most non-ejection seat crewmembers sit at the IP, IR, or "10th Man" seats. If somebody is occupying a non-ejection seat and the emergency is catastsrophic or uncontrollable, chances are he isn't getting out. Procedures are to find any hole (where an ejection seat used to be) in the jet and jump out with a chute on. no matter what though, as always, keep all involved in your prayers and thoughts. IIRC, the last BUFF that went down for a mechanical (or combo mech/crew error) was the G-model that was RTB to Diego during Desert Storm in '91. yeah...i thought about that...but that was a mech error and fatality that could have been prevented. i chalk that one up to crew error. Edited July 21, 2008 by b52gator Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest wildblue Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 I'm glad the mass media is covering Obama's every f*cking breath but not this story. I hope that those that have been found are doing well and the rest will be found soon in good condition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slacker Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 I dunno, seems Class As are higher this FY08 year than previous years. I think FY08 is cursed B-52 - 7/21/08 - http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25777752/ T-6A - 6/4/08 - http://www.enidnews.com/localnews/local_story_157002838.html T-1A - 5/21/08 - http://www.swtexaslive.com/node/6908 T-38C (2 fatal) - 5/1/08 - http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123096788 T-38C (2 fatal) - 4/23/08 - http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123095679 B-1 - 4/4/08 - http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23959384 B-2 - 2/23/08 - http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/02/23/stealth.b...h.ap/index.html F-16 (1 fatal) - 3/14/08 - http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23650740/ T-34C (2 fatal) - 3/14/08 - http://www.pnj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?A...1/80314041/1006 T-38C - 3/13/08 - http://www.enidnews.com/archivesearch/loca..._073000135.html T-45C - 3/6/08 - http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/03/ap_t...etcrash_030508/ F-15C x 2 (1 fatal) - 2/20/08 - http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...8022002774.html EA-6B - 2/12/08 - http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/02/navy..._crash_080212w/ F-15 - 2/1/08 - http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2008/02/...15crash_080202/ F-16 - 1/15/08 - http://www.afrc.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123082428 F-18 x 2 - 1/7/08 - http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/01/navy..._crash_080107w/ T-6A x 2 - 11/28/07 - http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2007Nov28/0,4...ceCrash,00.html F-15C - 11/2/07 - http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2007Nov02/0,4...etCrash,00.html You missed the C-130 in Iraq. My thoughts and prayers are with the B-52 crew and their families. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M2 Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 According to Aviation Week... The crash of a U.S. Air Force B-52 off the northwest coast of Guam has ended an incredible long-run of no-losses in the aging fleet. Reports from Guam say the accident occurred around 9:45 a.m. local time, just before the B-52 was to participate in a Liberation Day parade. The aircraft, based at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, was operating from Andersen AFB. No information is yet available on the fate of the six crew members on board. The crash is the first B-52 loss since 1994, when four crew members died at Fairchild AFB while practicing for an air show. The crash was blamed on pilot error. Since then, the B-52 has had only suffered two Class A incidents, one in 1995 and another in 2005, but no loss of aircraft or crew. In fact, in the past ten years the have had a Class A rate of a mere 0.41 per 100,000 flight hours. Not counting the latest incident, during the life of the program, 79 B-52s have been destroyed, with the loss of life of 315 personnel. The Class A accident number is slightly higher, 98, with an accident rate of 1.27. Including the latest B-52 crash, so far this fiscal year the Air Force has suffered 22 Class As, with 14 aircraft destroyed. If all six B-52 crew members are confirmed dead, it will double the number of fatalities for the fiscal year the service has suffered. Guam was also the site of the accident in February which destroyed one of the service's 21 B-2 bombers. (Source) Including the C-130 in Iraq to the franchise's list, that still is only 19. Aviation Week claims 22, what were the other three? Cheers! M2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest swiney Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 According to Aviation Week... Including the C-130 in Iraq to the franchise's list, that still is only 19. Aviation Week claims 22, what were the other three? Cheers! M2 F-15C x2 F-18 x2 T-6 x2 we count mishaps, they count aircraft involved Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M2 Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 F-15C x2 F-18 x2 T-6 x2 we count mishaps, they count aircraft involved Doh! Math in public is never a good thing... Cheers! M2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
usaf36031 Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 Follow on question: Are all six seats wired to fire solo or can they be set to all fire if one is pulled? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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