I remember being out on the Alert Pad with my crew, as all six of us watched it, because we didn't get to practice MITO's very often, I mean maybe once every couple of years. But this is the takeoff we would do if we received an actual message while on alert. I do miss those days. My wife found this today and thought I would like it and OMG was she right.
Whenever I saw the smoky layer over Rancho Cordova, I did my best to get to Happy Ln and Kiefer Blvd to watch the B-52s in the pattern. I lost some hearing out there, but thanks for the show. Thanks for keeping the cold war cold, and won. 🇺🇸👍
YEP! Me too. Was just telling my hubby about that smoke trail that would hang in the air. As a teenager I’d be awakened at 3, 4 am when these guys would scramble directly over our house. Pictures fell, shelves dropped stuff- you’d swear they were taking your roof right off.
Fond memories of taking my girlfriend to the end of the runway back in 86-90having some beers watching California birds doing touch and goes been together ever since . I still make the Capital Airshow. Have awesome photo albums of all kinds of aircraft
I was stationed at Mather as a *law enforcement* security police. It was my first duty station right after tech school. Just finished my resident CDC training. On December 16 1982, shortly after getting off duty - I worked a mid shift - I finally laid my head down. ...it was like this "sonic BOOOOMMMM"!!!! The whole house (on base) shook like an earthquake jolt... the windows rattled hard. And then, for just a few seconds an ominous silence followed. My boyfriend and I looked at each other.. What da hell was that? Idk. About 5 minutes later his telephone rang. It was our SPS unit. The familiar Male voice on the other end quickly said "A BUFF (B-52) just crashed off base! There are casualties. Report immediately for security detail. " About an hour or so there we were with the fire crew... out on the crash site walking amongst the still smoking debris .. the air was filled with the unmistakable smells of burnt EVERYTHING. Fuel fumes, plastic, rubber.... and the unforgettable essence of burnt flesh. One by one I saw them -All of the 9 crew members, some still in their seats... were dead. I will NEVER forget that day. That was the first of several *grahic* incidents involving violent accidents and or death in my military and civilian law enforcement careers. 18 years total. 35 yrs later, I still remember the details of the original scene. Sometimes, i can still see what has been permanently time-stamped in my memory...quite vividly. Again, I say "Rest in Peace my fellow comrades" God Bless 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
Dedra, first of all let me thank you for your service, I know you had a difficult but very important job....this video was taken about 4 years after the incident you mentioned.....at the time of that incident I was stationed at March AFB...I knew the pilot well from a different assignment, it was a very sad time for all of us, but we continued to do what we do and try not to think about it, and never while we flew.....I spent nearly 30 yrs in and have been retired for 19 years so I’m an old guy, but the memories from those days both good and bad will always be with me!
Dedra, you must have worked with my best friend who was also with the 323rd SPS & was called in for security detail at the site. My ex was with the 320th SPS at the time.
I was at Mather AFB from '88 to closure. I was a high voltage lineman with the 323rd CES. Spent many a day on the runway doing airfield lighting checks and repairs. I remember days working on the taxi-way lights while C-5's would work touch and go's. Great times and memories of Mather.
I was at Mather 1975-78, 323 Supply, Fuels (POL). I used to love when we would go on alert and the 4 Buffs and 4 KC135’s would roll off the alert pad. The flight line would shake and the cloud of exhaust would hover for an hour! Anyone recall the peanut butter pizza at the airman’s club during the meat shortage?
Hello ~ I was at Mather 1982-1988 as a 320 BMW member. I always enjoyed seeing the "Baby Elephant Walk." Monstrously large aircraft crawling toward take off, and beautiful to me. I never really liked the BUFF acronym. Dad was a tail gunner on the F/G models. He started out flying on the B36 as a 2nd radio operator when we were at Travis in the late 50's. We loved being at Mather (as a SAC tenant). Sorry it closed. Lamar Miller, MSgt (ret '88)
Wow, I remember that day. It happened around 9am a friend of mine and I were cutting school.all of a sudden we heard this loud BOOM...it shattered the windows on the east side of his house( the B-52 crashed in the field jno his house.
Great video! I was a kid during this time growing up in Rancho Cordova and loved to watch the The BUFFs of the 320th depart. I'll always remember the B-52 that crashed on December 16, 1982, just after takeoff! Thanks for the memories and thanks for your service!
