I was there as a 11 year old kid and watched the fire. My father was a pilot in the 301st. I recall getting to crawl around the cockpit and fuselage tunnel of a B36 during an open house and also remember the spooky U2s and the arrival of the first KC135 there
that "Barracks" is now being used for the University of Puerto Rico Aguadilla.....i can tell because of the pool and the its still there and its located right next to a running track.....this is an awesome video
I can do that. I will need you're email address. I don't think he was a member of the SAC Aero Club, but I really don't know for sure. He worked in the 72nd FMS, Airframe Repair Branch.
Email me at: v22crewchief at hotmail dot com
I can send more info you.
Also I am looking for as much info on the B-36 years at Ramey. Can you help?
I'd like a jpg of that news paper clipping. Can you scan and sent it to me?? Please include in the email, your dad's duty station and name. It is remotely possible that I might have known him.Any chance was he a member of the SAC Aero club?
@clifh2 YOU WONT BELIEVE THIS BUT I GREW UP THERE, AND IN THE 70'S, 80'S AND 90'S WE USE TO EXPLORE ALL THE BONKERS AND HANGERS WE USE TO DIVE THE SECRET SUB TUNELS BY PUNTA BORINQUEN, IT WAS OUR LITTLE RUINS AS WE USE TO CALL IT, MY DAD, HIS FATHER, EVEN MY GREAT GRANDFATHER BUILD AND WORKED THERE, I HAVE OLD VIDEO FROM 50'S AND ON THAT MY DAD SAVED, EVEN PHOTOS, IS AMAZING TO FIND SO MANY VIDEOS DETAILING THE HISTORY BEHIND RAMEY BASE IN MY LITTLE TOWN OF AGUADILLA!!!!!
My Dad was stationed there when this happened. I recall him telling me that either that day or a few days prior to this incident the 72nd received a Best in SAC Safety Award.
I have the base newspapaer clipping of that day.
Also, if anybody out there has any photographs of Ramey B-36's I'd be interested in seeing them. I am considering putting together a book about the B-36 years at Ramey AFB. My Dad took some goot shot's of the Ramey Peacemakers.
They were trouble shooting a induction fuel pump in a left wing fuel tank. The engineers panel had a three way pump switch for each tank. The up position was for a tank in the right wing and the down was for a tank in the left wing. The center was off. The crew member toggled the switch for the wrong wing tank. It was empty. The pump overheated and exploded.
The airman on the engineers panel was court marshaledmarshaled .
I have a piece of melted aluminum from A/C #5745 to this day.
The exact date was November 9, 1957. The plane was a RB-36H-10-CF, 51-5745. Thanks for sharing this video. I wish others would add to this place, their movies of the bombers and other aircraft at Ramey.
I was on the ground crew of this aircraft and was transferred a week before the fire to another B-36 as assistant crew chief. The plane was completely destroyed. The Crew Chief was badly burned when a fuel tank exploded and a fire ball came thru the bomb bay and hit him. One ground crew member was on the flight engineers panel and was one was in the wing the crew chief was on a headset standing outside the bomb bay door. T. A week sooner I would have been one of the involved crew. .
As I recall, it was a Saturday and there was a parade review on the flight line. I recall that the firefighters in the review all broke ranks and ran to their duty stations. I also real that an NCO used a firetruck or something to tow a neighboring B-36 away from the fire. Rumor has it that he was cited for damaging the plane. I seem to remember (50 years ago now) that he was given a citation for his action, but his rank was now A/1C - Down from S/SGT. Has my memory failed me?
I was there as a 11 year old kid and watched the fire. My father was a pilot in the 301st. I recall getting to crawl around the cockpit and fuselage tunnel of a B36 during an open house and also remember the spooky U2s and the arrival of the first KC135 there
postalhysteria 2 months ago
that "Barracks" is now being used for the University of Puerto Rico Aguadilla.....i can tell because of the pool and the its still there and its located right next to a running track.....this is an awesome video
alexgomez123 9 months ago
Clifh2,
I can do that. I will need you're email address. I don't think he was a member of the SAC Aero Club, but I really don't know for sure. He worked in the 72nd FMS, Airframe Repair Branch.
