Cold War Bruisers– IN COLOR!
How about this great original color image of brand new frontline RAF and USAF strategic bombers, right out of the Cuban Missile Crisis era.
A Royal Air Force Avro Vulcan B.2 (s/n XH535) in flight with a U.S. Air Force Boeing B-52H-135-BW Stratofortress (s/n 60-0006)–the first B-52H to fly– over the Mojave desert near Edwards Air Force Base on 10 July 1961.
U.S. Air Force photo 342-C-KE-14932. National Archives Identifier 176246788
It is notable to compare the two frames, as most people forget just how big the Vulcan was. For reference, the B.2 Vulcan, which entered service in 1960, had a 111-foot wingspan and was 105 feet in length while the B-52H, which entered service the same year, spanned 185 feet and taped out at 159 feet in length.
Both of these beautiful aircraft went on to meet tragic ends early in their career.
XH535 crashed during a test flight under A&AEE control near Chute, Wiltshire, on 11 May 1964 after entering a spin and then belly-flopping. Four of six crewmembers died, with the pilots saved (albeit the co-pilot with a broken back) as they were able to eject at low altitude.
SN 60-0006, while part of the 34th Bombardment Squadron, 17th Bombardment Wing, crashed while making a ground-controlled approach to Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio on 30 May 1974– 50 years ago today– because the aircraft’s rudder and elevators failed. Luckily, there were no fatalities.
Freedom is never free.
I was working in the RCC, 465L SAC Control System, that night. Our shop was right behind the SAC command post, with a connecting door. When I went into work for mids, 0001-0800?. The conference room outside our shop had several people looking over schematics. Asked my guys what was going on and they said there was a B-52 with problems. While attempting to land the plane hit hard and crashed and burned. Being at night all that could be seen was the fireball. Command post people thought that the crew was lost. Someone responding to the crash noticed a trail of debris headed down the runway, followed it and found the front, crew area of the aircraft. From what I heard later most of the injuries were caused by the crew exiting at speed. Side note: Our shop issued the classified material needed by aircraft after normal duty hours. After things calmed down and no fatalities confirmed, one of use went and asked the command post people about the classified material on board.