The pilot was a B-52H Turbo fan engine primary, he was flying a B-52G water augmented, a “wet G” his secondary. What was the mistake he made that caused the plane to stall?
@@mdoubleu4028 It went down near Bradshaw and Jackson Roads. There was an open field area and a nearby quarry. I was a sophomore in high school at the time and was in AFJROTC at Hiram W. Johnson High School. I just remember the giant black billowing smoke and just felt sick about it!
@@racerxc70 If I recall, there were two B-52s taking off in a close interval. #2 was the one that crashed. Something about not getting enough take off speed at departure. I don't think it was mechanical.
I can not believe you have this, what a trill to see this format, and just think it was yesterday. Wow, proud to be a 20 year SPS and guard them and watch them take off many times. Thanks to all Veterans and Pilots for the service and and will continue success in the USAF.
My ex was with the 320th SPS (C flight) at Mather AFB during those days 1976-1980) I grew up in Rancho Cordova & remember hearing, seeing & feeling those mighty B-52's taking off, loved it!!! I also sadly remember the day we tragically had one go down right after takeoff as well 😞
I was the maintenance superintendent in the 2034th Comm Sq in 1985-87. This flick was taken from the new tower. I wonder why they didn't use both runways.
Dang just seen this video! I remember watching these aircraft all day long when I was a child living around that area so much that I wanted to become a pilot. Great memories that will not be forgotten.. :-)
I was working outside on this day. I owned Mather Auto Dismantlers from 1975-2006. We were located on the west side of the base. Property backed up to the B52 tarmack. Thanks for sharing this. Thanks to all you Vets for your service.
323 CES 77-81 Ah the good ole days.. nothing will replace them. There was something special about watching MITO's. Or hearing Tweets screech over head.
I remember in the late 80s there where six B-52's that took off together from Mather A.F.B. on some sort of drill or the like. They flew almost directly overhead and not that high yet. Man they were screaming so loud I had to cover my ears, and trying to talk to someone was out of the question, I mean so loud I was almost vibrating like that tabletop football game where you place the little football players on the playing field and turn the vibrator (makes them move) in every which way but usually not toward the goal line. What an experience.
Man if I listen hard enough I can still hear them big babies rattling my bed and windows as they took off! :O) I was at Mather from 83-86 and I heard those bad boys all through the day and night. I have some great memories of that base and the surrounding areas..and nice people.. :O)
Well thank you so much for flying those bad boys and your service to our country! I worked in the hospital there as a dental tech.haha yessir I was in the trenches fighting gum disease and tooth decay daily! :O) I served my 4 and got out, but I wish now I had stayed...I could have retired 2 years after you did and probably still do what I am doing now..
I remember being out on the Alert Pad with my crew, as all six of us watched it, because we didn't get to practice MITO's very often, I mean maybe once every couple of years. But this is the takeoff we would do if we received an actual message while on alert. I do miss those days. My wife found this today and thought I would like it and OMG was she right.
I was there 87 until closure. I remember the klaxon and watching the alert birds cart start.
Loved Mather.
Wow! Just found this. I was #3. What an amazing time! Thanks for sharing!
Fred Bates.
Are you saying that you're flying the B-52 that took off at # 3?
Fred Bates thanks for protecting us on alert
@@obloodyhell1 In the beginning of the video, the narrator says #3 is Fred Bates.
Whenever I saw the smoky layer over Rancho Cordova, I did my best to get to Happy Ln and Kiefer Blvd to watch the B-52s in the pattern. I lost some hearing out there, but thanks for the show. Thanks for keeping the cold war cold, and won. 🇺🇸👍
YEP! Me too. Was just telling my hubby about that smoke trail that would hang in the air. As a teenager I’d be awakened at 3, 4 am when these guys would scramble directly over our house. Pictures fell, shelves dropped stuff- you’d swear they were taking your roof right off.
That little turnout area was nice place to park and have a snack and watch KC-135s, T-37s and B-52s depart, and the T-43 Navigator trainers!
