B-52s in the movies

[Matt Wiser]

Which depiction of the B-52 in the movies is the most realistic for the time
the movie is set? There are two main contenders-Dr. Strangelove with a high
altitude penetration, then low, then high again to drop the weapon; and By
Dawn's Early light-which had a Buff drop a (presumed) retarded single-megaton
weapon to kill a pair of MiG-25s-the weapon was dropped before the Buff cleared
a ridge, and the other side of the ridge shielded the plane from the blast.
(A third Foxbat was killed by the Buff's gunner) Any other depictions of
B-52s in the movies out there?

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[Stephen FPilot Bierce]

"Matt Wiser" > wrote:

>
>Which depiction of the B-52 in the movies is the most realistic for the time
>the movie is set? There are two main contenders-Dr. Strangelove with a high
>altitude penetration, then low, then high again to drop the weapon; and By
>Dawn's Early light-which had a Buff drop a (presumed) retarded single-megaton
>weapon to kill a pair of MiG-25s-the weapon was dropped before the Buff cleared
>a ridge, and the other side of the ridge shielded the plane from the blast.
>(A third Foxbat was killed by the Buff's gunner) Any other depictions of
>B-52s in the movies out there?

1) A Gathering of Eagles
2) Bombers B-52
3) X-15 (After all, a B-52 lofted the plane into the upper atmosphere!)
4) Apocalypse Now (a "cameo")

There are probably others. I haven't seen the second and it's been decades
since I'd seen the other ones above.

Stephen "FPilot" Bierce/IPMS #35922
{Sig Quotes Removed on Request}

[rstro]

I really don't think Dr Strangelove should even be considered, although I
love the movie--the flight scenes were pretty awful-although Kubrick did rec
kudos for the detail in the cockpits--as SAC would not lend any tech
assistance--I would vote for A Gathering of Eagles--SAC provided all it
could to the filmakers....




"Matt Wiser" > wrote in message news:40f3f82f@bg2....
>
> Which depiction of the B-52 in the movies is the most realistic for the
time
> the movie is set? There are two main contenders-Dr. Strangelove with a
high
> altitude penetration, then low, then high again to drop the weapon; and By
> Dawn's Early light-which had a Buff drop a (presumed) retarded
single-megaton
> weapon to kill a pair of MiG-25s-the weapon was dropped before the Buff
cleared
> a ridge, and the other side of the ridge shielded the plane from the
blast.
> (A third Foxbat was killed by the Buff's gunner) Any other depictions of
> B-52s in the movies out there?
>
> Posted via www.My-Newsgroups.com - web to news gateway for usenet access!

[Harry Andreas]

In article >, "rstro"
> wrote:

> I really don't think Dr Strangelove should even be considered, although I
> love the movie--the flight scenes were pretty awful-although Kubrick did rec
> kudos for the detail in the cockpits--

I loved the low level scenes where you can see the shadow of the B-17
that was doing the filming, as if a B-52 has a shape anywhere close to that!

--
Harry Andreas
Engineering raconteur

[ian maclure]

On Tue, 13 Jul 2004 14:50:03 +0000, Matt Wiser wrote:

>
> Which depiction of the B-52 in the movies is the most realistic for the time
> the movie is set? There are two main contenders-Dr. Strangelove with a high
> altitude penetration, then low, then high again to drop the weapon; and By
> Dawn's Early light-which had a Buff drop a (presumed) retarded single-megaton
> weapon to kill a pair of MiG-25s-the weapon was dropped before the Buff cleared
> a ridge, and the other side of the ridge shielded the plane from the blast.
> (A third Foxbat was killed by the Buff's gunner) Any other depictions of
> B-52s in the movies out there?

Apocalypse Now!
There were B52 parts in that....

IBM

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[BUFDRVR]

FPilot wrote:

>4) Apocalypse Now (a "cameo")

The "cameo" was not too flattering. In one scene all you hear are the rumblings
from an Arc Light strike and in another scene all you see is the tail....laying
in trees by the river.


BUFDRVR

"Stay on the bomb run boys, I'm gonna get those bomb doors open if it harelips
everyone on Bear Creek"

[Regnirps]

I would say the B-52 in "The X-15 Story" are accurate for the time ;-)

-- Charlie Springer

[Paul J. Adam]

>"Matt Wiser" > wrote:
>>Any other depictions of
>>B-52s in the movies out there?

A few passing glimpses in "Thirteen Days" (including one B-52 carrying
Skybolt prototypes - thanks to the group for that answer a while ago :)
)

--
He thinks too much: such men are dangerous.
Julius Caesar I:2

Paul J. Adam MainBox<at>jrwlynch[dot]demon{dot}co(.)uk

[Paul J. Adam]

In message >, BUFDRVR
> writes
>FPilot wrote:
>>4) Apocalypse Now (a "cameo")
>
>The "cameo" was not too flattering. In one scene all you hear are the rumblings
>from an Arc Light strike and in another scene all you see is the tail....laying
>in trees by the river.

Yeah, but *what* a tail! :)

Good artistic impression, even if the movie is art rather than history.

