Mid-1960s I flew 4 long missions, “Chrome Dome and HardHat.”
Each mission was about 25 hours, 2 refuelings each.
The B-52 had a crew of six. Pilot, co pilot, Radar Navigator Navigator,Electronic Warfare offoce rand Gunner. we carried an extra pilot.,
Yes, the box lunches were OK. The heat up meals were not so good, at all.
I remember the fatigue. The landings were “arrivals,” just getting the big
horse on the runway and deploying the “drag chute!”
I felt that it was necessary to scrape, us, the crew, out of our seats!
The Strategic Air Command ended those missions following an accident that killed a friend of mine, Capt. Len Svitenko, In January 1968.
Ahhh, the memories, some good and one very sad.
Thank you for your service.
They are a remarkable aircraft and after all these years still in service. I knew several B52 mechanics and crew members.
I had a job where we watched them take off. I used to tell fresh young airmen how the B52 took off and flew up to altitude.
The B52’s would rev their engines on the runway, dump all the clutches and spin their wheels. That accounted for all the black smoke. Then point to a refueling picture and tell them that’s actually a tow bar to help them get to altitude.
Why was one of the pilots allowed to bring 3 cushions aboard? They caught fire.
Thank you sir,
It was watching those B-52s in the 60s that led to me joining the USAF in 1976. Maybe one had YOU in it! Spent 22 years in. Never had a bad day.
The nights, on the other hand...