I first saw a B-52 mounted on posts on the grounds of the Air Force Academy. 55-0083, a B-52D model in full olive camo color, made for an imposing sight for a mounted aircraft. My grandfather delighted in stopping by the big beast on sunny days when we made the trek north to the Academy for whatever purpose he had going on that day. This was in the late 1980s, and even then he was careful to remind me that this was an old aircraft, a plane that had been around for many years. It was a plane that was supposed to have been supplanted twice over by now, but the Big, Ugly Fat…you know the rest, don’t act like you don’t…might make it’s 100 year birthday before it’s fully retired at the rate the Air Force moves in regards to it’s replacement. The B-1 Lancer, the supersonic screamer, didn’t take it’s place. Neither did the B-2 Spirit, no matter how much money was flung at that program.
A combination of strong positive characteristics, a relatively cheap cost per flight hour figure, and legendary durability that’s been tested and proven over the decades is what endears the BUFF to the services. It’s a sight, watching that long, slender body start rolling out with trails of exhaust rolling from the eight engines. But one sight that only a select few have gotten to enjoy is the image of a takeoff roll from inside the cockpit of the big bomber. Enjoy!
Correct me if I’m wrong but the centerline swiveling landing gear, allowing cross wind landings, was the most top secret part of its construction.
I’m not sure what you’re talking about with the landing gear. The buffs had 4 trucks of 2 wheels each, 2 on each side of the fuselage under the wing and both front trucks steered at the same time .also had outrigger wheels on the wing tips because they droop so low they could rub the ground specially on take off when the wings were full of fuel and water. I maintained the bombing computer and also the terrain avoidance computer on the B-52 between 65 and 69.
You are correct! The gear adjusting to yaw on a crosswind landing WAS a secret feature…
Yup, that’s the BUFF. Two million rivets all flying together in close formation…..
Stood in front of a B-52 while in the USAF. Iat Turner Air Force Base in the early 60.s. Seen many take off it was exciting as ever. Never got old. I was a Combat Defense Force Member we guarded them on the launch pad .. Was in Albany GA. Good thoughts ..
I was involved in probably 300 B-52 launches and it’s still a rush to see and hear, even on video. Thanks for the post.
I knew a navigator on the buffs – he said first takeoff for newbee was great
to watch w/ the steerable gear and lift trends …big ass plane hurtling down a
runway starts pointing at the side of the runway , then goes nose down
and lifts off like it’s just another day as the new guy is convinced he’s
already in a plane crash
Friends were taking a pick up of mattresses and stuff to a kids camp
in Maine – north I95 in Portsmouth passing the end of the runway at Pease as a buff took off headed East – So much un-burnt fuel fell they had to throw away the stuff in the back of the pickup and get the guy riding there a shower .
Where in the world did “unburned fuel” come from?
The unburned fuel is because they inject water in the engines and the fuel doesn\’t burn all the way I was at pease in the late 70\’s and early 80\’s and at that time they still had the water injector engines and put out black smoke because the fuel was not allowed to burn all the way, injecting water into the combustion chamber of a jet engine creates more thrust. I know it sounds crazy but it works, they were not the only planes to do that, our KC135 tankers did the same thing. the crew chiefs in the winter had to stay out on the planes on the flight line to heat the water, you couldn\’t put anti freeze in it. So they were not happy about heating water in the winter. Now they both have new engines and wings and do not inject water. So no more thick black smoke. I was a FB111 A crew chief for four years up there, That\’s why I live in AZ now. the B52 has TFR Terrain Following Radar and can fly at low level though canyons and they look like sea gulls because their wing flap like a bird. Some thing to see some times they break off and kill everybody on board because they are so close to the ground that you don\’t have time to punch out they do have ejection seats the pilots go out the top and navigators in the back go out the bottom. one went in in colorado years ago , everyone died.
That is something you keep to yourself.
Miss seeing them fly over central valley in California.
Yes that was awesome. I was stationed at Castle AFB and refueled those monsters and the KC135 out on the flight line from 8/77-11/79, did 15 months at Injurlik Turkey, then back to Castle from 3/81-5/82.
I was Electronic Counter MeasureTechnician at Castle AFB Atwater, CA 1959-1960. Worked on the first of the B-52s. B52 00013 is at the atomic museum in albuquerque, NM. Now age 88.
Bill Harrell [email protected]
Takes me back to ‘67 to ‘69 on Guam. Got to fly maintenance on two missions over Hanoi. Never forget!
My father Robert “Bob” Kozieracki was a B-52 crew chief there around that time. He was in Guam and Okinawa. Have LOVED the B-52 since I was kid!!
