Memories Of My Time In Airforce On B52s

[Treasure_Hunter]

I was in AirForce 67-71 and flew on B52s multiple times, over a dozen times or more.

This video is what it was like on Airforce base when Russian Bombers and jets were seen on radar headed towards our borders, it was a very dangerous game played during cold war. When you heard the siren it was ba__s to the wall and you better do your job right the first time.



Cockpit view from B52, I got to fly in co-pilot seat multiple times including during in air refueling.




I was stationed on Okinawa during '68 - '70. We were flying combatmisdions 24 hrs day, 7 days week.





We had one 52 crash on the base fully loaded with bombs and blow up setting ever bomb off. I was in barracks bed sleeping when it happen, the shock wave and explosion caused me to fall out of bed, my barracks overlooked the runway, when I opened curtain I saw a huge fireball and mushroom in runway and because of being half asleep and had had a few drinks I thought it was a nuke for first 15-20 secs till I realized I would be vapor.

Crash of a Boeing B-52D-60-BO Stratofortress at Kadena AFB: 2 killed | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

www.baaa-acro.com

Early 1969 I'm third from right.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Cry Of The Eagle: History And Legends Of The Cherokee Indians And Their Buried Treasure - Grab it through Amazon!

[Bamasteve]

Spent 2 1/2 years on a Buff base in the late 80’s those are some awesome aircraft!

 

[UTDev78]

Served in the Air Force from 1980-2002. Five years working on A-7D, RF-4C, and F-16A/B, then went to officer school and joined the intelligence world. Started as an A1C then retired as a Major. Supported the B-2H folks out of Louisiana quite a bit.

 

[SD51]

Thank you for your service gentlemen...Impressive!

 

[The Rebel]

Thank you all for your service to our country!!

That's an amazing video of the scramble.

I've always loved the Air Force and would have loved to have been a pilot or part of an air crew.

Is there any difference between the colors of the vehicles, ex white = Ground Crew Black = Air Crew?

Bet the civilians in the area freak out every time those sirens go off, know I would but perhaps you get used to it but not knowing if it's a drill or not would be unsettling.

 

[Blak bart]

I was in AirForce 67-71 and flew on B52s multiple times, over a dozen times or more.

This video is what it was like on Airforce base when Russian Bombers and jets were seen on radar headed towards our borders, it was a very dangerous game played during cold war. When you heard the siren it was ba__s to the wall and you better do your job right the first time.



Cockpit view from B52, I got to fly in co-pilot seat multiple times including during in air refueling.




I was stationed on Okinawa during '68 - '70. We were flying combatmisdions 24 hrs day, 7 days week.





We had one 52 crash on the base fully loaded with bombs and blow up setting ever bomb off. I was in barracks bed sleeping when it happen, the shock wave and explosion caused me to fall out of bed, my barracks overlooked the runway, when I opened curtain I saw a huge fireball and mushroom in runway and because of being half asleep and had had a few drinks I thought it was a nuke for first 15-120 secs till I realized I would be vapor.


View attachment 2131508

Crash of a Boeing B-52D-60-BO Stratofortress at Kadena AFB: 2 killed | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

www.baaa-acro.com

Early 1969 I'm third from right.

View attachment 2131512

Thanks for looking out for us !! I was a mere infant in 71. They taught me to hide under the desk when I was young.

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Thanks for looking out for us !! I was a mere infant in 71. They taught me to hide under the desk when I was young.

Yes, I remember the drills in school we would get under our desks for nuclear bomb drills, we stored water and can foods incase of war. There were surface to air missiles batterys on the beach shores during Cuban Missle crisis.

 

[Blak bart]

Yes, I remember the drills in school we would get under our desks for nuclear bomb drills, we stored water and can foods incase of war. There were surface to air missiles batterys on the beach shores during Cuban Missle crisis.

How the times have changed, but stayed the same.....the B-52 has out lived many cold war defenders, and continues to guard the skies !! Now our missle batteries which I pass every day on my way to work, are a state park, reclaimed by nature. The nuclear threat is as strong as ever, and im still not allowed to interact with my fellow islanders in Cuba......how it all changes, but stays the same ill never know ?

 

[michael NY]

I was in AirForce 67-71 and flew on B52s multiple times, over a dozen times or more.

This video is what it was like on Airforce base when Russian Bombers and jets were seen on radar headed towards our borders, it was a very dangerous game played during cold war. When you heard the siren it was ba__s to the wall and you better do your job right the first time.



Cockpit view from B52, I got to fly in co-pilot seat multiple times including during in air refueling.




I was stationed on Okinawa during '68 - '70. We were flying combatmisdions 24 hrs day, 7 days week.





We had one 52 crash on the base fully loaded with bombs and blow up setting ever bomb off. I was in barracks bed sleeping when it happen, the shock wave and explosion caused me to fall out of bed, my barracks overlooked the runway, when I opened curtain I saw a huge fireball and mushroom in runway and because of being half asleep and had had a few drinks I thought it was a nuke for first 15-120 secs till I realized I would be vapor.


