The other Diamond Lil

RAMC181 · **Posted:** Mon Aug 06, 2012 8:55 pm

The other Diamond Lil...

A quick snap of B-52 55-083 as I was leaving the Air Force Academy the other day, I'm sure many here will pick up on the non-standard appearance and the reason for it.

All the best,
PB

maxum96 · **Posted:** Mon Aug 06, 2012 11:54 pm

One of only 2 B-52's with a confirmed kill in Vietnam. Diamond Lil shot down a Mig-21.

http://www.check-six.com/lib/Drinks/toast_2_the_Diamond_Lil.htm

http://www.retirees.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123236541

Chappie · **Joined:** Wed Dec 19, 2007 9:40 am **Posts:** 990

Interesting. Never knew there was another Diamond Lil. I assume the other B-52 MiG kill was also scored during Linebacker II?

If you want to read a good book (when I say book, I mean one that has paper and words and stuff, not those Kindle-Cook-Nook claptraps) check out 11 Days of Christmas. It describes the air war over Hanoi during LB II, particuarly the bravery of the B-52 crews being sent in at the same speeds, directions, and altitudes every night by SAC brassholes. One crewmember describes being hit by an SA-2. As the airplane shuddered, burned, and slowly went out of control he remembers looking over his shoulder through a hole in the fuselage and seeing the burning engines on the left wing. He punched out right after that.

Good book.

Chappie

Pogmusic · **Posted:** Tue Aug 07, 2012 1:46 pm

Ok, I'll bite. What is the non-standard configuration and why?

Ken · **Posted:** Tue Aug 07, 2012 2:43 pm

I'll take a guess and say that the gear is down, but the outrigger gear (just inboard of the wing external tanks) is up. Instead, there are some poles keep her from teeter-tottering on that perch. Looks like a very nice display.

Ken

Garth · **Posted:** Tue Aug 07, 2012 2:50 pm

Ken wrote:

I'll take a guess and say that the gear is down, but the outrigger gear (just inboard of the wing external tanks) is up. Instead, there are some poles keep her from teeter-tottering on that perch. Looks like a very nice display.

Ken

I'm not sure what the non-standard appearance is either. Here's a pic of her from another angle (just providing the link since it's a VERY large picture):

http://skywalking1.files.wordpress.com/ ... usafa1.jpg

RAMC181 · **Posted:** Tue Aug 07, 2012 4:40 pm

Apparently her wings have been clipped, as she was lifted off the plinth a couple of times by the strong winds in the area.

Clifford Bossie · **Posted:** Tue Aug 07, 2012 6:18 pm

RAMC181 wrote:

Apparently her wings have been clipped, as she was lifted off the plinth a couple of times by the strong winds in the area.

I do not believe her wings were clipped in any manner, other than being stuck on a plinth. She sure looked "right" when I spent some time there a couple of summers ago.

For many years there was a rumor that the RB-36H at Chanute had a section of the fuselage removed because she had tipped onto her tail in a wind storm. When the B-36 was later moved to Castle it was proved that she was indeed the "correct" length for a B-36.

RAMC181 · **Posted:** Tue Aug 07, 2012 6:35 pm

Having checked the wingspan in GE, it would indeed appear the base guide was telling porkies.
Makes you wonder what else we were told on the tour was untrue too... :evil:

JohnB · **Posted:** Tue Aug 07, 2012 8:01 pm

Chappie wrote:

Interesting. Never knew there was another Diamond Lil. I assume the other B-52 MiG kill was also scored during Linebacker II?
Chappie

Yes, it's another D and has been on display at Fairchild AFB since her retirement in 1984-5.
She arrived from Anderson AFB with their wing CC flying her.

There would be no need to clip her wings if she got lift from winds. Some (small) spoilers would keep her down.
I bet some of the academy students could even design them... :lol:

Clifford Bossie · **Posted:** Tue Aug 07, 2012 9:52 pm

RAMC181 wrote:

Having checked the wingspan in GE, it would indeed appear the base guide was telling porkies.
Makes you wonder what else we were told on the tour was untrue too... :evil:

It happens. Usually most of the guides will get it right, but inaccuracies can still creep in. I have gotten skeptical as I have gotten older and often fact check what I have been told. I have also learned to fact check myself as some things I knew to be true, were not.

The Buff display at the Academy is a great memorial and a well done one. It is a novel way to tell the story.

Django · **Posted:** Thu Aug 09, 2012 11:53 am

That's pretty neat. I'll have to tell my Dad about this. I had no idea.

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