I was on Guam stationed with another outfit and I think it was the 43rd that was the B-52’s wing. That would be 69-71. 54th WRS (Weather Reconnaissance Squadron) We flew WC – 130 A/B/E models, with a FOB at Udorn Royal Thai Base, Thailand during the war. The most awful thing happened while stationed there. I was working on top of an E model at the other end of the base when 2 F-4C’s where taxi-ing in position on the runway and a KC- 135 was on the over runway. The KC released it’s brakes and slammed it’s right inboard engines into the lead F-4 and the trailing F-4 luckily was between the KC 135’s inboard & outboard engines, just missing getting hit and both pilot and REO ejected. Not so lucky for the lead aircraft.
Was it REO or WSO?
I was Navy on Guam 67-68 and I saw them take off with full bomb loads from the road next to the runway. As soon as they made the U-turn from taxi they poured on the power and the roar was deafning. Amazing how they got off the ground. The cliff at the end of the runway probable helped them to make sure they put the pedal to the metal.
I sure liked looking up and seeing two contrails so high that you could hardly see the plane, and then you would hear bombs going off so many miles away, sure appreciate you guys. 1966 USMC Chu Lai
MY FATHER WAS IN SAC FOR 21 YEARS FLYING TAIL GUNNER IN THOSE BIRDS. TWO TOURS IN VIETNAM IN THE 60\’S. HIS SQUADRONS LOST SEVERAL PLANES DURING THE WAR. LOST ONE OUR NEXT DOOR NEIGHBORS WHILE STATIONED IN CLINTON SHERMAN AFB OK (CHARLIE POOLE) OVER THERE. HIS PLANE WAS SHOT DOWN BY SAM MISSLES. REMAINS WAS RECOVERED YEAR LATER. SEVERAL OTHER FRIENDS WERE LOST TOO. I WAS ONLY 8 OR 9 YEARS OLD BACK THEN AND STILL REMEMBER SEEING THE BASE COMMANDER AND CHAPLIN DRIVING TO THE HOMES ON BASE TO TELL THE FAMILIES OF THEIR LOSS. SAD TIMES.
I was a navigator/electric warfare Officer in SAC for 5 years at K.I. Sawyer AFB in the 70’s as Vietnam was winding down. We lost a B-52H crew and a KC-135 tanker in training crashes. All neighbors on our base. 11 guys total.
Was there at the same time and landed about 30 mins prior to the B-52 that went down at night prior to the runway. One of the navigatorA and co-pilot had come from my crew. I was an aircraft commander at the time.
I never had the privilege of riding in the B52 dut did get to watch them take off from the flightline at katana air force base 1969 an 70. Electrician on the transit side, worked on planes going to an from Vietnam.
Should have a warning first,made a grown man tear up. Thank your Dad for his service
In Desert Storm we rewrote the bombing tactics. From a high level to what low level around 500 feet what a great tactic.lights off peauking bombs down well lit runways. Unit was from Maine and Louisiana on Diego Garcia
yea I was at Diego and was there fore those practice low level runs with no lights…it was one awesome thing
I was a navigator/electric warfare Officer in SAC for 5 years at K.I. Sawyer AFB in the 70’s as Vietnam was winding down. We lost a B-52H crew and a KC-135 tanker in training crashes. All neighbors on our base. 11 guys total.
I was TDY on Guam in 66’ for the first time to bomb Hanoi. We had 30 B52 and 30 kc135’s, a day I will never forget. In Guam when the aircraft rotates you loose sight and then finally you see them climb. I think we lost 4 52s that day,but we definitely kicked some Ass!
I was up by DMZ in 68 . I just happened to look off to my left , when I saw a huge area of ground just lift up into the air , turn to dust , and fall back to the ground . I assumed it was from a B52 strike , because I had never seen that kind of disruption , before , or since . I was definitely impressed . I looked up , and could not see the plane , or planes , and I could not hear any planes . I was in awe , and proud to be a US Navy Seabee .
I was in MCB 5 at Dong Ha about that same time. When the BUFF\’s unloaded their \”gifts\” the ground shook and we thought our huts were coming down. Very impressive.
The lead plane on those Arclight missions played hell with our tropo, radio relay signals while trying to get the sitrep in house 5×5. Phu Bai and Quang Tri!
When I was 14 I spent 2 weeks on base at Griffiss AFB in Rome N.Y., a SAC base (around 1964). It was a real trip to watch the B-52’s and KC135 take off and land. It was a boys dream come true.
When we were kids we lived 50 miles from Chicopee, MA, westover AFB, those monster would scrape the tree tops headed into ny state, we could see the pilots, what a blast!
I was born in Holyoke Ma and lived there u til I went to Nam in late 69.
