A B-52 short?

Post by **weemadando** » 2003-05-14 07:18pm

At the weekly gaming session, some time was spent, as always talking about various military actions around the world. The topic came up that plane-watchers in the US had counted one less B-52 coming back to base than leaving during the recent Gulf Conflict.

Now I'm not saying it was shot down, hell, I'm of the opinion it likely diverted or something like that, but has anyone else heard this story?

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2003-05-14 09:34pm

Hmmm, I haven't heard that. It's possible that they're wrong or it's elsewhere for some reason. I mean after all, they're old planes and it could be something as simple as a mechanical breakdown or battle damage. She simply could be unable to fly or have been diverted. If one of them was shot down you'd better believe it would have become news.

Montcalm · Post by **Montcalm** » 2003-05-14 09:37pm

or maybe they counted a plane twice.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2003-05-14 09:48pm

Perhaps the counters were from Florida?

HemlockGrey · Post by **HemlockGrey** » 2003-05-14 09:54pm

Perhaps the counters were from Florida?

Can't be. If they were, they would have counted the B-52 six or seven times, mistaken it for an aircraft carrier, and probably thrown in some MiGs for good measure.

EmperorMing · Post by **EmperorMing** » 2003-05-15 12:53am

HemlockGrey wrote:
Perhaps the counters were from Florida?
Can't be. If they were, they would have counted the B-52 six or seven times, mistaken it for an aircraft carrier, and probably thrown in some MiGs for good measure.

LOL!!

Sokar · Post by **Sokar** » 2003-05-15 01:46am

If one did fail to return , it was probably due to mechanical failure at some point and the bird sat waiting for parts and a tech crew in Quatar or Europe, and returned later. Iraq had nothing even capable of scratching a B-52.

However I like the Florida plane counters better, "Uh oh.....we have a hanging Stratofortress!!"

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2003-05-15 10:22am

Probably just diverted to another base. And with the USAF often having parts shortages for the things it could be sitting out on Guam or in the UK for some time to come.

Patrick Degan · Post by **Patrick Degan** » 2003-05-16 04:47am

You know how it is; fog of war and all that. The Air Force can't be expected to keep track of every B-52 they send out...

Stuart Mackey · Post by **Stuart Mackey** » 2003-05-16 04:53am

Sea Skimmer wrote:Probably just diverted to another base. And with the USAF often having parts shortages for the things it could be sitting out on Guam or in the UK for some time to come.

A rare part perhaps? arnt there a bunch of them in the boneyard?

Rubberanvil · Post by **Rubberanvil** » 2003-05-16 05:16am

Stuart Mackey wrote:
Sea Skimmer wrote:Probably just diverted to another base. And with the USAF often having parts shortages for the things it could be sitting out on Guam or in the UK for some time to come.
A rare part perhaps? arnt there a bunch of them in the boneyard?

Nearly the entire civilian aviation industry including the civilian bosses for Air Force and Navy is dead set against using old used aircraft parts. IIRC the United States by treaty with Russia is prohibited from using the B-52s in the Boneyard, much any of the parts from them.

Stuart Mackey · Post by **Stuart Mackey** » 2003-05-16 05:28am

Rubberanvil wrote:
Stuart Mackey wrote:
Sea Skimmer wrote:Probably just diverted to another base. And with the USAF often having parts shortages for the things it could be sitting out on Guam or in the UK for some time to come.
A rare part perhaps? arnt there a bunch of them in the boneyard?
Nearly the entire civilian aviation industry including the civilian bosses for Air Force and Navy is dead set against using old used aircraft parts. IIRC the United States by treaty with Russia is prohibited from using the B-52s in the Boneyard, much any of the parts from them.

I hope your wrong, cause thats just stupid. So if something breaks on a service B52 you have to make a new part? fuck that when you have a bunch of them in storage.
You could sell the mothballed B52's them to a third party who would sell you the parts at exhorbitant prices to cover their costs

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2003-05-16 08:57am

Stuart Mackey wrote:
A rare part perhaps? arnt there a bunch of them in the boneyard?

There all older models. The various models of the B-52 don't have all that much in common. And those aircraft which would be a good source of parts mostly had to be smashed under arms limitation treatys.

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2003-05-16 01:10pm

Indeed, the B-52H has much less in common with the rest of the fleet - different engines, strengthened airframe for low-level operations, vastly different electronics suite. The G and H models also had a lightened airframe that made extensive use of aluminum rather than steel (precluding the Big Belly modification) that was also incompatible with the older birds.