And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
The guy in the front seat in the red helmet is Tex Johnson, who also did a slow roll in the original Boeing 707 during the Seattle Sea Fair hydroplane races in 1955…
If you ever get to watch one of their takeoffs, do. Between the engine noise and becoming airborne. it's truly a sight to remember. Saw several going out on patrol from a SAC base in New England. Awesome.
Front/back seat alignment was used in the B-47 but there were so many communication issues that Curtis Lemay nixed it and returned to the two abreast design that allowed much better visual comm between the pilots. Wonder if this one is still around in a museum?
Both the XB-52 and YB-52 were scrapped in the mid 1960s.
The YB-52 was the first to fly, and it was donated to the United States Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson AFB and put on display outdoors. There are numerous sources on the Internet that say it was scrapped as part of a “beautification program” that Lady Bird Johnson inflicted on the Air Force Museum. The XB-52 was scrapped about the same time. I’ve never found a detailed account of this “beautification program“.
Buff beginnings…
ReplyDeleteAnd...It's still flying operational missions.
ReplyDeletejuvat
Nothing this old is still flying, oldest in service are from the early 60s and they might still be flying 30 years from now.
DeleteLeather flight jacket.
ReplyDeleteStill got mine. USN 1975-81.
DeleteThe guy in the front seat in the red helmet is Tex Johnson, who also did a slow roll in the original Boeing 707 during the Seattle Sea Fair hydroplane races in 1955…
ReplyDeleteIf you ever get to watch one of their takeoffs, do. Between the engine noise and becoming airborne. it's truly a sight to remember. Saw several going out on patrol from a SAC base in New England. Awesome.
ReplyDeleteNemo
That was back in the 50's. - Nemo
DeleteFront/back seat alignment was used in the B-47 but there were so many communication issues that Curtis Lemay nixed it and returned to the two abreast design that allowed much better visual comm between the pilots. Wonder if this one is still around in a museum?
ReplyDeleteBoth the XB-52 and YB-52 were scrapped in the mid 1960s.
ReplyDeleteThe YB-52 was the first to fly, and it was donated to the United States Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson AFB and put on display outdoors. There are numerous sources on the Internet that say it was scrapped as part of a “beautification program” that Lady Bird Johnson inflicted on the Air Force Museum. The XB-52 was scrapped about the same time. I’ve never found a detailed account of this “beautification program“.