Looking out of any East facing window at the house I could see air traffic from Westover AFB. Fro. The second floor of the house, with binoculars I could clearly see into the main tower. Those planes were constantly flying. Westover was SAC headquarters back then.
Oh the memories of those beauties taking off , landing and flying all over the valley…..
I was at griffiss 1960 61 4039 sac wing was ground crew my plane #was 220
I was stationed at Griffiss in 81 and 82 on the sac hill, ammo used to transport ordinance to the alert birds…good times. We were the first base to utilize the ALCM on outboard pylons…
I was a B-52 mechanic and was stationed at U-Tapao AFB in Thailand 1968-1969. Had one B-52 run off the end of the runway one night and catch on fire. Several of us standing in front of the shop about a mile away got knocked on our butts from the explosion. The flight crew got out and got picked up by a maintenance truck, but a crew in a rescue helicopter died.
I was the firefighter on scene when the B52 crashed on takeoff. June 19, 1969. My fire chief radioed me to back off. Then a few minutes later, the bombs were exploding. I’ll never will forget. The hh43 rescue helicopter was blown out or the sky. Only one para rescue servived.
I was in my hooch when that 52 went up …worked in the bomb dump. 68-69..they hold if my memory is correct 108 500 pounders
I saw a B-52 in June, 1955 at March Air Force Base . I was 13.My Uncle Glen Holmes was a Crew Chief and I was visiting from Chicago. He had recently been assigned and told me about this fantastic new plane and he took me to see it. I was not impressed at first, but what I didn\’t realize was that silver object was FAR away. We were on a motorcycle and I was stunned at its size as we drove under it. I recall staring at a tire that was taller than me. It was assigned to SAC and my Uncle stayed with that same aircraft for the rest of his career some 20 years) moving to where ever the plane was based. RIP Uncle Glen. Thanks for this unforgettable experience.
great a/c to work on a hydraulic mech. for four years. Terry
I saw my first B-52 when I was stationed in Goose Bay Labrador in 1956 as I recall there are three I think flying around the world Non-Stop and one had to land there for maintenance. That planes been around so long that the pilots that flew it then have grandkids flying it now.
Worked on Electronic Counter measures on the B52s in Guam from Jan 68 \”68 TET. 109 b52s on the base at one time.. they said the average on ground time was only 3 hours…Never lost one while we were there… There crews were sure glad to see us at Debriefing because they had so many missles shot at them and didn\’t hit them.. 22A&E March AFB
This is a great tribute to well-built and maintained plane. I’ve never served in the military but I’m thankful for all that have. Both my parents worked at Warner Robins Air Base during WWII. When I was a small boy, a friend whose father worked at the base would talk about the B-52 Bomber. I became interested. When news footage was played on tv, I was amazed at the shear number of bombs that were dropped. Thanks for the ride.
I was a missile tech for Hound Dog, SRAM, ALCM missile attached to the B-52. My first base was Altus AFB, Oklahoma 1964, and last was Blytheville AFB, Arkansas 1986. I worked on D, E, F, G, & H model B-52. Was part of Arclight out of Guam in 1968. Our Missile crew observed the 1st Camo B-52G at Ramey AFB (1967) crashed on take off because the life raft inflated under the pilot. The Gunner and both navigators survived. The SSgt crew chief was onboard and did not survive. You could see the aircraft in the ocean a couple hundred yards from the beach. I have a cousin who is a pilot on B-52H, and he said there are circuit breakers still on the aircraft marked for the GAM-77 (Hound Dog missile). The GAM-77 was later changed to AGM-28 Missile.
A truly magnificent bird. I was the EWO on a 52H crew in the early 60’s. As impressive on my last flight as my first
The MITO (minimum interval take off), all 52’s followed by 135’s, day or night was an unforgettable experience whether on board or observing.
Cool video yes, but a bit of explanation at a few points would be helpful.
Are you the same David from Loring…
Will Sweet
I was a weather observer at Loring AFB in Limestone, Maine for 21/2 years from 65 thru 67, we had two wings of B-52’s and Kc-135’s to refuel them. The weather shack was located right next to the runway and I got to see so many of those big birds take off and land, what a sight, never got tired of seeing them.
Will Sweet
I was working on B-52G at Dow AFB 1966 till it closed 1968. Then went to Eilson AFB Alaska. Worked on RC135 up there ( Brass Bolt). We lost one RC , in June 1969 from Shemia. Never found. What great memories It was a Honor to have been assigned to those two great planes. Took part in arc light missions from Kadena AFB 1969.
