Article

2008-10-22 -Lurid Crime Tales-

USAF F-16 Scores Truck Kill in LAS VEGAS

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by Atomic Conspiracy 2008-10-22 00:30|| || Front Page|| [1 views ] Top

#1 nice inline comments :-)

Posted by Classer 2008-10-22 01:05|| 2008-10-22 01:05|| Front Page Top

#2 Haji and Muji were unavailable for comment at press time.

Posted by Seafarious 2008-10-22 03:32|| 2008-10-22 03:32|| Front Page Top

#3 ...This sort of thing, sadly, does happen. A BDU-33 is roughly the same shape and dimensions as a bowling pin with fins at the long end. This shape gives it the same ballistic characteristics as a full-size Mk82 500lb bomb - AND it's reusable. Th problem is that it doesn't have the same safeguards as a full up -82 to keep it from dropping - it has only one attachment lug, no sway braces - and if the loader is in the slightest bit inattentive, or the ejection cartridge misfired, the BDU can and will come off at the slightest provocation such as a nice, tight break as the pilot gets into the pattern. Because of the time of the accident, it sounds to me like this bird was returning from a practice run where the cart fired but the bomb didn't leave the plane. Somebody didn't do a hung bomb check, and Mr BDU stayed with the bird until he pulled a couple G's going into the pattern.

Mike

Posted by Mike Kozlowski 2008-10-22 05:01|| 2008-10-22 05:01|| Front Page Top

#4 "There's a new one I haven't figured out yet, though; a typewriter superimposed on a whisky bottle."

Journalist?

Posted by Minister of funny walks 2008-10-22 07:41|| 2008-10-22 07:41|| Front Page Top

#5 Probably a nit picky remark, but as I recall Nellis AFB is nowhere "near" the strip.

Posted by Lionel Flaigum1587 2008-10-22 07:44|| 2008-10-22 07:44|| Front Page Top

#6 I doubt anyone will get in any real trouble for this. After all, what happens in Vegas, . . . .

Posted by Mike 2008-10-22 07:58|| 2008-10-22 07:58|| Front Page Top

#7 Mike is right. Getting bombed in Las Vegas is not news.

Posted by Richard of Oregon 2008-10-22 13:00|| 2008-10-22 13:00|| Front Page Top

#8 While stationed at Luke AFB in Phoenix, one of my compatriots had a 'bad day'. The bombing ranges in Arizona are located in the southern half of the state. Some of the bomb runs extend many miles outside the ranges themselves. One of the runs matched the border between Maricopa and Pima counties almost exactly. The major highway connecting Phoenix and Tucson runs perpendicular to the county lines and the aformentioned bomb run. Also, county sheriffs liked to meet at the county line and park their cruisers nose to nose and shoot the proverbial, well you know what. Thus the scenario for a perfect storm was set

Our intrepid F-4 aviators flying a low level route, at around 500', for a simulated nuclear radar delivery, make their final turn looking for the IP. The WSO, in the back seat, head stuck in the radar is looking for the reflectors indicating the target. He sees and acquires the target. Hits the switch to start the timers for the drop. The pilot hits the 'pickle' button and the drop tone starts. As they approach the highway, the tone stops, indicating that the MK 106 simulated nuclear weapon has 'left the building'.

As they cross the highway, they see the flash- bang smoke cartidge go off. Long 110' at 12 relative to the cruisers. The rocket scientist in the back of the bird had obviously picked up the cruisers on his radar, an understandable mistake. The fact that they were literally miles from the range, understandable, not so much.

Boy was there a lot of paperwork, briefings and reg changes on that one. Always wished I'd had a chance to talk to the deputies involved.

Posted by Total War 2008-10-22 14:13|| 2008-10-22 14:13|| Front Page Top

#9 "Something heavy will fall on you from a great height if you rattle the windows in Vegas' high-rise hotels with your speed run, son."
-- Good advice to nuggets

Posted by mojo">mojo 2008-10-22 15:45|| 2008-10-22 15:45|| Front Page Top

#10 Sure this isn't an episode of CSI?

Posted by CrazyFool 2008-10-22 15:54|| 2008-10-22 15:54|| Front Page Top

#11 Hey hey, just in time for CARY GRANT on TV > OPERATION PETTICOAT = "We sunk a Truck".

* "For the first time in my professional Naval career I came close to hitting a Woman...Is it possible that [sexy slinky bosomy Army Lt. babe] could possibly be a enemy spy"!?

Posted by JosephMendiola 2008-10-22 19:24|| 2008-10-22 19:24|| Front Page Top

#12 Never saw a BDU reused; they were all bent up due to hitting the ground. or whatever. Of course it is not unknown for the Ordies to 'adjust' the fins of these things if they were not particularly fond of the aircrew' does wonderful things to the trajectory and makes it almost impossible to hit the target. just sayin'

and 'near' vis-a-vis Nellis and 'the strip' is relative; i remember a fairly short walk to, and a slightly longer crawl back to Nellis following Liberty one dark Red Flag night....

Posted by USN, Ret. 2008-10-22 23:14|| 2008-10-22 23:14|| Front Page Top

23:58 3dc
23:57 Sherry
23:52 Don Vito Omeling5062
23:51 ex-lib
23:46 ex-lib
23:42 General_Comment
23:39 Betty
23:35 General_Comment
23:35 clipatuillath
23:34 JosephMendiola
23:31 USN, Ret.
23:24 Sherry
23:24 Betty
23:22 General_Comment
23:20 JosephMendiola
23:19 Betty
23:19 Steve White
23:17 General_Comment
23:17 Betty
23:15 JosephMendiola
23:14 USN, Ret.
23:13 CrazyFool
23:09 Betty
23:09 JosephMendiola