Fond memories of taking my girlfriend to the end of the runway back in 86-90having some beers watching California birds doing touch and goes been together ever since . I still make the Capital Airshow. Have awesome photo albums of all kinds of aircraft
I was stationed at Mather as a *law enforcement* security police. It was my first duty station right after tech school. Just finished my resident CDC training. On December 16 1982, shortly after getting off duty - I worked a mid shift - I finally laid my head down.
...it was like this "sonic BOOOOMMMM"!!!!
The whole house (on base) shook like an earthquake jolt... the windows rattled hard. And then, for just a few seconds an ominous silence followed.
My boyfriend and I looked at each other.. What da hell was that? Idk.
About 5 minutes later his telephone rang. It was our SPS unit. The familiar Male voice on the other end quickly said "A BUFF (B-52) just crashed off base! There are casualties. Report immediately for security detail. "
About an hour or so there we were with the fire crew... out on the crash site walking amongst the still smoking debris .. the air was filled with the unmistakable smells of burnt EVERYTHING. Fuel fumes, plastic, rubber.... and the unforgettable essence of burnt flesh. One by one I saw them -All of the 9 crew members, some still in their seats... were dead.
I will NEVER forget that day. That was the first of several *grahic* incidents involving violent accidents and or death in my military and civilian law enforcement careers. 18 years total.
35 yrs later, I still remember the details of the original scene. Sometimes, i can still see what has been permanently time-stamped in my memory...quite vividly.
Again, I say "Rest in Peace my fellow comrades" God Bless 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
Dedra, first of all let me thank you for your service, I know you had a difficult but very important job....this video was taken about 4 years after the incident you mentioned.....at the time of that incident I was stationed at March AFB...I knew the pilot well from a different assignment, it was a very sad time for all of us, but we continued to do what we do and try not to think about it, and never while we flew.....I spent nearly 30 yrs in and have been retired for 19 years so I’m an old guy, but the memories from those days both good and bad will always be with me!
Thanks for your service!
Dedra, you must have worked with my best friend who was also with the 323rd SPS & was called in for security detail at the site. My ex was with the 320th SPS at the time.
I was an SP at McClellan across town and remember that day. Very sad.
I was at Mather AFB from '88 to closure. I was a high voltage lineman with the 323rd CES. Spent many a day on the runway doing airfield lighting checks and repairs. I remember days working on the taxi-way lights while C-5's would work touch and go's. Great times and memories of Mather.
I was at Mather 1975-78, 323 Supply, Fuels (POL). I used to love when we would go on alert and the 4 Buffs and 4 KC135’s would roll off the alert pad. The flight line would shake and the cloud of exhaust would hover for an hour! Anyone recall the peanut butter pizza at the airman’s club during the meat shortage?
I was a BUFF nav at Mather from 83-89 don't remember if I was on this one but could have been. Thanks for the memory.
Hello ~ I was at Mather 1982-1988 as a 320 BMW member. I always enjoyed seeing the "Baby Elephant Walk." Monstrously large aircraft crawling toward take off, and beautiful to me. I never really liked the BUFF acronym. Dad was a tail gunner on the F/G models. He started out flying on the B36 as a 2nd radio operator when we were at Travis in the late 50's. We loved being at Mather (as a SAC tenant). Sorry it closed. Lamar Miller, MSgt (ret '88)
I was stationed at Mather AFB from 1973 to 1976 🇺🇸
Wow, I remember that day. It happened around 9am a friend of mine and I were cutting school.all of a sudden we heard this loud BOOM...it shattered the windows on the east side of his house( the B-52 crashed in the field jno his house.
I'm sure I was sitting in the launch truck that day. 320th Hydro
Great video! I was a kid during this time growing up in Rancho Cordova and loved to watch the The BUFFs of the 320th depart. I'll always remember the B-52 that crashed on December 16, 1982, just after takeoff! Thanks for the memories and thanks for your service!
Rob G thank you
Rob G
I lived in Rosemont at the time it crashed and was attending Albert Einstein Junior high when that B-52 crashed!
The pilot was a B-52H Turbo fan engine primary, he was flying a B-52G water augmented, a “wet G” his secondary. What was the mistake he made that caused the plane to stall?
@@mdoubleu4028 It went down near Bradshaw and Jackson Roads. There was an open field area and a nearby quarry. I was a sophomore in high school at the time and was in AFJROTC at Hiram W. Johnson High School. I just remember the giant black billowing smoke and just felt sick about it!
