For all that knew him this was the final flight. He was renowned for pushing or exceeding the limits of that aircraft for many years. There were those afraid to fly with him, which is why the ops officer was in the right seat on that day, giving his life for the scheduled co-pilot he saved from the disaster. Low altitude left wing stall is a guaranteed killer.
One other thing, it wasn’t HIS jet. It belonged to all of us who paid for it. It is unfortunate that so many of his commanders over the years enamored of his flying skills failed to reign in his egotistical flying that broke numerous regulations, exceeded published aircraft limits, scaring the crap out of crewmembers while flying normal training missions and as a demonstration pilot.
I didn’t fly the B-52, but I was in Strategic Air Command, and knew of his reputation years before the final flight. It came as no surprise that he happened to be the pilot on that final flight. It was not a good legacy for a soon to be retired AF Officer. The accident report was great for aviators in the AF and those just coming in as to why there are safety regulations, and very few old bold pilots.
I understand it was not His jet but I also know he was the commander on board. Commanders often say, “mu unit” or whatever.