BUFF BULLETIN - B-52 Stratofortress Association
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BUFF BULLETIN
Volume 27 Number 1 Issue 91 March 2019
Blytheville/Eaker AFB
Plans Cold War Alert Facility Restoration
T he alert facility at the former Blytheville Air Force Base—a site identified as a potential tourism
attraction—has been named to the National Register of Historic Places, the United States’ offi-
cial list of historically significant properties.
Officials in northeast Arkansas are now studying how to transform part of the former U.S. Air Force base
into a museum focused on the Cold War. Television station KAIT reported a feasibility study found such a
museum could bring 50,000 tourists to the area annually. Now, a structural design study is being conducted to
determine what it would cost to convert the former Eaker Air Force Base’s alert facility in Blytheville into a
museum. Eaker Air Force Base, once called Blytheville Air Force Base, closed in 1992.
(Continued on page 2)
On the National Register of Historic Places Reg- needed for alert readiness as part of the nuclear de-
istration Form’s Summary Paragraph it is written terrent. The Blytheville AFB SAC Alert Area is
Blytheville Air Force Base (BAFB or Blytheville located east of the southern end of the runway. Sit-
AFB) Strategic Air Command (SAC) Alert Area uated at the center of the fenced area is the Alert
and Weapons Storage Area Historic District is a his- Parking Apron. A taxiway at the southern end of
toric district associated with the Cold War-era mis- the apron joins the Blytheville AFB SAC Alert Ar-
sion of nuclear deterrence, as well as SAC’s alert ea with the main runway, which allowed the bomb-
mission. The historic district is divided into three ers and tankers the quickest access to the runway.
primary areas: the alert apron area, the family visita- Positioned around the apron are the Alert Crew
tion area, and the weapons storage area, which are Readiness Building (Molehole, or Alert Facility,
all linked by a road and directly connected the mis- The Alert Area Aircraft Parking Apron (Alert
sions. The historic district dates from the late 1950s Apron or Christmas Tree), Security Police Entry
when the apron area and the weapons area were Control Building and Security Gate, The Electric
originally constructed. The area also includes build- Power Station Building, The Master Surveillance
ings and structures that were constructed in the and Control Tower, Alert Fire Team Facility, a
1980s, during the expansion of the Alert Crew small guard shack, nine small shelters each located
Readiness Buildings, as well as the addition of new by one of the alert spaces, a basketball court, swim-
storage facilities specifically for the Air Launched ming pool, and security fence. A road surrounds the
Cruise Missile. The Historic District is composed of Alert Area just inside the security fence.
military vernacular style buildings that were con-
structed using standardized Air Force plans, built by One of the two key features of the Blytheville
local contractors. While the contractors used stand- AFB SAC Alert Area is the Alert Crew Readiness
ardized plans the plans were adapted to fit the geog- Building. According to architectural historian Ka-
raphy and geology of the base. ren Weitze, who studied the SAC alert infrastruc-
ture for the Air Force in the e1990s, there are three
Blytheville AFB SAC Alert Area key features characterized SAC Alert Crew Readi-
ness Buildings which are:
The Blytheville AFB SAC Alert Area is a high-
security area containing the buildings and structures Two-story height, with the lower story either
necessary for SAC to field bombers and tankers fully below the ground or bermed,
2
Egress tunnels from the underground story, and Crew Readiness Building is a contributing element
to the historic district.
Simple 1950s design detailing.
The Blytheville AFB SAC Alert Area and Weap-
The Alert Crew Readiness Building is a two- ons Storage Area Historic District (later Eaker
story, concrete building known informally as the AFB) Historic District in Blytheville, Arkansas, was
“molehole.” Unlike many of the other Alert Crew nominated to the National Register of Historic Plac-
Readiness Buildings found on bases associated with es with national significance under Criterion A for
the Strategic Air Command, Blytheville Air Force its significance in the areas of Political History and
Base’s Alert Crew Readiness Building was actually Military History. It was also being listed for embod-
built as a two-story, above ground structure with an ying the distinct characteristics of an Alert Crew
earth berm extending to the second floor, due to the Readiness Building during the Cold War.
shallow water table in the Mississippi Delta region.
