B-52 Crashes Off Guam, Killing At Least 3

Air Force Says Rescue Teams Searching For Remaining 3 Airmen Aboard Bomber

(AP)  Military officials say at least three crew members are dead after the crash of an Air Force B-52 bomber off Guam.

Rescue teams continue to search for the three airmen still missing after the Monday morning crash. They have covered roughly 3,000 square miles of the Pacific Ocean.

The Coast Guard says aircraft from as far away as Japan were brought into assist in the search-and-rescue operation.

The military says the B-52 was en route to a flyover in a parade when it crashed about 30 miles northwest of Apra Harbor.

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.

Maj. Stuart Upton, a Pentagon spokesman, said the aircraft was unarmed.

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.

[toolmangler-2009]

I am at a loss of words to describe a person with your
hate for our Military....

Posted by hbevis at 10:27 AM : Jul 22, 2008



People that cannot defeat another people tend to view them with a hated fascination. The same is true about militaries and Governments. A dreadful fascination is a form of flattery.

[toolmangler-2009]

Boeing suggested re-engining the B-52H fleet with the Rolls-Royce RB211 534E-4. This would involve replacing the eight Pratt & Whitney TF33s (total thrust 8 W 17,000 lb) with four RB211s (total thrust 4 W 37,400lb). The RR engines will increase the range and payload of the fleet and reduce fuel consumption. However, the cost of the project would be significant. Procurement would cost approximately US$2.56 billion (US$36 million W 71 aircraft).
Posted by hbevis at 12:00 AM : Jul 22, 2008



I dont suggest increasing the available thrust of the power plant currently on the airframe. The structure is already stressed for the smaller engines and I believe that doubling the output woud result in wings shearing off at the root/fuselage area. The Bird as is and maintained as they have been will suffice to keep our enemies honest (and at home).

[hbevis]

FeelFree4U at 12:58 AM : Jul 22, 2008

I am at a loss of words to describe a person with your
hate for our Military....

Like I said you were not and are not threated by anyone.
Open your mind and eyes and see how you are talking.
I have never mistreated anyone on or off duty.

[amazedd]

Help him! Help him!
Help who?
Help the bombardier!

- Nakid Yossarian

[nojoy01]

My condolences to the families of the crewmembers and my deepest appreciation, and admiration, for the commitment and sacrifice these warriors have made by their standing between us and harms way.

[nojoy01]

However, the cost of the project would be significant. Procurement would cost approximately US$2.56 billion (US$36 million W 71 aircraft).

Posted by hbevis at 12:00 AM : Jul 22, 2008

H-m-m-m. $2.5 billion to upgrade 71 aircraft that are going to be around another 30-35 yrs or $2.4 billion to purchase 2 aircraft. Let me call a rocket scientist friend of mine & see what she suggests. Wow. Now I know rocket scientists are smarter than the rest of us. She suggested buying the 2 aircraft & using the $100 million difference for bribes to get the 71 aircraft upgraded. Talk about win-win :)) Seriously folks, upgrade the 71 aircraft & think of the $$ saved because of fuel economy. And yes, over the remaining life of the aircraft I''m sure the fuel cost $$ saved might well be several times the upgrade cost.

[feelfree4u]

"AND IF YOU ARE NOT ANY BETTER AMERICAN THAN THE WAY YOU WRITE THEN YOU NEED TO HUNT YOURSELF ANOTHER COUNTRY TO LIVE IN."

Posted by hbevis


I think that you should consider your own advice.

You sound like one of the many abusive police officers that we constantly learn about having hid their crimes and abuses behind their soiled badge.

You should know better than to threaten people over the Internet, but you don''t.

[tbweb]

Future of the B-52

The Air Force intends to keep the B-52 in service until at least 2040, an unprecedented length of service for a military aircraft.[5][66] B-52s are periodically refurbished at the USAF maintenance depots such as Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma.

Boeing suggested re-engining the B-52H fleet with the Rolls-Royce RB211 534E-4. This would involve replacing the eight Pratt & Whitney TF33s (total thrust 8 W 17,000 lb) with four RB211s (total thrust 4 W 37,400lb). The RR engines will increase the range and payload of the fleet and reduce fuel consumption. However, the cost of the project would be significant. Procurement would cost approximately US$2.56 billion (US$36 million W 71 aircraft).

Posted by hbevis at 12:00 AM : Jul 22, 2008,,,

This reliable old faithful American workhorse has earned its stay in the fleet and has sent fear through many of America''s enemies like no other American weapon! The carpet bombing capability of the B-52 is still unmatched even with modern replacements! A U.S. Military icon and the "Darth Vader" of the U.S. Air Force! Whoever designed this aircraft clearly had bad intentions, sane people don''t design weapons like this! LOL

[hbevis]

Future of the B-52

The Air Force intends to keep the B-52 in service until at least 2040, an unprecedented length of service for a military aircraft.[5][66] B-52s are periodically refurbished at the USAF maintenance depots such as Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma.

