ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 48320
This information is added by users of ASN. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information.
If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can submit corrected information.
| Date: | Tuesday 19 November 1968 |
| Time: | 04:08 LT |
| Type: |  Boeing B-52D-60-BO Stratofortress |
| Owner/operator: | 346th BSqn /99th BWg attached to 306th BWg USAF |
| Registration: | 55-0103 |
| MSN: | 17219 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 7 |
| Aircraft damage: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | Kadena AB, Okinawa -
 Japan
|
| Phase: | Take off |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | Kadena AFB, Okinawa, Japan |
| Confidence Rating: |  Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources |
Boeing B-52D s/n 55‑0103, call sign "Cream 2" of 346th Bomb Sqn, 99th Bomb Wing attached to 306 BW, Kadena AB, Okinawa 4252th Strategic Wing. During an "Arc-Light Mission" en-route to Vietnam, aborted take‑off from Kadena AB on November 18 1968 and was destroyed by fire.
The B-52 left the end of the runway and traveled down a grass embankment, hit a large ditch, and came to rest on Kadena AB inner perimeter road, sitting on top of an air force police pick-up truck.(its driver escaped by running down the road!) The wings were torn loose releasing fuel from the wing tanks. Fires started from ruptured hydraulic lines, fuel flowing over hot brakes, and from electrical malfunctions. All 7 Crew egressed on the ground.
Crew: Five survived, three uninjured, two injured (broken leg), two died later of injuries sustained...
William "Billy" Dilworth, Pilot - survived
Capt. Gary B. Sible, Navigator - sustained broken leg, but survived
Alex Damellio, Radar Navigator - sustained broken leg, but survived
Capt Charles David Miller, EWO - Died of injuries several days later on 26th November 1968
Austin J. Decker II, EWO - survived
Al Aroney, Tail gunner - survived
Staff Sergeant Jerry Nixon Scott, crew chief mechanic [306th OM SQDN, 4252nd Strategic Wing]
- on assignment, not normally part of the crew. Died of injuries on 24th November 1968
This was fully loaded and some of the bombs detonated. EOD disarmed the remaining bombs. My father Joseph L Lesch was one of the EOD responders. Locals reported glass windows breaking at their homes.
Sources:
http://www.madracki.com/usarmyhawk/storyb52.html
http://web.archive.org/web/20171101061754/http://www.ejection-history.org.uk:80/aircraft_by_type/b52_stratofortress.htm
http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1955.html
http://airforce.togetherweserved.com/usaf/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApp?cmd=ShadowBoxProfile&type=Person&ID=81458
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 07-Nov-2008 10:15 | ASN archive | Added |
| 09-Aug-2009 12:06 | Anon. | Updated |
| 29-Oct-2009 13:25 | JINX | Updated |
| 17-Feb-2013 18:57 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Operator, Total fatalities, Departure airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 17-Feb-2013 18:58 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Narrative] |
| 17-Feb-2013 19:02 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Date, Time] |
| 12-Apr-2014 06:58 | Tweety32539 | Updated [Narrative] |
| 31-Jan-2019 18:54 | wf | Updated [Cn] |
| 06-Apr-2020 15:02 | Reno Raines | Updated [Operator, Departure airport, Operator] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2023 Flight Safety Foundation