The Alert Crew Readiness Building served as the
living, sleeping, working, and recreational space for
the bomber and tanker crews on alert duty at
Blytheville AFB and other SAC bases world-
wide….In the 1980s, it was expanded to house the
Tanker Alert crews as well. The Alert Crew Readi-
ness Building is a large, reinforced-concrete struc-
ture designed to provide protection in the event of
nuclear attack. The building has virtually no orna-
ment, and is divided into two main blocks with both
a flat roof and a low-pitched gable roof, which rep- Weapons Storage Area
resent the two construction periods…. Like other
Alert Crew Readiness Buildings built during this
time period, the original portion consists footprint,
and flat roof. Entry to the building is through the
eleven ramps (three on each elevation, and two on
the north elevation) and extended through the earth-
en berm. Unlike many of the other Alert Crew
Readiness Buildings associated with Alert Mission
that had or have corrugated metal egress tubes, the
Blytheville Air Force Base Alert Crew Readiness
Building never did have the corrugated egress
tubes. The Blytheville Air Force Base Alert Crew
Readiness Building has boxed concrete tunnels that
open up to reinforced-concrete side walls, but no
Entry Gate
ceiling. The egress from the second floor consist of
a sloped concrete path with hand rails that lead to
the apron….The building has minimal windows and
doors on the above ground level. The ground level
floor extends the full length of the building. The
interior of the Alert Crew Readiness Building con-
sists of two floors: first floor rooms and briefing
rooms, and the second floor kitchen and other non-
mission related rooms. The Alert Crew Readiness
Building is an “Integration of living, working, and
learning spaces create a functional atmosphere dedi-
cated totally to the alert force objective.” The Alert Bomb Dump
3
From the Editor…
Tommy Towery
I am one of the lucky ones I believe. Some of
you might know I spent 17 years wearing Captain’s
bars on my uniform. The lucky part for me was by
being an Electronic Warfare Officer I found myself
un-promotable but in a critical career field. Thus, I
was allowed to stay on active duty by being selected
The BUFF Bulletin is a quarterly in the continuation program. Another lucky part for
publication by and for individuals me is I entered the Air Force through the Memphis
interested in the preservation of the
State ROTC program and was never augmented into
history of this significant aircraft. For
further information contact: the Regular force. Therefore, although I was not
promoted through the regular board, I was selected
B-52 Stratofortress Association
for Major by the Reserve Promotion Board in my
13840 Highway 99
Westmoreland, Kansas 66549-9707
14th year of service. All I had to do was wait until
the day I retired and I put on my Major’s Oak
The B-52 Stratofortress Association is a Leaves and retired as an 0-4. Since I did retire and
501(c)(3) tax exempt organization was given a Green ID card, I was privileged to not
Board of Directors only draw retirement pay, but also awarded the oth-
Col. Michael Edwards, USAF (Ret.) — er benefits of being retired—including the ability to
President take advantage of Space-Available travel. If you are
Lt. Col. Stephen Miller, USAF (Ret.) - retired (not just a veteran) you can fly with your
Vice-President spouse on military aircraft if seats are available.
Lt. Col. James Bradley, USAF (Ret.) —
Membership Since retirement in 2008 from my second career
Maj. Richard Nelson, USAF (Ret.) — at the University of Memphis, my wife and I have
Treasurer flown Space-A to Hawaii 15 times, home from Eng-
Lt. Col. Harry Bender, USAF (Ret.)
land following trans-Atlantic cruises twice, and
Steve Brown
Robert Harder
twice visited Ramstein, along with uncountable trips
Lt. Col. James Larkins, USAF (Ret.) throughout CONUS. All these flights were FREE!
CMSgt Doug Steward, USAF (Ret.) Of course we had to pay for military lodging while
Maj. Tommy Towery, USAF (Ret.) we waited on some connections.
SSgt. Timothy Hurst, USAF (1967-1971)
Col. James Hooppaw, USAF (Ret.) — My goal for nest year — PGUA! Yes, Guam.
President Emeritus The most common route to Guam is Travis to Hick-
BUFF Bulletin Editor am and then on to Andersen AFB. Sue and I tried
for Guam on our first use of Space-A and almost
Maj. Tommy Towery, USAF (Ret.)
made it. We were two hours out of Hickam when
5709 Pecan Trce
Memphis TN 38135
the C-5 had problems and had to return to Hickam.
E-Mail: buffeditor@gmail.com How many times did I want to get broken down at
Hickam during my service years?
