Accident Boeing B-52G-85-BW Stratofortress 57-6493,
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ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 48293
 
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Date:Wednesday 3 September 1975
Time:
Type:Silhouette image of generic B52 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different    
Boeing B-52G-85-BW Stratofortress
Owner/operator:68th BWg SAC USAF
Registration: 57-6493
MSN: 464198
Fatalities:Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 7
Aircraft damage: Destroyed
Location:near Aiken, South Carolina -   United States of America
Phase: Unknown
Nature:Military
Departure airport:Seymour Johnson AFB, NC
Destination airport:
Confidence Rating: Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources
Narrative:
Crashed and destroyed September 3 1975 after suffering major structural failure due to a major fuel leak with the right wing separating between the third & fourth engine nacelles, the wing then shearing off the horizontal stabilizer. The bomber rolled inverted & broke apart. Witnesses described it as a "ball of fire" which then plunged into a wooded area between Aiken and Williston, South Carolina.

Wreckage was spread over a 10-mile area. Four crew members successfully ejected, three KWF. The aircraft was on a routine training mission and was carrying no weapons. The Federal Aviation Administration, which was monitoring the flight, said the bomber was last reported flying at an altitude of 28,000 feet.

Crew:
Capt James A Perry USAF ejected & survived.
Capt Donald Exum USAF ejected & survived.
Capt Gregory A Watts USAF ejected & survived..
2nd/Lt Hector M Marquez USAF ejected & survived.
Sgt Ricky K Griffith USAF killed.
1st/Lt Melvin M Bewley USAF killed.
1st/Lt Grady E Rudolph USAF killed.

Sources:

United Press International, "B52 Explodes; 3 Dead, Missing", Playground Daily News, Fort Walton Beach, Florida, Thursday 4 September 1975, Volume 30, Number 180, page 1A.
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/1957.html

Revision history:

Date/timeContributorUpdates
07-Nov-2008 10:15 ASN archive Added
05-Nov-2009 12:23 JINX Updated
05-Nov-2009 12:24 JINX Updated
19-Feb-2013 09:42 Dr. John Smith Updated [Location, Departure airport, Source, Narrative]
19-Feb-2013 09:45 Dr. John Smith Updated [Narrative]
08-Apr-2016 19:00 Anon. Updated [Narrative]
07-Jun-2019 18:53 Nepa Updated [Operator, Operator]
27-Feb-2021 15:43 Anon. Updated [Operator, Location, Operator]

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