View attachment 2131508

Crash of a Boeing B-52D-60-BO Stratofortress at Kadena AFB: 2 killed | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

www.baaa-acro.com

Early 1969 I'm third from right.

View attachment 2131512

Amazing videos and Thank you for your service

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Served in the Air Force from 1980-2002. Five years working on A-7D, RF-4C, and F-16A/B, then went to officer school and joined the intelligence world. Started as an A1C then retired as a Major. Supported the B-2H folks out of Louisiana quite a bit.

My job was as a Photo Interpreter for AirForce Intelligence, I use to draw what the radar would look like at various points of the B52 flight path based on what was on the ground at the points and the ground terrain, ip points, turn points, release points, target points. When I was in states all I did was work on plans and prepare for WWIII if it happen.

I was allowed to fly and would compare my radar drawings to the actual radar screen to see how close I was to the actual radar screen in my drawing to be able to improve my drawings, this is the reason I was authorized to fly on the 52s.

I plotted ICBM sites and other military targets in USSR on maps for the 52 pilots in case if nuclear was and would be involved in briefings for air crews on their combat missions.

I also use to develope and exam (score) the film from B52s after bombing missions to see what was destroyed, as well as film from U2s, SR-71s, F4s and satellite film that was actually dropped from space and recovered by Airforce planes.

The First Spy Satellites Had to Drop Gigantic Buckets of Film Back to Earth

The CIA and the Air Force went to great lengths to capture surveillance footage in the analog era of the 1950s and 60s.

www.vice.com

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

A lot of citizens never knew the lethal games that was played under the cold war. USSR would launch fleet of bombers towards US and use their satellites to see where we scrambled fighters and bombers from. All we knew was there were fleet if Russian Bear Bombers inbound over the Bearing sea and we lauched ever B52 fit to fly towards Fail-safe points close to Russian air space to circle and see what was next. These were scarying times then as both sides had their finger on the nuclear button.

The movie Fail Safe is actually based on this, it was called MAD doctrine, mutual assured destruction. The movie is extreme accurate on the scenerie

If you haven't seen movie Fail Safe it is good movie. Henry Fonda, Larry Hagman and Walter Matthau based on scenario of what if there was mechanical error.

Due to my clearance and job have physically seen several nuclear bombs. Never touched, only personally visually seen.

Here is full movie from YouTube.

 

[tamrock]

Thanks for your service TH. I sure felt safer in those days of the cold war knowing the country was always on thier toes and ready as a nation back then when it was a common sight to see our B52 bombers in the air. Last one I saw flying overhead was Sep. 22. It was in honor of just another slain police officer who was an airforce veteran. They have held several funerals at the church in my town for police officers who've been killed in the line of duty. There have been way to many of those services held at that church it seems in recent years.

B-52 Flyover Honors Beloved Veteran, Slain Colorado Cop

Colorado cop and Air Force veteran Dillon Vakoff died after responding to a domestic disturbance.

coffeeordie.com

 

[SeabeeRon]

Thanks for your service Marty!
Your posts in this thread bring back many memories from my youth as well being born in 1948.
We have to remain vigilant!

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Thanks for your service Marty!
Your posts in this thread bring back many memories from my youth as well being born in 1948.
We have to remain vigilant!

My friend we are the same age and been through many of the same life time line experiences.

Thank you as well for your service. Anyone who enlists signs their name to a blank check payable at any time and payable in blood and or your death.

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Flying is always dangerous and accidents happen, especially when pilots push the plane beyond its capability.

If you click on the "watch on Youtube" takes you directly to the video.

 

[Mackaydon]

I was an 'operating room specialist' in the USAF ('63-'69 March AFB) From our hospital windows we could see, on occasion, up to four B-52s at at time doing 'touch and goes'; practicing for Nam. Impressive sight--and chilling.
Don in SoCal

 

[Evan in CA]

Thank you all for your service

 

[ben ohio]

Thank you for your service we could hear you guys often Vietnam 70/71 H Troop 17th cav

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

I was an 'operating room specialist' in the USAF ('63-'69 March AFB) From our hospital windows we could see, on occasion, up to four B-52s at at time doing 'touch and goes'; practicing for Nam. Impressive sight--and chilling.
Don in SoCal

Yes, been on 52s doing touch and goes. Was on training flights and after about 10-12 hour flight, we touched runway just as I think about shower, and airman's club for a beer I feel 52 surge forward and away we go back up. I asked flight chief what is going on and says pilot needs more touch and goes for the month, shower and beers were delayed.

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Thank you for your service we could hear you guys often Vietnam 70/71 H Troop 17th cav

Yes, I also worked on both operation "Rolling Thunder" and "ARC Light". Ground troops knew when 52s started bombing, kind of hard to miss the explosions and shock waves.

Operation Rolling Thunder - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org