Web Site
www.stratofortress.org You need to read up on the rules and tricks of
flying Space-A and the best place to do so is a web-
Facebook
site named WWW.POPPINSMOKE.COM. Study
B-52 Stratofortress Association the info on this site and it will prepare you for tak-
ing advantage of this earned benefit. There are no
guaranteed flights, but if you are retired and have
the time, it is a great benefit to enjoy.
4
Books by Our Members Where the BUF Fellows
Roamed is an anecdotal history
of an Air Force pilot in the Stra-
Jim Hooppaw tegic Air Command. As the au-
thor performs his preflight, in-
flight, and postflight activities of
his last mission in the BUF
(B52), memories of his career
as a pilot unfold into a collection
of experiences and vignettes,
often with a humorous bent. He
presents the human side of fly-
ing a serious mission from the boredom of nuclear alert
to the tedious missions in Southeast Asia. A technical
T
knowledge of flight or the military is not necessarily to
understand and expeience his last flight "where the Buf
his issue we begin a series designed to fellows roamed."
inform you about a few of our members
who have authored books connected with the B-52
aircraft and its mission. We begin with one of the
Tall Tail Tales is a collection
earliest to do so.
of his stories as well as those
Colonel James D. Hooppaw, USAF (Ret) is a of others. While most are
about flying, some are
retired command pilot with 26 years in SAC. He not. Some may make you
flew the B-47E and the B-52C, D, E, F, G, and H laugh, some may give you
models. He served as a pilot, instructor, Squadron pause, and maybe shed a tear
Commander, and Deputy Commander of Operations with Reflections.
of a Bomb Wing. He served three ARC LIGHT
tours in Southeast Asia, and received the normal
complement of decorations with gongs that every-
one else received. Any success he has enjoyed is
mainly the result of "working with and for a great
Those Were The Days is a se-
group of people." Colonel James D. Hooppaw, lection of tales about the mili-
USAF (ret) has been a long time member of the B- tary, flying, SAC, and Southeast
52 Stratofortress Association. He has served as the Asia from a variety of sources.
vice president and President and is still an active $15.00
member as President Emitus. Wayne Pittman, our
founder, was an endorser for his book, Where the
BUF Fellows Roamed.
Jim (AV8R) provides direct service with next
day shipping. Signed copies upon request:
Burns Flat Motoring and
Yachting Societe is a compan-
AV8R
ion piece to Where the Buf Fel-
13518 West Meadowview Lane low Roamed, you can learn what
Nine Mile Falls a pilot drives when he's not fly-
Washington, 99026 ing... From coast to coast, you
Phone - 509.466.8148 will learn about some of a man's
EMail - AV8R328@comcast.net greatest pleasures...driving,
owning, and looking for cars. Learn the answers to
Where the BUF Fellows Roamed and Tall Tail Tells questions like; "what's a drop-dead coupe?", "Why not
are available on Amazon / Kindle travel with animals", and Where the #$@* is Burns
Flat?" $12.00.
5
needed outdoor sheet metal work on the fuselage,
struts and wings.
We do have a U-Tapao Alumni work party
scheduled for Saturday April 27, but were are not
sure of what goals we'd like to accomplish that
day because everything depends on the ever
changing Michigan Weather.
Joe Provost
C/C 55-677
Tommy Towery
Newsletter Editor ________________________
5709 Pecan Trce
Memphis, TN 38135 Dear Editor:
I completed the renewal of the registration of
BUFFEDITOR @ GMAIL.COM the B-52 Stratofortress Association in the State of
Alabama, and completed the Form 990 with the
IRS. We are good for another year.
Rich Nelson, Treasurer
B-52 Stratofortress Association
__________________________
Dear Editor:
Member General Mike Moeller, and I are men-
tioned in Aerospace America Magazine in an article
concerning the Re-Engining of the B52. In the actu-
al magazine article, I am mentioned in the first two
Dear Editor: or three paragraphs and General Moeller is in a Side
Bar in bold print with his quote “IF YOU WANT
Our project, Saving 677, has been kinda TO SUSTAIN THE BASIC TF33 THROUGH 2030
dormant over the winter months. OR 2040 WE CERTAINLY CAN DO THAT;
KEEPING THE PLANES VIABLE BEYOND
We had one advanced sheet metal class from 2050 , THAT’S A DIFFERENT CHALLENGE.”
