Urban Legend??

[unstable load]

I am looking to clear up something that has intrigued me for a few months. I work in Thailand at U Taphao International Airport. It was apparently a B52 airbase during the Vietnam war and the local legend has it that a B52 went in off the end of the runway with a full bomb load and that it created a lake when it blew up.

The co-ordinates from Google earth are 12 deg 42' 11N and 101 deg 00' 22E.

Can anyone confirm or is this just wishful thinking?

Thanks in advance,

UL.

[Wader2]

Two links, the second gives the date. I can't check out the first link.

yashy.com/idea/page.php?id=2387
Major Warren K. Davis (http://hh43b-husky.net/PedroMemorial/WK%20Davis.html)


Google is your friend.

[ORAC]

Also, on the same day:

Ash 1 B52D No. 56-0584, 12-26-72 U-Tapao Crashed at U-Tapao.

Attempted go-around with 4 engines out on same side. 4 KIA. CP, 1st Lt Bob Hymel & Gunner, TSgt Spencer Grippen were rescued.

The A/C made a determination that they should bailout before the crash, but since the gunner was wounded and they felt he might not be able to physically execute the bailout, they decided as a crew to try and bring the plane in. Ironically, the only survivors of the crash were the C/P and the wounded gunner. In addition, the C/P would not have survived had he not been rescued by a crewmember from another BUFF who watched the crash, and rushed into the wreck to pull the C/P out before the plane burned up.

Lt Col Bob Hymel was killed in the Pentagon on 9/11. (http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/rjhymel.htm)

[forget]

unstable load, Urban myth I'd say. The report says;

The crew sped up too rapidly, however, and the aircraft--carrying about 300,000 lbs of fuel and 108 500-pound bombs--skidded off the runway into a ditch. ..... suggesting that the aircraft stayed within the airfield. Your lake would mean one helluva long over-run.

Give my regards to Utapao. I spent many happy times with the Royal Thai Navy there in the 80s. Great guys - one and all. :ok::ok:

[unstable load]

forget,

Thought so, the bomber would have to have been airborne and speared in to make a hole like that IMO.

ORAC, Wader2,

Thanks, guys! Will check the links out!

Cheers,

UL.