by Phil Rowe
Early days in the B-52 program were an exercise in baggage handling. It was shortly after the B-36's went out of service and were replaced by the new all-jet B-52 StratoFortress bombers. Strategic Air Command (SAC) insisted on a policy of flight crewmembers carrying loads of stuff they'd really never needed, but carry it they did.
Each man was required to bring a duffel bag filled with clothing, boots and personal equipment just in case. Just is case meant the remote possibility that the airplane would be diverted before returning to its home base after even the most routine training mission. The worst case might be a wartime deployment on a moment's notice.
Crews reported for preflight duties four and one-half hours prior to each scheduled take-off time. So, for an 0800 flight that meant being at the squadron operations desk at 0330. Each crewman brought his duffel bag, a briefcase, a parachute, inflight lunch and appropriate helmet, jacket, boots and personal items. The total weight of stuff, per crewman, was about 150 pounds. And there were six crewmen, not counting any extras like instructors, flight examiners or people riding just for flying time. A total of nine could go along. That meant loading as much as 1200 to 1400 pounds of baggage and gear.
Most of the stuff not actually needed in flight was stowed in the aft compartment, behind the rear wheel wells, in what was known as the "47" section. That was the unpressurized compartment forward of the tail gunner's domain. It contained a variety of electronic equipment, two large anti-radar chaff dispensers, exposed pipes, cables and equipment related to the flight controls. Access was usually made from a hatch facing the aft wheel well, though the 47 section could be reached from the gunner's station too.
After about a year of loading and unloading baggage we never used, SAC finally decided that perhaps it wasn't really necessary after all. They made it a voluntary practice, so immediately crews elected to stop toting all that stuff. It made life much easier.
But wouldn't you know it. The very first time that my crew decided not to bring extra stuff on a routine training mission, that would be the time it was needed. We flew an eight-hour daylight training flight from our Spokane, Washington base with every intention of landing back there.
Even the weatherman was fooled by a sudden change of the winds and clouds. The field was closed down upon our return and we had to divert to central California B-52 base capable of servicing our plane. The forecast indicated no weather improvement for 24 hours, so divert we did.
That was the time none of us had any shaving kits, no change of clothing or any of the things we might need for a stay at a distant base. And that was the time that we found ourselves unable to return to Washington for three days. The low clouds, snow and bad weather persisted. And it made us wish we had brought along at least a little baggage.
SAC policies on uniforms and personal appearance were strict, particularly at the California base. We were not allowed to go to the Base Exchange cafeteria or the Officers Club in our flight coveralls. So, getting acceptable attire became a priority.
We headed for the Base Exchange store to buy shaving supplies and a few items of clothing. Fortunately, central California was very warm and we needed only sportshirts, slacks and underwear. We all decided to wear our flight boots, rather than buy shoes. We did wash our socks.
The store was having a sale on slacks and sport shirts, all alike. With our combat boots, identical shirts and slacks we looked like we had our own uniforms. But we had enough to be allowed into the cafeteria. We wouldn't starve, but Beau Brummels we weren't.
That was the last time our crew flew without taking along at least a small overnight bag with the bare necessities. In fact, we all kept a little gym-style bag in our lockers at the Squadron Operations building, just in case we got the word to go fly on a moment's notice. The attire from our California trip dwelt in those little bags for years.
We remember the strangest things about those days some 35 years ago. Don't we?