Michigan Institute for Aviation Technology,
working in the Yankee Air Museum, that finished General Moeller is retired and works at Pratt &
up just before the Christmas season. Whitney in the Military Engine executives.
Our next class with approximately 25 students Here is the link if you want to add it into the
is scheduled to start Thursday March 14 and they newsletter.
will be working inside finishing up on re-skinning
the three bomb bay doors we have left and some https://aerospaceamerica.aiaa.org/features/re-
minor sheet metal work in the engine intake ring engining-a-legend/
cowls. Dennis Thibodeau
In June, we do have two classes, a day and an
evening M.I.A.T Class scheduled, and hopefully
we will be able to put a dent in some of the much
6
Design Work Progresses
On the Arc Light - Young Tiger Association
Memorial Bench at SAC Museum
Working closely with the graphic designers at gic Air Command’s B-52 Bomber and KC-135
the SAC Museum, located in Ashland NE, the Tanker operations during the Southeast Asia
final touches are being honed out for the memori- Bombing Campaing 1965-1972.”
al bench project approved by the Arc Light—
Young Tiger Association membership at the last On the front of the bench will be the quote
official meeting of the organization. “Lest We Forget” - three words renown across
most countries to show our remembrance of those
The bench will be handcrafted from imported who have fought, and those who have died
black granite and laser-etched. It will be four feet fighting for freedom. It means that we will never
long by 14 inches wide., and the top will feature forget.
carved images of the SAC, Arc Light, and Young
Tiger patches and a drawing of a KC-135 refuel- Work on the actual etching will begin as soon
ing a B-52. as the granite is acquired. No projected completion
date has been announced.
Etched on top with be the wording “In honor
and recognition of the achievements of the Strate-
7
Doug Seward sent in these pictures of the front and back designs for the pro-
posed B-52 Association monument to be placed at the National Museum of
the United States Air Force.
8
From the
Association President
Mike Edwards
L et Spring temperatures and calm skies come early for all of us, but especially to those in the snow belt
across our country. Even in the South, warmer temperatures and no severe weather are welcome. I
hope you are able to have a warm, beautiful, and wonderful Easter time. May all of the B-52H crews, main-
tainers, staff, and support people, especially those who have survived a rough winter at Minot and severe
weather around Barksdale, enjoy the special Easter season, whether here or away. I wish all of you at Barks-
dale and Minot, that fly to all parts of the country and all over the world, a continuing period of good missions
and safe flying.
Eight new engines! For us retired types it has been a long time, but re-engining the B-52H is finally front
and center and getting real money budgeted so it can happen. There are many articles/blogs out there for you
to read and watch to stay informed about the process. I talked recently with a writer who was developing a
story about re-engining the B-52H. I relayed to him my extensive personal history and experience flying H
models with TF-33 engines when they were new in the 1960s, and then later when I flew them again in the
1970s and 1980s. I introduced him to others that were involved in TF-33 production, and current users of the
engines at Barksdale. He had talked to Boeing and engine manufacturing people, and was well versed in de-
velopments and requirements. His well-written aerospace aviation article about reengining the B-52H was re-
cently published. He addressed all of the reengining reasons normally addressed, such as the difficulties of
maintaining the TF33 that has been around nearly 60 years, and getting a new modern fuel-efficient, cleaner-
burning engine that will require very little maintenance. Eight (not four) engines will remain the standard for
asymmetrical thrust and air frame compatibility requirements. But he also brought up the need for increased
electrical power capability that is needed with the newer and larger precision weapons and systems, a new
glass cockpit, and an onboard CPU, which are not available with the current TF-33. With the current TF-33
producing more than enough max take-off power of 17,000 pounds of thrust, the new engines are projected to
produce about the same thrust. So exciting times are ahead for us on the sidelines watching it develop, but,
most importantly, for the current and future aviators and maintainers who will have the opportunities to fly a B
-52J!
