B-52 lost off of Guam, two crew recovered, rest missing

[Muck]

AP

Rescue operation after B-52 crash

Rescue crews are searching a vast area of floating debris and a sheen of oil 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 US 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, Coast Guard spokeswoman Lt. Elizabeth Buendia said.

"We have an active search that's going to go on throughout the night," she said. 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 about 30 miles north-west of Apra Harbour, the Air Force said.

The Liberation Day parade celebrates the day when the US 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 US territory 3,700 miles (5,950 kilometers) south-west 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 US$1.4 billion.

The B-52 is a long-range, heavy bomber that can refuel in mid air. Since the 160-foot-long (50-metre-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.

 

[Steve19]

Sad news indeed. What an incredible waste. RIP.

 

[OSUsushichic]

Barksdale has his own AF base? :p

Seriously, sad news.

 

[Muck]

AP

An Air Force B-52 bomber crashed off Guam, killing at least two airmen and leading to the search of a vast area of the Pacific Ocean for the remaining four crew members, the US military 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...

The two recovered crewmen were not survivors. :(

 

[scooter1369]

Barksdale has his own AF base? :p

He had some odd demands when he was being recruited.

 

[Muck]

HONOLULU (AP) -- All six crew members aboard a B-52 bomber that crashed off Guam were killed, the Air Force said Wednesday as the search effort shifted focus from rescue to recovery of the crew and pieces of the wreckage.

Two bodies have been found; the Air Force, without elaborating, said in a news release that forensic specialists were trying to identify additional remains recovered.

"Losing this bomber crew has been a tragedy felt by everyone here and across the Air Force," said Brig. Gen. Doug Owens, commander of the 36th Wing.

The six crew members were identified as Maj. Christopher M. Cooper, 33, aircraft commander; Maj. Brent D. Williams, 37, navigator; Capt. Michael K. Dodson, 31, co-pilot; 1st Lt. Joshua D. Shepherd, 25, navigator; 1st Lt. Robert D. Gerren, 32, electronic warfare officer; and Col. George Martin, 51, flight surgeon, who also was the deputy commander of 36th Medical Group at Andersen Air Force Base.

The bodies of Cooper and Williams were recovered, the Air Force said.

"Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with the families of these airmen," said Col. Robert Wheeler, 2d Bomb Wing commander. "We appreciate the military and civilian organizations who are continuing recovery efforts to bring our airmen home."

LINK

 

[WaitingforKickoff]

This is why the airforce can ill afford to have just quality, and it's true for all branches of the armed forces. B-52s, B-1s, early F-15s and -16s all badly need replacement. That is a lot of planes. As nice as the F-22s are, the procurement for those planes shouldn't really exceed 200 unless another country develops an equal fighter. Upgraded -15s and 16s will still have to be the main strike force. Only with numbers will you be able to fly hundreds of combat sorties a day over hostile territory.