Episode 5 - USAF Czar 52 (Fairchild B52 Incident)

Inside The Black Box

On the afternoon of the 24th of June, 1994, a crowd has gathered by the runway of the Fairchild Air Force Base in the State of Washington in the United States. The group, a mix of United States Air Force personnel and their families are here to watch a practice demonstration for the Fairchild Air Force Base Airshow, scheduled to take place the following day. Fresh in the minds of those present is a recent disturbing incident that has taken place at the airbase. An ex airforce serviceman had entered the hospital on the base and shot and killed four people. Two of those people were doctors who had found the gunman unfit to continue military duty. The gunman was only stopped when he was shot and killed by security.

The Wing commander has taken the decision to continue with the airshow and the practice, believing it is important the public see the airbase functioning as normal. Although the demonstration was scheduled to take place in the morning The display has been delayed from the morning due to the secretary of state visiting the airbase as a consequence of the hospital shooting.

The demonstration flight involves a Boeing B52 Stratofortress and a KC135 aerial tanker performing a series of independent manoeuvres in front of the crowd, who watch parallel to the runway with cameras and camcorders at the ready.

You are listening to Inside The Black Box. This is the story of USAF Czar 52