I want to change gears now. Mother’s Day will be coming in May, so I want to thank those wonderful, lov-
ing, blessed people in our lives – our Moms. Each of us have fond memories of your mom that brought plenty
of smiles and laughter, and even a few tears and sadness. Many are fortunate enough to still have her in your
life. However, for too many of us, she is no longer with us. My Mom died too early at age 63, over 40 years
ago. I miss her every day. We have precious memories to keep and treasure. Our moms were there for the
beginning of our life, when we were growing up, through all of the schools we attended, supporting all team
sports we played, learning about the many friends we made, and meeting that special person that became our
spouse, and then loving her grandchildren. She was especially with us through prayers and phone calls as we
began and progressed through our Air Force and B-52 careers. She supported and cheered our successes as we
told her of a meaningful flight, passed a tough inspection, earned a decoration/medal, were promoted in rank
and to new job, and returned safely from an extended TDY. A meaningful visit or phone call anytime, but es-
pecially on Mother’s Day, will mean so much to her. I wish I could do both.
Until next time, take care and stay well.
9
Static Display Aircraft
B-52 Stratofortress
B-1 Lancer
B-2 Spirit
F-15C Eagle
F-15E Strike Eagle
T-1 Jayhawk
T-6 Texan II
TC-12 Huron
T-38 Talon
T-45 Goshawk
CV-22 Osprey
HC-130 Combat King II
C-130J Hercules
KC-135 Stratotanker
RC-135 Rivet Joint
UH-60A BlackHawk
Bark sdale Defend ers o f Liberty LUH-72 Lakota
OH-58C Kiowa
Air & Spa ce Show L-29 Delfin
L-39 Albatross
Saturday, May 18 and Aeronca 65-C
Aeronca Champ
Sunday, May 19, 2019 C-172
Come with family and friends and spend MH-139
a great day packed with spectacular dis-
p l a ys a t t h e n a t i o n ' s p r e m i e r s t r a t e g i c Performers
bomber base.
B-52
Admission is FREE! Wall of Fire
Parking is FREE! B1, B2, B-52
Flyover
KC-135 Stratotanker
T he Barksdale Defenders of Liberty Air &
Space Show is organized and hosted by the
2nd Bomb Wing Barksdale Air Force Base with the
The Black Daggers
The official U.S. Army Special Operations Com-
support of the Shreveport-Bossier Military Affairs mand Parachute Demonstration Team.
Council.
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds
Held for the first time in 1933, the Barksdale De- The Canadian Forces (CF) Snowbirds, 431 Air
fenders of Liberty Air & Space Show is a full- Demonstration Squadron.
weekend spectacular featuring displays of the latest,
as well as historic, military and civilian aircraft and The Tora Bomb Squad
other related performers. Smokey, hot, and loud - meet the team that brings
the show to life.
The Barksdale Defender of Liberty Air & Space
Show serves to enhance public awareness of U.S. Rob Holland
Air Force capabilities and the Barksdale AFB mis- The MXS-RH is a one-of-a-kind, all carbon-fiber,
sion through static displays and aerobatic perfor- American made masterpiece.
mances. Likewise, it allows Shreveport-Bossier City
to showcase Louisiana as the home of the B-52, pay Jeremy Holt
tribute to service members, and support the recruit- Biplane Aerobatics at its finest.
ing arm of the United States Armed Forces.
10Scooter Yoak Non-Optimum Alert
P-51D Jim Bradley
Crew Dog/EWO
T
Greg Colyer he runway at Glasgow Air Force Base, Mon-
T-33 tana, was oriented northwest-southeast/28-
10. The Alert Christmas Tree was at the southeast
Randy Ball end of the active runway. The Alert pad was placed
Mig-17 in the “optimum” location.
AeroShell Depending on the Alert Line/Sortie a crew was
4x AT-6s briefed on and sat alert on, you became subject to
the wind conditions. When the wind was “non-
Aftershock
optimum” two crews were often required to move
Jet Truck
their B-52D to accommodate the non-optimum con-
dition—park at the 10 end of the runway.
F-35 and P-38 Demo
When I became Combat Ready and was assigned
Kevin Coleman
to a crew, I was lucky enough to be Certified on one
of the sorties that could be required to move our
Schedule
bomber. This consisted of taxiing from the Alert pad
• May 18 and May 19.
to the opposite end of the runway and parking on the
• Gates open at 9:00 a.m.
“hammerhead.” The command provided quarters for
• Show Starts at 11:00 a.m.
us to live in and sleep in, but we had to drive our
Alert Pickup to the Alert Facility for meals.