Boeing suggested re-engining the B-52H fleet with the Rolls-Royce RB211 534E-4. This would involve replacing the eight Pratt & Whitney TF33s (total thrust 8 W 17,000 lb) with four RB211s (total thrust 4 W 37,400lb). The RR engines will increase the range and payload of the fleet and reduce fuel consumption. However, the cost of the project would be significant. Procurement would cost approximately US$2.56 billion (US$36 million W 71 aircraft).

[hbevis]

B-52H
The B-52H had the same crew and structural changes as the B-52G. The most significant upgrade was the switch to TF33-P-3 turbofan engines which, despite the initial reliability problems (corrected by 1964 under the Hot Fan program), offered considerably better performance and fuel economy than the J57 turbojets. The ECM and avionics were updated, a new fire control system was fitted, and the rear defensive armament was changed from machine guns to a 20 mm M61 Vulcan cannon. A provision was made for four AGM-48 Skybolt ballistic missiles. First flight 10 July 1960, entered service 9 May 1961. This is the only variant still operational.[77]

A total of 744 B-52s were built. The last production aircraft, B-52H number 61-0040, left the factory on 26 October 1962.[78]

[nojoy01]

Also, what might be confusing to some people, is there was a B-2 Bomber lost on Guam back in April. That''s this link that is a sidebar to the reporting of the loss of the B-52 http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/02/23/national/main3868142.shtml?source=related_story

Hope maybe this clears up some of the confusion in these comments for you.

[nojoy01]

Why does an Aircraft designed in 1954 costs 1.2 Billion dollars?

Posted by republic1776 at 10:06 AM : Jul 21, 2008

My best guess republic1776 is that they''''re talking like accountants. The cost of replacing the aircraft with another (different, since they don''''t make B52s anymore) aircraft capable of performing the same mission. Like maybe a B2.

Posted by nojoy01 at 10:39 AM : Jul 21, 2008

Posted by stn_sage at 07:11 PM : Jul 21, 2008

stn_sage & republic1776. Above is a repost to republic1776s'' question re: cost of estimated loss.
To put it another way. The aircraft that was lost needs to be replaced. The B-52 is no longer being built. Therefore, it has to be replaced by something being built now w/2008 $, not 1962 $.

[hbevis]

FeelFree4U at 11:28 PM : Jul 21, 2008

I AM NOT MAKING ANY KIND OF THREAT AT ALL. I AM A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER AND HAVE JUST ABOUT SEEN IT ALL. I AM JUST TELLING YOU THAT YOU SHOULD WATCH WHAT YOU WRITE AND SAY TO CERTAIN PEOPLE.

AND IF YOU ARE NOT ANY BETTER AMERICAN THAN THE WAY YOU WRITE THEN YOU NEED TO HUNT YOURSELF ANOTHER COUNTRY TO LIVE IN.

[feelfree4u]

Re: "I you were to say in person to some people in certain places, what you have posted you would not make it home."

"For someone to post what you have posted YOU HAVE TO BE STUPID, CRAZY AND DERANGED."

Posted by hbevis


This, from someone making veiled threats and frothing insults over the Internet.

[hbevis]

How old are these bombers? Some men today are piloting the same aircraft their fathers flew.

Prayers go out to those "who gave the last full measure of devotion".

Posted by Scratch0058 at 08:08 PM : Jul 21, 2008

AGE HAS NOT MUCH TO DO WITH ANYTHING. THESE PLANES HAVE BEEN MAINTAINED AND FLYING YEARS. THEY STATED FLYING IN THE EARLY 1950''s.

[hbevis]

One less war plane available to murder and maim innocent civilians in the current criminal crusade for Pax Americana.

Posted by FeelFree4U at 10:23 PM : Jul 21, 2008

I you were to say in person to some people in certain places, what you have posted you would not make it home.

For someone to post what you have posted YOU HAVE TO BE STUPID, CRAZY AND DERANGED.

[toolmangler-2009]

Posted by orange129 at 09:14 PM : Jul 21, 2008


SPAMMER

[scratch0058]

How old are these bombers? Some men today are piloting the same aircraft their fathers flew.

Prayers go out to those "who gave the last full measure of devotion".

[stn_sage]

Was the plane that crashed Monday morning off Guam actually the B-52 bomber, or the newer B-2 version?

The side article, a mention of the cost of the B-2 in the article (as opposed to the B-52), and the knowledge that this administration likes to pressure the media to obscure information, makes it UNCLEAR!

CBS- please confirm bomber type and cost of B-52!

[daysrnumbrd]

The Air Force intends to keep the B-52 in service until at least 2040, an unprecedented length of service for a military aircraft.

Posted by hbevis at 06:34 PM : Jul 21, 2008
..........

Yep, and the U.S. used the DC-3 in the Korean War as well as the beginnings of the Vietnam War as well.

Why scrap a good thing!

(I still think we should have kept the battle ships going. And some top brass in the Navy are saying the same thing).