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B-52 Flyby of USS Ranger
Family friend 'N.T.' | Today | Me

Posted on 07/06/2006 7:59:03 PM PDT by GoldCountryRedneck

B-52 Flyby of USS Ranger

This picture is real because I witnessed this flyby personally.

This picture was taken in the spring of 1990 as we started our deployment to the Persian Gulf.

I was up in the "tower" with the air boss as the Viking squadron rep for the launch/recovery and these Buff drivers (2 of them) called that they were at 8 miles for a flyby. They had been 'orange air' for a big war - at - sea exercise we were doing When they called 5 miles the boss said "we don't see you" and we heard back "look low".

Out on the water we saw this smoke trail first, (the planes merged with the color of the water) at about a 1-2 miles we could make them out and the two buffs came by at 20-30 feet off the water splitting the ship at about 350kts. Then they pulled up and did a big plan form 180 and said "do you want to see that again" - The air boss said "hell yea" so they went back out and did it again. It was the only time in my 20-year career that I have seen any service jets purposely flying below flight deck level.

One of my reserve buddies showed me this picture this weekend and I got all excited about it. It was always one of those moments at sea that I had talked about.

All the best.

N. T.


TOPICS: Arts/Photography; Chit/Chat; Military/Veterans
KEYWORDS: aviation; ddisgonehooray
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Ok, this occurred in the Spring of 1990, but a retired family friend just ran across the picture. It's one of those 'sea stories' that wouldn't be believed unless ya saw the 'poof'!

So I'm sharing with my FReepr Mil and Av buds:

1 posted on 07/06/2006 7:59:06 PM PDT by GoldCountryRedneck
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To: Aeronaut
Once-in-a-lifetime-flyby pic AVList *ping*

Thks - ~GCR~

2 posted on 07/06/2006 8:00:43 PM PDT by GoldCountryRedneck ("The Clintons... are the hemorrhoids on the body politic." <- FReeper firehat)
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To: GoldCountryRedneck

Just Wow! Thanks for the post!


3 posted on 07/06/2006 8:02:32 PM PDT by JennysCool (Roll out the Canarble Wagon!)
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To: GoldCountryRedneck

Priceless, GCR - Thanks!


4 posted on 07/06/2006 8:02:42 PM PDT by ConorMacNessa (HM/2 USN, 3rd Bn. 5th Marines, RVN 1969. - St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle!)
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To: GoldCountryRedneck

That's so cool.


5 posted on 07/06/2006 8:04:10 PM PDT by LdSentinal
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To: GoldCountryRedneck
No offense, but it doesn't look real. The BUFF looks way too low and the size doesn't seem proportional. Anyone else?
6 posted on 07/06/2006 8:06:44 PM PDT by TankerKC (¿José puede usted ver?)
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To: GoldCountryRedneck

No way!

That is one nutso pilot putting his crew in danger like that.


7 posted on 07/06/2006 8:12:36 PM PDT by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi --- Help the "Pendleton 8' and families -- http://www.freerepublic.com/~normsrevenge/)
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To: TankerKC

You can see what appears to be its shadow.


8 posted on 07/06/2006 8:18:30 PM PDT by 1066AD
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To: 1066AD
Another angle?


9 posted on 07/06/2006 8:20:00 PM PDT by TankerKC (¿José puede usted ver?)
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To: TankerKC

It's real.


10 posted on 07/06/2006 8:27:54 PM PDT by SampleMan
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To: GoldCountryRedneck

WOW!

Thanks for sharing the pic & the story.


11 posted on 07/06/2006 8:28:19 PM PDT by Khurkris (Things look different from over here.)
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To: TankerKC

The tipper here is that the nose looks to low. But that's how Buffs really fly. Someone faking the photo would pitch the Buff at zero or slighly flared.

But its real, heard the stories on this one when it happened. I've also looked down at a Tornado (aircraft variety) from the edge of the flightdeck.


12 posted on 07/06/2006 8:30:36 PM PDT by SampleMan
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To: Peanut Gallery; alfa6; Iris7; SAMWolf; snippy_about_it; Valin; CholeraJoe; Darksheare; Samwise

ping


13 posted on 07/06/2006 8:31:20 PM PDT by Professional Engineer (Hurrah for the flag of the free!)
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To: GoldCountryRedneck; potlatch; ntnychik; Smartass; Boazo; Alamo-Girl; PhilDragoo; ...

cool pic ping


14 posted on 07/06/2006 8:32:11 PM PDT by bitt (NY Times to New York: Drop Dead!)
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To: GoldCountryRedneck

Impressive. Thanks. I bet it was awesome in person.

Do the onboard Navy photographers mates have any official shots?


15 posted on 07/06/2006 8:32:31 PM PDT by Quix (PRAY AND WORK WHILE THERE'S DAY! Many very dark nights are looming. Thankfully, God is still God!)
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To: GoldCountryRedneck; Paleo Conservative; Dashing Dasher; phantomworker; najida; Millee; ...

B-52, someone over 50 you can trust PING!!


16 posted on 07/06/2006 8:41:16 PM PDT by JRios1968 (There's 3 kinds of people in this world...those who know math and those who don't.)
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To: JRios1968

Planet Claire or Rock Lobster? Couple of my all time favorites.


17 posted on 07/06/2006 8:53:55 PM PDT by phantomworker (Live life so completely, when death comes like a thief in the night, there is nothing left to steal.)
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To: JRios1968

Age & Deceit beat youth & skill!


18 posted on 07/06/2006 9:23:45 PM PDT by Valin (http://www.irey.com/)
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To: NormsRevenge
like this one Norm


19 posted on 07/06/2006 9:36:27 PM PDT by al baby (Dick Trickle is not a medical condition)
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To: GoldCountryRedneck

Put me on the av list please.


20 posted on 07/06/2006 9:39:56 PM PDT by Mr. Silverback (Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof - Lev. XXV, v. X)
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