Free, on-base parking through North, East and
West gates. Parking map coming soon.
You might wonder what living there was like.
We had a house trailer with electricity and heat. No
Food and drinks will be available for purchase. Wa-
doubt the need for heat at Glasgow AFB is well un-
ter bottle filling stations will be placed throughout.
derstood. There was no television in these trailers so
it was fall back on your childhood upbringing for
Visitors are prohibited from bringing containers
something to do, such as play cards or read or as-
like backpacks and coolers on base.
semble a puzzle.
Safety concerns related to the presence of jet fuel
For sanitary facilities we had the old fashioned
severely restrict where people can smoke on base
accommodations. We had two-hole outhouses, one
and at the air show. These restrictions will be en-
for each of the two trailers. You might ask how
forced for the safety of everyone present.
were these little buildings oriented? True to the mili-
tary, they were oriented with the doors facing direct-
Pets should be left at home and will not be allowed
ly into the wind which was the cause of needing to
in to the air show unless they are assistant animals
be in the non-optimum location. So the door was
(such as seeing-eye dogs).
subject to blowing open with occupant inside.
Possession of firearms on a military installation is On one occasion we had been placed in the non-
prohibited. optimum status. That night we were playing pitch.
After one round, the Gunner excused himself, say-
Base officials may adjust security measures as ing that he needed to use the toilet. The AC suggest-
needed. ed to the Gunner that he be sure and not use the Of-
ficer’s hole. The Gunner played along and asked
For any inquiries, please contact the Public Af- how can I tell which one is the Officer’s hole. The
fairs Division, 2d Bomb Wing (AFGSC), 109 AC responded, it is the one with the armrests and
Barksdale Blvd West Suite 209, Barksdale AFB LA fur lined seats on it. We all got a big laugh and the
71110-2270. Gunner went on to the toilet.
That was how being on a Combat Crew in the
mid-1960s was at Glasgow AFB in the winter.
11
______________________________found on
The Air Force fast tracks new war machines like
Jay Lacklen hyper-sonic weapons, B-52 engines.
I was honored to have Smithsonian Air & Space Thanks to taking advantage of a Pentagon rapid
Museum select a segment from my book "Flying development program called '804 Middle Tier Ac-
the Line, an Air Force Pilot's Journey," book one, quisition,' the U.S. Air Force is implementing a new
"Pilot Training Vietnam, SAC." for their booklet strategy for weapons development that will fast-
"Voices of the Veterans." This publication provides track a number of high-priority systems to war. A
stories from pilots in all of American's wars. Mine handful of significant weapons systems will benefit
was one of the Vietnam era selections. from the accelerated acquisition including satellite
surveillance, hypersonic weapons, B-52 engines,
That segment, "Bomb Run," covered my 1973 nuclear missiles and combat sensors.
Cambodian bomb run in a B-52D. The following is
the cover quote from that segment.
We’re Headed to Seattle
"In the near distance 33,000 feet below us, the
ground glowed red, eerily, from explosions from
preceding bomber formations. A mist hung over the
terrain that gave the area the look of a graveyard in
a horror movie."
2020 RENDEVZOUS SITE
12future generations, the project's objective is to
acknowledge and honor the sacrifices made by so
many who may not have had a proper homecoming
reception. The Veteran steering committee will be
meeting this week to address this step. Maybe you
can help too; thanks in advance if you can. To that
end an article in the 350,000 member strong Mili-
tary Officers of America Association magazine will
feature the project.
Dedication : Everyone, (the staff, volunteers, de-
sign and construction teams) are working diligently
towards a Memorial Day weekend dedication. There
Project Welcome Home Update has not been an "official" announcement yet as ex-
ceptionally bad winter weather (not expected) could
Jim Farmer throw sand in the gears. Barring that, the dedication
activities will be the weekend May 25-27. Which
S eattle's Museum of Flight's Vietnam Veter-
ans Memorial Park is progressing well.
There was an unexpected delay in county permit-
happens to be the most beautiful time of the year the
Great Pacific Northwest.
Jim Farmer and The Museum of Flight are grate-
ting when it was discovered that the main storm ful to the leadership and enthusiasm of Bob Bogash,
drain for Boeing field was directly under the without whom this project would not be possible.
planned placement of the Aircraft. In the unlikely
event that the drain failed the County would need
immediate access to it. Consequently, no permit
was granted for that plan.
