B-52 down at Anderson AFB/ Guam

"toast".. literally.. glad all out ok!

 

As long as the crew got out OK, the tax payers definitely got their money's worth out of every one.

 

I can't imagine they have all that many H models at D.M. ?

 

From what I remember when I was making illustrations of the B-52 interior structure in 1952 , the pilot and co-pilot's egress was being ejected through the hatches above them (I drew the assembly drawings for them), the GIB's ( Guys in the Bottom) ejected out of the bottom. I can't recall any doors or hatches in the sides. Any inputs from anyone out there? I can't imagine what caused the aborted takeoff but I'm glad that all the crew got out.

 

Bob- Affirmative. Last time I checked there were three upward ejecting seats on the H for AC, copilot, and EWO (or whatever they call the EWO now), and two downward seats for the radar navs. Not sure if the crew is still 5 or has gone down with all the cockpit and nav upgrades.

Will look in the AF Magazine Almanac. Yup, still shows crew of 5. Was 6. but they eliminated the gunner and gun. First production CONECT (Combat Network Communications Technology) airframe with glass cockpit, Link 16/17, etc airframe was delivered in 2014 and smart rotary launchers are being fielded this year for internal carriage of PGMs, including the 250 lb SDB (32 per rotary launcher) and 1790 weapons bus. Previously, PGMs were carried externally only.

 

Sorry to see. I always enjoyed seeing the BUFF in ND and in LA. No lack of smoke...

Robb

 

I'm hearing things about a high speed abort and not an actuall crash.

 

Nah... that'll BUFF right out

 

all 7 aboard got out according to this;
Air Force B-52 crashes in Guam, crew bails to safety

 

Yes, says "crashed while attempting to take off".

 

I still think that the landing gear was still under it after the abort so all seven could get out of it. Anxious to read the report.

 

From Military Times:

Seven crew members of a B-52 Stratofortress that crashed around 8:30 a.m. Thursday while attempting to take off at Andersen Air Force Base avoided a more catastrophic accident, the base’s 36th Wing commander said.

“We are thankful that the air crew are safe,” said Brig. Gen. Douglas Cox, 36th Wing commander. “Because of their quick thinking and good judgment in this emergency situation, the air crew not only saved their lives, but averted a more catastrophic incident.”

The crew members weren’t injured after having safely evacuated from the aircraft, which was on its way to a training mission.

The Air Force didn’t release any statement Thursday about what might have caused the crash. The incident was being investigated.

B-52s can carry a wide assortment of weapons, including cruise missiles, but during the accident, the aircraft was only carrying what the base’s leadership called “inert munitions.”

These practice munitions posed no danger to the local community, according to the base’s leadership.

Andersen environmental specialists are assessing any potential impacts that may have resulted from leaked fluids or burning aircraft materials to prevent damage to the ecosystem, the base leadership stated.

Emergency response personnel from Andersen, Navy Base Guam, Joint Region Marianas and the government of Guam promptly established a cordon and extinguished the flames, according to a release from Andersen.

“Our personnel regularly train to respond to crises like the one we experienced today,” said Cox. “We’re also grateful for the support from our Government of Guam and U.S. Navy partners in addressing this serious incident.”

The B-52 was deployed to Andersen from Minot Air Force Base, in North Dakota, as part of the military’s continuous bomber presence mission in the Pacific.

The crew members are from the 69th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron and were performing a routine training mission, according to Andersen.

It’s the second crash involving a B-52 in Guam in eight years.

In July 2008, a B-52 crashed into the ocean about 35 miles northwest of the island, killing all six flight crew on board, according to an Air Force investigation report.

The 2008 crash occurred five minutes before its scheduled flyover during the 64th Guam Liberation Day parade. The aircraft crashed because of a mechanical failure in one of the aircraft’s wings, according to the report.

The B-52 Stratofortress long-range, heavy bomber aircraft has a wingspan of about 185 feet and a length of 159 feet.

The H model, first delivered in 1961, is capable of delivering conventional air-launched cruise missiles, and has been used in several operations such as Operation Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom. B-52Hs can carry a maximum capacity of 20 missiles per aircraft, according to the Air Force.

Pacific Command has maintained a rotational strategic bomber presence in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region for more than a decade to foster partnerships with allies, and to keep adversaries at bay. In January, a B-52 from Andersen conducted a low-level flight near Osan Air Base, South Korea, after North Korea days earlier purported a successful hydrogen bomb test.

B-52s deploy several times a year globally for rotational exercises. In the Middle East, several B-52s from from Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, are currently using precision-guided bombs against the Islamic State.

“Today’s incident is a reminder of the danger our men and women in uniform put themselves in every single day, whether flying a mission or for training,” Guam Delegate Madeleine Bordallo said.

 

The attrition rate that we have now is so low that it's actually amazing... In WWII bombers were crashing on takeoff with regularity, not an uncommon thing at all. Remember "one a day in Tampa Bay"... Now one happens every 8 years or so and everyone walks away and it's still big news.

Considering that this is a 50 year old airplane the guys maintaining them have done a fantastic job keeping the attrition rate as low as it is.

 

I believe that most B-52's have had acres of wing skin replaced as well as a lot of inner structure throughout the airframe. I 'm not certain but maybe there could be some that are older than 50.

 

Accident rate in in 1946 was 144 majors per 100,000 flying hours. It is now less than 2.

 

Wow!

Very good!

I guess I could go down (another!) Google rat hole, but do you have equivalent #'s for, say, 1960, 70, 80 etc?

I guess there's 'aberrational' years that could twist the stats, but overall seems like a fine way to travel to me - even in the military with bad guys involved!

Cheers,
Ian