I was wondering if there would be someone from Dow AFB. I was also there from 1966 through 1968, and was one of the last 35 airman on the base as it closed. I then went to Columbus AFB, Mississippi. Columbus then became a ATC base. I was in the Supply Squadron, BEMO, so I may have issued you a winter parka, winter boots, or safety-toe shoes. That was as close as I got to the B-52! This video is as close as I ever got!!!
Sat behind the barracks lots of evenings and watched the 52s take off we were AT HICkham AFB they were great aircraft
Thank you United States of America for such a good aircrafts,We all should serve thank you!for your time.
When I was 12 and a Boy Scout we visited Beale AFB, we went to see the SR 71 from about 300 yards but got to go inside a B 52, I was on cloud 9 for days. Today I am 66 an just as impressed and proud of the 52 and those that fly and maintain them as I was 54 years ago
Our D-Model crew from Dyess flew Linebacker on 27 and 29 Dec unscathed, but we were the last BUFF shot down on 4 Jan 73 over Vinh by a SAM.
We made it feet wet and bailed out. All of us survived.
Even fewer still have had the privilege of riding in the tail. A MITO takeoff in the tail is impressive because you know there’s another airplane behind you, in all that smoke, but you can’t see him. Great duty!
During the Bat of Pigs, we lived in Belchertown, Mass. I was only 13, but remember the B-52\’s and KC-135 flying overhead from Westover AFB. The sky was black with them! So when I graduated H.S. I joined the A.F. but as enlisted. Never got to work on them, and never got to Nam. Hats off to all that did. 1969-1976 U.S.A.F.
Radar technician on tail gun B-52’s Boeing Wichita,Kansas, 1961- 1967, md-9,asg-15 and ash-21 on “H” , closed circuit tv on G and H models, transferred to minuet man missile electronic, Wyoming and South Dakota, transfed to SRAM program , Kent Washington, then to Texas, General Dynamics Ft Worth to R/D SRAM to FB- 111, was then moved to Hill AFB Ogden Utah to production of SRAM, resigned Boeing as supervisor after 1500 SRAMs to move back to Malvern Ar to be closer to Parents—83 years and still going, GREAT MEMORIES!!!
I was a navigator on the KC 135. In a 1969 mission out of Guam, we were the lead tanker awaiting takeoff behind 4 B-52’s. I was sitting in the seat between the pilots as the 4th bomber was taking off. Shortly after liftoff, it’s starboard wing separated from the aircraft in flames and spiraled toward the ground with the plane slowly banking into the ground beyond the runway. Our AC asked ground commander if we should return to parking spot. The response was “negative, prepare for takeoff”.None if the B52 crew survived. We were both shocked and saddened as we passed the smoke rising the crash site.
That must have been a very heart wrenching feeling. A week before I arrived at Loring AFB in Maine, a KC-135 took off and went down just after take off, fully loaded, you know what that means.
will
I was at griffiss 1960 61 4039 sac wing was ground crew my plane #was 220
Saw many B-52 s at Wurtsmith AFB in Oscoda Michigan
My son was a B52 pilot. He did the funeral flyover for Col. Robert Morgan that piloted the Memphis Bell. Then he was tragically killed upon completion of a mission. He received a B52 flyover at his funeral.
Vietnam 1968 during TET.
Those guys were our guardian angels and we never knew they were there until the jungle exploded. Even a couple mikes away, it was
un-nerving. All we could do was dig deeper. I cannot imagine being in it.
Much respect to those crews.
I was working at Homestead Airbase as a private contractor when it was a SAC Air Base, one day they had a operation readiness alert, which means every aircraft on the base had to get up in the air, what a impressive sight to see all of those B52s taking off one after another, a very rare sight, I saw it all while working on a 65’ high rolling scaffold.
I was a B-52 pilot at WPAFB 66-68. Thanks for the memory trip!
I enjoyed reading a lot of your posts about your experiences with this machine.. I always find it a rush watching planes take off and land,,I used to work by our airport and used to watch the planes mostly land.. I used to analyze each landing..lol.. I know there\’s a big difference between domestic and airforce planes.. but it\’s still a rush.. I also liked being at the end of the runway when they flew over the top of me to land,, that was the real exciting feeling..but thanks for the comments of your experiences,, very interesting..
I was one of 13 “spare” co-pilots at Griffiss in 1960. One of us, a West point grad went to the Pentagon and asked to be reassigned to the interceptors at Griffiss. All hell broke loose! “What was SAC doing with 13 excess pilots?” We were immediately assigned to crews as second co-pilots. I was then transferred to Ramey PR was upgraded to pilot in 1965. My crew went to Arclight and 1967. I ended up with over 3000hrs. in almost every model of the old “Buff”.