B-52 down in Guam, Crew members missing

[SuperDave]

Looks like they found all six. No survivors. The most sad part of the aviation business.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080723/...uam_plane_dc_1

[sweetpea]

Dave that article says they only found 2 and presume all 6 are dead.

I have not heard if they found the other 4 bodies yet.

[SuperDave]

My bad

[sweetpea]

By JAYMES SONG, Associated Press Writer

HONOLULU - All six crew members aboard a B-52 bomber that crashed off Guam were killed, the Air Force said Wednesday.


A wide search effort has shifted focus from rescue to recovery of the crew. Two bodies have been found; the Air Force, without elaborating, said in a news release that forensic specialists were trying to identify additional remains recovered.

"Losing this bomber crew has been a tragedy felt by everyone here and across the Air Force," said Brig. Gen. Doug Owens, commander of the 36th Wing.

The six crew members were identified as Maj. Christopher M. Cooper, 33, aircraft commander; Maj. Brent D. Williams, 37, navigator; Capt. Michael K. Dodson, 31, co-pilot; 1st Lt. Joshua D. Shepherd, 26, navigator; 1st Lt. Robert D. Gerren, 32, electronic warfare officer; and Col. George Martin, flight surgeon.

Martin, whose age was not immediately available, also was the deputy commander of 36th Medical Group at Andersen Air Force Base.

"Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with the families of these airmen," said Col. Robert Wheeler, 2d Bomb Wing commander. "We appreciate the military and civilian organizations who are continuing recovery efforts to bring our airmen home."

A panel of Air Force officers is investigating the crash.

The unarmed bomber crashed Monday during a swing around the island as part of Guam Liberation Day celebrations, marking the day when the U.S. military arrived to retake control of the island from Japan during World War II. The B-52 had been scheduled to conduct a flyover in a parade.

The crew was based at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana. Flags were being flown at half-staff at the Louisiana state Capitol to honor them. They were deployed to Guam with the 20th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron as part of the U.S. military's continuous bomber presence mission in the Pacific.

[sweetpea]

I was friends with 2 of those lost in this tragedy. The others I had not flown with or met yet.

[Pittsflyboy]

Tragic loss, God bless our military and their families.

[BOSSIER_ROB]

I thought I'd post this just to share with what is going on here locally and for Razorback who is currently in Guam and may not have seen this yet. The entire Shreveport/Bossier community has been saddened by this loss and it is amazing at how many people are placing memorials outside the Northgate of Barksdale. All flags are being flown at half staff Statewide. This just shows how proud we are of our militatary here at Barksdale. I'm proud to be an Air Force brat. I have many great friends that serve here as well as several in other branches, so anytime a tragic accident like this happens, I can't help but feel for the families and friends. I know what it is like when someone doesn't come home from deployment. This is a clip from a local news group..........

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, LA (KBAD) - Members of the public will get a chance to pay their respects to the fallen crew of a Barksdale-based B-52 that crashed off the coast of Guam earlier this week.

A memorial opening Thursday inside the 8th Air Force Museum will include photos of the crew of Raider 21, along with six pairs of flight boots, six flight helmets and other memorabilia from the 2nd Bomb Wing.

In addition, people will have a chance to express their condolences in writing, by signing a remembrance book which will be shared with the families of the crew members.

The display will remain in place for the next 30 days and will be open to the public during normal museum hours, 9:30 a. m. to 4 p. m.

In the meantime, some members of the local community have found a way to honor the fallen airmen on their own. They've begun leaving flowers and flags outside Barksdale's North Gate, the area officially designated for public displays.

[TheTank]

Very sad news. My thoughts go out to their families.