B-52 crash investigation to be released FridayBy Bruce Rolfsen - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Feb 12, 2009 18:20:03 EST
The results of an investigation into the fatal crash of a B-52H Stratofortress bomber will be made public at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Air Combat Command announced Thursday.
The July 21 crash into the Pacific Ocean off the west coast of Guam claimed the lives of all six airmen onboard. It was the Air Force’s worst accident in 2008.
Shortly after the crash, aircrew family members said they were told there had been no distress call before the plane went down.
Lost in the crash were aircraft commander Maj. Chris Cooper, 33; co-pilot Capt. Michael Dodson, 31; electronic warfare officer 1st Lt. Robert Duane Gerren, 32; navigator 1st Lt. Joshua Shepherd, 26; navigator Maj. Brent Williams, 37; and flight surgeon Col. George Martin, 51. All were deployed from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., except for Martin, who was assigned to the medical group at Andersen Air Force Base.
Before the accident, a B-52 had not crashed since 1994, when a pilot from Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., put the eight-engine jet into aerobatic maneuver, sending the jet into an uncontrollable dive.
Article at:
http://airforcetimes.com/news/2009/02/airforce_b52h_crashinvestigation_021209w/%2e