The museum and its design design team went
back to the drawing board to create a larger and by
all assessments, a significantly improved park. All
plans are now approved.
Funding : Last summer's wonderful "Wings of
Heroes Gala", which individually honored over 100
Vietnam Vets from all services, raised enough in
contributions to reach the projects $3 million goal.
Of course donations continue to be accepted which
could be used for things like improved lighting,
landscaping, signage and such.
Construction : The museum, design team and
construction teams meet weekly to move the rock
forward. Construction of the park has started. It
seems to me that everyone involved has an emo-
tional as well as professional commitment to this
Statue : Artist Jim Nance (Air Force Academy grad/pilot and
job. What a delight to witness.
Vietnam Vet himself) has done a superb job in creating the 8
1/2' statue of a returning Airman holding a folded US Flag. It
Awareness Outreach : This is the next big chal-
currently resides at the foundry in Colorado awaiting comple-
lenge, getting the word out. In addition to educating tion of the Park.
138th ANNUAL 60th BMS REUNION!!!
TO THE BEST, FROM THE BEST!!!
WE'RE GETTING BIGGER!
New people join us each year and they like it! Remember that adage about real friends just
picking up where they left off, no matter the period of time since seeing each other last? That's us!
We will be in Panama City Beach, Florida, at the Naval Support Activity Panama City Beach, FL, May 17-
19, 2019. Dates are CONFIRMED!
The 60th was at Andersen from 1971, but generally considered a non-TDY type unit after the Viet Nam war
in 1973. Whatever dates anyone uses, the Squadron was on the Rock for less than 20 years. For the past 3
years, several of us from the early 80s have met in Florida. The venue is on a beach and very reminiscent of
our old stomping grounds. We would like to open these reunions to everyone who has been a member of the
BEST BOMB SQUADRON in SAC!
If you were assigned here, you are welcome. If you know someone who was and is not a member of this
group, let us know so we can include them. RV parking reservations can be made now, VOQ reservations can
be made 30 days out. Hotels are nearby.
______________________________________
B-52 Automatic Pilot Control
Identification Help Needed
Hi,
I’m not sure if your group could assist me or if
you might be able to refer me to someone who
could.
I purchased two pieces of B-52 cockpit autopilot
controls on eBay.
One unit located below the throttles is absolutely
from a B-52 although I’m not sure which version.
The second unit was advertised as coming from a
B-52H but I’ve been unable to locate it in any of the
hundreds of cockpit photos I’ve reviewed.
Attached are photos of both devices.
Any assistance you might be able to provide
about weather the second unit flew aboard a Strato-
fortress would be much appreciated.
Thanks and best regards,
-William O’Malley
omalleyb@pacbell.net
626-676-8400
14“Mission from Hell”
Charles R “Dick” Schaefer, Lt Col, USAF, Retired
I recently read a study accomplished at the War College by Mark Clodfelter called “Fifty Shades of Friction Combat Climate, B-
52 Crews, and the Vietnam War” a truly great account of the B-52 activities in Vietnam. I flew 125 (135 for air medal credit)
missions in this conflict as a B-52 aircraft commander. The extra 10 credits came in 1967 when my relatively new crew stationed at
Fairchild AFB, WA, was sent to Guam to replace the crew that was involved in the mid-air collision that killed Major General
Crum.
Intel reported the NVA was using the DMZ for storing fuel and munitions at night and the B-52 force should bomb the suspected
locations for several days. My EW said with all that at stake for the NVA they would send a mobile SA-2 into the DMZ to get a B-
52. That would be a great victory for them to get the aircraft that was causing their troops such “friction”. On about the third day of
this 10 day period, we took off from Andersen AFB early in the morning. About one hour out we lost all oil pressure on number-8
engine. After checking the gage and assuring ourselves it was a real loss of oil pressure, we shut down number-8 engine prior to
refueling. This created a real problem because we always refueled to maximum gross weight with the 24 external bombs on the
wings. We were going to be power limited and have a tough time getting our entire offload. Major General Simon “Sundown”
Wells (3rd Air Division CC) said if any crew missed AR or was out of the box on bombing, they would be sent home.
