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Old 21st July 2008, 02:53 PM
Mike Scott Mike Scott is offline
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Default B-52 bomber crashes off Guam

An Air Force B-52 bomber crashed off the coast of Guam today with six personnel on board, Coast Guard and Air Force officials said.
The bomber crashed about 25 miles northwest of Apra Harbor in Guam, said Coast Guard Petty Officer Luke Clayton.

Coast Guard officials received a call about 3 p.m. (Hawaii time) after a jet flew over the wreckage, Clayton said. Coast Guard crew members were helping the Guam fire department and the Navy look for the crew members.

Coast Guard rescuers found at least one man and took him aboard the Guam-based 110-foot Cutter Assateague. His condition was not available, Clayton said.

Philip Breeze, chief of public relations for the 15th Airlift Wing based at Hickam Air Force Base, said B-52s are stationed at Anderson Air Force Base in Guam.

Pacific Air Forces, based at Hickam, oversees Andersen Air Force Base.

The B-52, with its 185-foot wingspan and more than 160-foot length, is the country's first long-range, swept-wing heavy bomber, according to its maker, Boeing.

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Old 24th July 2008, 10:22 AM
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The U.S. Coast Guard announced that it has suspended the search for survivors of the Air Force B-52 bomber that crashed Monday morning off the coast of Guam. Over the last few days the Coast Guard led a massive joint civilian and military search for the crew but are now switching their mission to focus on recovery of the air crew, "It's extremely difficult to suspend this search," said Capt. Thomas Sparks, the senior Coast Guard officer in Guam and the commanding officer of the Coast Guard's Sector Guam.

According to a media release from Andersen Air Force Base, The decision to suspend the search for survivors was made by officials after determining that none of the six crew members survived the B-52 crash, “Losing this bomber crew has been a tragedy felt by everyone here and across the Air Force,” said Brig. Gen. Doug Owens, 36th Wing commander. “Our deepest sympathies and prayers are with the families of these Airmen as we continue to support them during this difficult time.” The aircrew was stationed at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., and was deployed here with the 20th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron as part of the DoD’s continuous bomber presence mission in the Pacific.

The Air Force, meanwhile is officially identifying one of the victims as Major Christopher Cooper. However the identity of the second crew member that was pulled from the waters Monday, is being withheld pending notification of next of kin. Air Force forensic analysis specialists also are working toward identifying additional remains recovered. “I extend our sincerest gratitude to the men and women involved with this effort,” said Owens. “We are truly grateful for the passion and professionalism they continue to put into the recovery operations.”

A board of officers is investigating the accident.
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Old 25th July 2008, 09:07 AM
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All six airmen aboard the B-52 bomber that crashed Monday off Guam's northwest coast were killed, Air Force officials confirmed Wednesday.


The B-52H Stratofortress, like this one, was in Guam as part of a four-month rotation.

Aboard Raider 21 were Maj. Christopher M. Cooper, 33; Maj. Brent D. Williams, 37; Capt. Michael K. Dodson, 31; 1st Lt. Joshua D. Shepherd, 26; 1st Lt. Robert D Gerren, 32; and Col. George Martin.

The plane crashed about 30 miles northwest of Guam, the Air Force said in a statement.

Air Force crews switched from a rescue operation to a recovery operation over the 7,000-square-mile crash site, said Air Force spokeswoman Sgt. Ashleigh Bryant.

The bomber was scheduled to fly over crowds celebrating Liberation Day, which commemorates the U.S. capture of Guam from Japan in 1944, said Capt. Joel Stark, spokesman for Andersen Air Force Base in Guam.

The B-52H Stratofortress, based at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana, was in Guam as part of a four-month rotation when it went down about 9:45 a.m. Monday (7:45 p.m. ET Sunday), Stark said.

Martin was a physician and second in command of the medical unit at Andersen and not a member of the crew.

There were no weapons or munitions aboard the aircraft, the Air Force said.

In February, a B-2 stealth bomber crashed shortly after takeoff from Andersen Air Force Base. Two crew members ejected safely.
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