Patriot Wing Airmen join Maine contingent at B-52 crash site memorial
WESTOVER AIR RESERVE BASE, Mass. -- Patriot Wing Airmen braved sub-zero wind chills in north central Maine Jan. 17 to pay tribute to a B-52 aircrew that met death more than 50 years ago while on a training mission that originated from Westover.
The reservists included SMSgt.Todd Lasky, SMSgt. Daniel Howard, and TSgt. William Passmore. Coincidentally similar to the wintery weather on the day of the 1963 tragedy, Maine's heavy snowfall and the remoteness of the crash site forced the reservists to snowmobile to the crash site. Much of the B-52 wreckage is still intact -- scattered atop Elephant Mountain near Greenville.
"Every January, the Moosehead Rider Snowmobile Club rides to the crash site," said TSgt. Passmore, who's also a Cold War history buff. He kept in contact with the club asking what Westover reservists could do to assist. "The Maine Air Guard has been the Air Force's only representation at this event. Considering this is a huge part of Westover's history that may have been largely been forgotten, I felt we should do what we can to reach out and help the community and commemorate Westover's history."
According to historical records and newspaper accounts, a nine-man aircrew assigned to the 99th Bombardment Wing at Westover, lifted off from the base for a training mission about noon on Jan. 24, 1963.
In the wake of the discovery that the Soviet Union had developed more sophisticated air defenses, SAC missions at the time called for crews to fly as low as 500 feet off the ground. The crew included eight officers and one enlisted Airman, the gunner.
All but two were killed when the B-52 crashed into the side of the mountain after encountering low-level turbulence.
Lt. Col. Dante Bulli, aircraft commander, and Capt. Gerald Adler, the navigator, survived. As temperatures plummeted to as much as 30 degrees below zero that night, Lt. Col. Bulli secured his sleeping bag from his survival kit. Capt. Adler wrapped himself in a parachute. The following day, an Air Force rescue crew from nearby Dow Air Force Base in Bangor, discovered the two crewmen.
Maine Air National Guard honor unit members from Bangor joined the Westover Airmen to pay tribute to the crew at the crash site.
"This year, for the first time, Westover attended and provided the personnel for the flag ceremony," said TSgt Passmore. "By attending we made a lost part of Westover's history come back to the base and be remembered by present and future generations of Airmen."
The officer in charge of the ANG unit praised the Westover group.
"The Westover team took it upon themselves to re-discover this history and made the trek on their own time and on their own dime," said Lt. Col. Thor Noyes, 101st Force Support Squadron commander. "These Airmen are truly exceptional, terrific examples of the current and next generation. I for one was grateful for their participation.
Both SMSgt. Lasky and TSgt. Passmore are assigned to the 439th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron; SMSgt. Howard is the 439th Security Forces Squadron first sergeant, and lives in northwestern Maine. The other AMXS Airmen who traveled to Maine for the tribute were TSgt. Chad Soler, SSgt. Sharon Mekal, and A1C Devon Billington.
"It was a long drive," SMSgt. Howard said. "The temperature was an extreme low the day of the service. All stood strong and proud throughout. True testaments to the Citizen Airmen's resolve."
EDITOR'S NOTE: To read more about the Elephant Mountain accident, click here.
To view photos of the Jan. 17 tribute, click below (see final page):
http://www.westover.afrc.af.mil/Portals/1/documents/patriot/2015/PATRIOT_mar2015_finalv2.pdf