Because I had come from B-47s, I knew about refueling behind the KC-97, where we had to descend during refueling at high
gross weights to keep from stalling at high angles of attack. As always, the “Black Bastard” (as we called it) refueling track was full
of thunderstorms. The tankers were turning to avoid the storms as we tried to get the fuel with seven engines. Toward the end of
the track, during a turn around a storm, we fell of the boom. We needed another 5-10,000 pounds to make it. While the other air-
craft finished up and turned toward the track to Vietnam, we had the tanker extend the track and start a descent as we hooked up. In
another five minutes we completed our refueling and headed to catch our lead aircraft.
The climb out was very slow and we continued to lose ground behind the other two aircraft. Then the “Mission from Hell” con-
tinued when we lost all ac power in the aircraft. We immediately figured out our daylight remaining, and found we could make it
back to Guam before dark. So I decided we would continue the mission. But without radar we were committed to a “Bonus Deal”
bomb run from the gunner on a plane in front of us. We had to catch the lead aircraft! I told the copilot to restart number-8 engine
without oil pressure. I had heard somewhere a B-52 engine could windmill for many hours without oil. So we were going to test the
rumor to the upmost. Then the EW came on line and said that we had no ECM and we would be vulnerable to any SA-2 activi-
ty. We needed to get to the number two position to get jamming from the other two aircraft. But as all multiple malfunctions that
lead to aircrew losses, we were unable with all engines running to catch the two lead aircraft and switch into the number two posi-
tion. We just caught the number two aircraft about five minutes prior to bombs away.
As we set up with the gunner on number two for range readings to compute our time to bombs away (after we observe the bombs
on two visually falling), the EW came on interphone and said an SA-2 was on the air. He had one piece of equipment called the
APS-54 that ran on DC power. Then as the bombs started to fall from number two and we started our time for release based on the
range called, the EW came back on the air in a much higher octave and called “Lock-on!” About 10 seconds later, my copilot said
“They do look like telephone poles.” Wasn’t very funny at the time! I told the RN we would have to emergency arm release the
whole load on the hack - 60,000 pounds of bombs to leave the aircraft in one-two seconds.
I knew it would be close, by about a few seconds, so at release I banked the aircraft up to 90 degrees left. We lost 4,000-5,000
feet in the next few seconds and almost went out of control. A 45 degree angle of attack is the most for a B-52 in a turn. The gun-
ner called out the SAM detonations, slightly above our current location. We then flew into a thunderstorm (the world’s greatest nat-
ural jammer) off our left. We gained and lost altitude and were thrown around like a paper plane. Thank goodness it was a smaller
storm. When we came out the other side we were the lead ship. After getting into the number three position again, we shut down
number-8 engine and hoped for the best. We made it home OK. Our strike photo camera showed the SAMs exploding on our pro-
jected path.
Maj Gen Wells called us into his office the next morning and told us our bombs were in the box, but we make the biggest hole he
had seen in B-52 bombing. So we didn’t have to go home!
I think we were the earliest B-52 ever shot at in the South (DMZ). Because I knew how it felt to face this extremely unnerving
crew experience and the guilty feelings I always had not to have been in Linebacker II, I wrote “The Final Conflict, The End of In-
nocence” in 2002. I also have now written a screen play, hoping to tell the story for the US public. My book sold through our asso-
ciation and is now on E-books at Amazon.
The crews that flew Linebacker II truly were of the “greatest generation” courage of the B-17 crews of WW II.
15Membership Report
1190 Total Members
12 New
628 Active—Dues Paid-Up
579 Lapsed—Dues are In - Arrears
Couples: 264
Individuals: 840
Complimentary: 35
Honorary: 1
MEMO TO OUR MEMBERS
If you noticed the numbers, approximately one-half of our member’s dues
STATUS is LAPSED. This indicates either they are no longer interested or
that we have lost them as members. Dues are still $20.00 for an Individual Membership
or $30.00 for a Couple Membership. Notices of Dues being “due & payable” are sent
out via email about two weeks prior to the date they go Delinquent. Then another notice
is sent on the due date. A third notice is sent when dues become LAPSED. So there is
no lack of notification. I realize that people move, change addresses, change email ad-
dresses, so that can account for some, but not all. Members can pay on-line or by check
sent to me, made payable to B-52 Stratofortress Association, and sent my address listed
in this newsletter. This is the last round before the LAPSED go off the Membership da-
tabase.
1617
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