Email me at: v22crewchief at hotmail dot com
I can send more info you.
Also I am looking for as much info on the B-36 years at Ramey. Can you help?
stevee671 1 year ago
I'd like a jpg of that news paper clipping. Can you scan and sent it to me?? Please include in the email, your dad's duty station and name. It is remotely possible that I might have known him.Any chance was he a member of the SAC Aero club?
clifh2 1 year ago
@clifh2 YOU WONT BELIEVE THIS BUT I GREW UP THERE, AND IN THE 70'S, 80'S AND 90'S WE USE TO EXPLORE ALL THE BONKERS AND HANGERS WE USE TO DIVE THE SECRET SUB TUNELS BY PUNTA BORINQUEN, IT WAS OUR LITTLE RUINS AS WE USE TO CALL IT, MY DAD, HIS FATHER, EVEN MY GREAT GRANDFATHER BUILD AND WORKED THERE, I HAVE OLD VIDEO FROM 50'S AND ON THAT MY DAD SAVED, EVEN PHOTOS, IS AMAZING TO FIND SO MANY VIDEOS DETAILING THE HISTORY BEHIND RAMEY BASE IN MY LITTLE TOWN OF AGUADILLA!!!!!
N3LSUN 2 months ago
My Dad was stationed there when this happened. I recall him telling me that either that day or a few days prior to this incident the 72nd received a Best in SAC Safety Award.
I have the base newspapaer clipping of that day.
Also, if anybody out there has any photographs of Ramey B-36's I'd be interested in seeing them. I am considering putting together a book about the B-36 years at Ramey AFB. My Dad took some goot shot's of the Ramey Peacemakers.
If you pictures, please contact me.
stevee671 1 year ago
clifh2, I was never assigned to Ramey. I was born eight years after this accident.
logallar1 1 year ago
clifh2, I was not assigned to Ramey. I came to this world eight years after this accident.
logallar1 1 year ago
They were trouble shooting a induction fuel pump in a left wing fuel tank. The engineers panel had a three way pump switch for each tank. The up position was for a tank in the right wing and the down was for a tank in the left wing. The center was off. The crew member toggled the switch for the wrong wing tank. It was empty. The pump overheated and exploded.
The airman on the engineers panel was court marshaledmarshaled .
I have a piece of melted aluminum from A/C #5745 to this day.
Whitey5K 2 years ago
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Whitey5K 2 years ago
The exact date was November 9, 1957. The plane was a RB-36H-10-CF, 51-5745. Thanks for sharing this video. I wish others would add to this place, their movies of the bombers and other aircraft at Ramey.
logallar1 2 years ago
I assume you were assigned to Ramey at that time. Any chance you were involved in the aero club?
clifh2 2 years ago
I was on the ground crew of this aircraft and was transferred a week before the fire to another B-36 as assistant crew chief. The plane was completely destroyed. The Crew Chief was badly burned when a fuel tank exploded and a fire ball came thru the bomb bay and hit him. One ground crew member was on the flight engineers panel and was one was in the wing the crew chief was on a headset standing outside the bomb bay door. T. A week sooner I would have been one of the involved crew. .
Whitey5K 2 years ago
As I recall, it was a Saturday and there was a parade review on the flight line. I recall that the firefighters in the review all broke ranks and ran to their duty stations. I also real that an NCO used a firetruck or something to tow a neighboring B-36 away from the fire. Rumor has it that he was cited for damaging the plane. I seem to remember (50 years ago now) that he was given a citation for his action, but his rank was now A/1C - Down from S/SGT. Has my memory failed me?
clifh2 2 years ago