Resurrected B 52

[TFucili]

We had family in town for the last ten days, and one of our many stops was the Pima Air Museum in Tucson, near DM. Man, I love that place. As per the post above, I kept drilling into my nephew, who aspires to be an engineer, how this country used to build stuff that not only performed, but lasted for generations. The B52, SR71, and A10 stand out to me, but there are plenty more.

 

[DavidC]

Found this on ebay

 

[DHayden]

AC-130 Spectre guys sold these T-shirts at airshows

#ad

 

[DavidC]

I LIKE that one

 

[SnoKing]

In June 1965, B-52s entered combat when they began flying missions in Southeast Asia.

http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-air-support/vietnam/rolling_thunder.htm

I was stationed in Thailand June of 1966 to June of 1967 building and operating the USCG Loran C Station, Sattahip near U-Tapao AFB. Buffs arrived in the fall of 66, disappeared over Christmas when President Johnson and Bob Hope visited. They returned after they left with news crews in tow. Which is in conflict with the official record "The first B-52's arrived on 10 April 1967.", and what we saw in person.

http://www.vdha.us/stuff/contentmgr...b4dc878a0f8/docs/u_tapao_historical_brief.pdf

 

[Tractorat]

AC-130 Spectre guys sold these T-shirts at airshows

When she was a little girl, my wife flew on a dc 3. When I used to fly I had a t shirt with a picture of the guney bird on it. What I really wanted was a t shirt with a picture of spooky (c46 gunship) on it. But I couldnt find it.

 

[SnoKing]

When she was a little girl, my wife flew on a dc 3. When I used to fly I had a t shirt with a picture of the guney bird on it. What I really wanted was a t shirt with a picture of spooky (c46 gunship) on it. But I couldnt find it.

I think you have the wrong plane in mind.

Military version of DC3 was the C47. DC3's flew from Seattle to Port Angeles several times a day when I was a kid. West Coast Airlines operated from 1941 to 1968.

"For every use found for the C-47, someone discovered there was usually a new nickname. ... In Vietnam , it earned the sobriquets “Puff the Magic Dragon,” “Puff,” “Spooky ... The C-47 was the first airplane given a name by the Army “ Skytrain .

The Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota is a military transport aircraft developed from the civilian Douglas DC-3 airliner. It was used extensively by the Allies during World War II and remains in front-line service with various military operators. Wikipedia

Range: 1,600 mi
Top speed: 230 mph
Engine type: Pratt & Whitney R-1830 Twin Wasp
Manufacturer: Douglas Aircraft Company
Number built: 10,174
Did you know: By 1941, the Army Air Force (formerly the Army Air Corps), selected the C-47 Skytrain (a modified version of the civilian DC-3) as its standard transport aircraft. dday.center

The Curtiss C-46 Commando is a twin-engine transport aircraft derived from the Curtiss CW-20 pressurised high-altitude airliner design. Early press reports ...
First flight‎: ‎26 March 1940
Manufacturer‎: ‎Curtiss-Wright
Produced‎: ‎1940–1945
Number built‎: ‎3,181"

 

[Tractorat]

I think you have the wrong plane in mind.

Could be. Its been 50 years since Ive seen puff.

 

[SnoKing]

Could be. Its been 50 years since Ive seen puff.

I always have to do the internet stuff for you.

https://www.teepublic.com/t-shirt/1...ViMpkCh3kqgZiEAQYBSABEgIVTfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

You owe me a beer.

SnoKing

 

[Tractorat]

Thanks for that. I may have to think about that. But its been 25 or 30 years since Ive been out flying and it might not be the same since I done fly anymore. I dont know any pilots anymore that I can impress with a cool t shirt.

 

[PBJ2500CTD]

Here is an article telling of some exciting inflight procedures SAC would train on. Picture looks a little extreme, but close enough. Wish there were videos. Gotta use your imagination. Get up to the refueling race track and switch on the AR (aerial refuel) mode of the AFCS (automatic flight control system, aka power steering) and go for it. For a white knuckle, perspiration laden session, try it without the AFCS. See how BIG and shiny the dangling boys were in SAC. (Whimpey MAC and ACC)
https://www.avgeekery.com/b-52-aircrews-used-air-refuel-crazy-bank-angles-just-prove/ (Hey, DavidC. Does the video in the article bring back adrenalin packed memories?)

Here is another B-52 resurrection story. Spent many an hour working on her, from early 70's sending her to missions over SEA from Guam, "standing guard" at Beale AFB and Det 1, to training missions at Castle AFB in the 80's. She sure looked pretty ragged in this article; nothing like when I last saw her. Almost teary eyed. I spoke with Bob Bogash around the time they were having support and storage issues. Boy, did he had the passion and drive to get the job done. But the end result, she now shines with glory. Strange, the emotions it brings up. And a salute to the crews and support personnel, no mater the mode (airframe, ship, tank, vehicle type, typewriter, etc.), service branch, et al! http://www.rbogash.com/B-52/B-52_Master.html

 

[DavidC]

Yes Sir, the Adrenaline would be rushing as you did not know for sure if it was a drill or the real thing. Still do not agree about the decision to close down SAC. To me it does not appear the cold war is over but has expanded to include more than Russia. I believe everyone in SAC felt special to belong to an elite unit and one you could depend on during peace or under stress. We were all there for the number one mission, protect the U.S. which I believe we did admirably. It is a sad sight to see all the mothballed planes sitting on the ground instead of filling the skies as it use to be. Do I feel safer since the demise of SAC, h*ll no. Bombers were meant for a round trip, there is no return of missles which I believe will be the weapon of choice if it comes to that. That is one beautiful machine in the second link.

 

[DavidC]

I did take note of all the alert Dodge Crew Cabs of the time tho. Never gave them a thought at the time.

 

[PBJ2500CTD]

I really liked this patch that showed up when SAC was decommissioned.

 

[PBJ2500CTD]

View attachment 114371In June 1965, B-52s entered combat when they began flying missions in Southeast Asia.

http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-air-support/vietnam/rolling_thunder.htm

I was stationed in Thailand June of 1966 to June of 1967 building and operating the USCG Loran C Station, Sattahip near U-Tapao AFB. Buffs arrived in the fall of 66, disappeared over Christmas when President Johnson and Bob Hope visited. They returned after they left with news crews in tow. Which is in conflict with the official record "The first B-52's arrived on 10 April 1967.", and what we saw in person.

http://www.vdha.us/stuff/contentmgr...b4dc878a0f8/docs/u_tapao_historical_brief.pdf

Come to think of it, dusting off some of the older memory cells, one of my neighbors (who dated Merrilee Rush for a few months - MAN COULD SHE SING!) joined the USAF around 64-65 and came home for a spell in 67 after a few tours to SEA. He told us of his adventures in that area. He was bomb-navigator IIRC on the D models. Tested some of the newer stuff at that time.

 

[SnoKing]

Back in the 80's Merrilee Rush did a gig at the old WWII Quillayute Zeppelin hanger near Forks, Wa. My wife and I along with a bunch of friends and relatives from Lake Crescent attended. She was great.