@@racerxc70 If I recall, there were two B-52s taking off in a close interval. #2 was the one that crashed. Something about not getting enough take off speed at departure. I don't think it was mechanical.
I can not believe you have this, what a trill to see this format, and just think it was yesterday. Wow, proud to be a 20 year SPS and guard them and watch them take off many times. Thanks to all Veterans and Pilots for the service and and will continue success in the USAF.
My ex was with the 320th SPS (C flight) at Mather AFB during those days 1976-1980)
I grew up in Rancho Cordova & remember hearing, seeing & feeling those mighty B-52's taking off, loved it!!!
I also sadly remember the day we tragically had one go down right after takeoff as well 😞
I was the maintenance superintendent in the 2034th Comm Sq in 1985-87. This flick was taken from the new tower. I wonder why they didn't use both runways.
The bombers and tankers always used the outside runway because it was longer
I was at Mather from 84-87 flying these great aircraft...retired in the area in 2000.
Dang just seen this video! I remember watching these aircraft all day long when I was a child living around that area so much that I wanted to become a pilot. Great memories that will not be forgotten.. :-)
Thank you for your service sir 🇺🇲
B-52 Radar Navigator. 83-87. God, what memories!!
Yep g models...chopped the wings off in the early 90s atn DM
My name is Kurt B. I was there in '86. I was with the 320th SPS. I was on days then, so I'm probably out there somewhere.
I was working outside on this day. I owned Mather Auto Dismantlers from 1975-2006. We were located on the west side of the base. Property backed up to the B52 tarmack. Thanks for sharing this. Thanks to all you Vets for your service.
You are very welcome
CurtsBuddyBar
I remember your shop,, I used to live by Juvenile hall and go back behind your store on that long road to watch planes take off.
Did you have a daughter named Reba?
323 CES 77-81
Ah the good ole days.. nothing will replace them. There was something special about watching MITO's.
Or hearing Tweets screech over head.
I was there ....some of my best years were at Mather..i was blessed by The Lord
I remember in the late 80s there where six B-52's that took off together from Mather A.F.B. on some sort of drill or the like. They flew almost directly overhead and not that high yet. Man they were screaming so loud I had to cover my ears, and trying to talk to someone was out of the question, I mean so loud I was almost vibrating like that tabletop football game where you place the little football players on the playing field and turn the vibrator (makes them move) in every which way but usually not toward the goal line. What an experience.
I was stationed at Mather AFB during this time with the 320th. AGE Shop.
Water augmented, B-52G’s
Dad was part of this unit from '77 to '81. Master Munitions Technician.
Could have not done it without the maintenance folks!
I assume tje cockpit video you have of the MITO is from this same launch? If it is, it would be cool to sync the videos somehow. Cool stuff.
No cockpit recordings in the Buff at least not in the late 80s
@@tippersteffi1 So this video is from a different launch? th-cam.com/video/E_WcOtFfVFA/w-d-xo.htmlsi=meaF9JW8Fy_DQ4AR
I was an air traffic controller in the tower at Mather back in 1986
Thank you for your service!
320th BG?
Man if I listen hard enough I can still hear them big babies rattling my bed and windows as they took off! :O) I was at Mather from 83-86 and I heard those bad boys all through the day and night. I have some great memories of that base and the surrounding areas..and nice people.. :O)
@Patrick I worked in the dental clinic
Paul, thanks for viewing and your service!
Well thank you so much for flying those bad boys and your service to our country! I worked in the hospital there as a dental tech.haha yessir I was in the trenches fighting gum disease and tooth decay daily! :O) I served my 4 and got out, but I wish now I had stayed...I could have retired 2 years after you did and probably still do what I am doing now..
So, Fred, you don't need no stinking 5 miles behind the departing Heavy 777.
I was at Mather in 320th OMS in1963-64, thanks for the memories.
Any chance we can get the original video? I was a 320 BMW, 441 Bomb Squadron EW from 77 - 80.
David Trask that is the original tape on the TV
Why didn't you upload the video saved in your computer?
Computer? Analog VHS videotape won't fit in the floppy drive, young man. 😉
lol g models 58 0184
duckduckgo.com/?q=B52G+58+0184%EF%BB%BF&atb=v127-2c_&ia=web