--
He thinks too much: such men are dangerous.
Julius Caesar I:2

Paul J. Adam MainBox<at>jrwlynch[dot]demon{dot}co(.)uk

[WalterM140]

>> Dawn's Early light

I thought "By the Dawn's Early Light" was a pretty fair movie.

Even if the B-52 crew didn't hair lip every one on Bear Creek when they dropped
their bombs. ;-)

Walt

[WalterM140]

>I loved the low level scenes where you can see the shadow of the B-17
>that was doing the filming, as if a B-52 has a shape anywhere close to that!

Well, the B-52 is the B-17's grandbaby. I think there is a strong family
resemblance.
:)

Walt

[WalterM140]

I know the B-36 never dropped a bomb in anger. But the B-52's were also a
fantastic peace keeping machine. The USSR never wanted to try them on for
size.

I'm a big B-17 fan, but the B-17 didn't scare the Germans or the Japs much at
all.

Of course they were slow learners.

Walt

[ArtKramr]

>Subject: Re: B-52s in the movies
>From: (WalterM140)
>Date: 7/16/2004 8:10 PM Pacific Standard Time
>Message-id: >
>
>I know the B-36 never dropped a bomb in anger. But the B-52's were also a
>fantastic peace keeping machine. The USSR never wanted to try them on for
>size.
>
>I'm a big B-17 fan, but the B-17 didn't scare the Germans or the Japs much at
>all.
>
>Of course they were slow learners.
>
>Walt
>


Adolph Galland was quoted as saying he hated attacking Marauders with their
very tight formations, very accurate fire and experienced crews.





Arthur Kramer
344th BG 494th BS
England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany
Visit my WW II B-26 website at:
http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer

[Harley W Daugherty]

I asked my Highschool physics teacher about the movie, He scoffed.....
He said it was pretty much off base, they got many things wrong.
He Was a EWO on Bufffs in the late 70's and early 80's.

Harley

"WalterM140" > wrote in message
...
> >I loved the low level scenes where you can see the shadow of the B-17
> >that was doing the filming, as if a B-52 has a shape anywhere close to
that!
>
> Well, the B-52 is the B-17's grandbaby. I think there is a strong family
> resemblance.
> :)
>
> Walt

[WalterM140]

>I asked my Highschool physics teacher about the movie, He scoffed.....
>He said it was pretty much off base, they got many things wrong.
>He Was a EWO on Bufffs in the late 70's and early 80's.
>

I think you mean "Dawn's Early Light."

That may be. The jargon on "Dr. Strangelove had the appropriate military feel
to it if nothing else.

Walt

[Matt Wiser]

(WalterM140) wrote:
>>> Dawn's Early light
>
>I thought "By the Dawn's Early Light" was a
>pretty fair movie.
>
>Even if the B-52 crew didn't hair lip every
>one on Bear Creek when they dropped
>their bombs. ;-)
>
>Walt
Well, that crew came up with a new air-to-air weapon; if all else fails,drop
a B-83 before you get to a ridgeline-the ridge will shield you from the blast
and other weapon effects, but the pursuers will get vaped. One MiG-25 was
killed the traditional way: fire from the B-52's tail gunner.

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[Bill & Susan Maddux]

I was on alert at Fairchild AFB, when this movie came out on HBO in 1990.
Everybody from the Crew Chiefs to the flight crews crammed in to the crew
lounge and the briefing room to watch it. By Dawn's early light was a very
funny movie to us at the 325th bomb Squadron.
It is important to note:
1. At the time we did not have Female crewmembers, only the KC-135 tankers
had them.

2. The 92BW had B-52Hs on alert, not the make of a G model D model crap they
had. I have never been able to walk from the Defense station to the IP
seat standing straight up before. The IFR bathtub would bite your head.

3. The Alert pad was off the runway, and as you drive your POV to the
facility you do not drive up a row of bombers. POVs where not allowed on the
flight line. To do so would have you finding out what the word JACK-UP
meant.

There are many other examples in this movie that made us all laugh out loud.
But the best was how the co-pilot kept correcting the Aircraft commander. Oh
the 325th patch on the flight suits where from the Second World War, not the
one worn by us in 1990.

Way to many errors to list here, just another bad movie about the boys in
SAC or the Air Force. Not as bad as some that has come out, but bad just the
same.

Now Bomber B52 was an all right movie, and a gathering of eagles. Strategic
Air Command was more about the early days of SAC with B36s and B47s, but was
cool just the same.

[Matt Wiser]

Strange; I met a crew from that squadron at the Castle AFB air show in '91,
and they liked the movie. Didn't Powers Booth and Rebecca DeMornay go up
there for pre-filming research? The crew said that they had, and they were
very serious, and didn't complain when questions couldn't be answered. When
asked, they also said that they would never have thought of dealing with
MiGs in the way it was done in the movie.
Still, a megaton to kill a pair of MiGs ain't overkill, it's still only 500
Kt per Foxbat.


Rembember, it's entertainment, not a Civil War-style documentary.






"Bill & Susan Maddux" > wrote:
>I was on alert at Fairchild AFB, when this movie
>came out on HBO in 1990.
>Everybody from the Crew Chiefs to the flight
>crews crammed in to the crew
>lounge and the briefing room to watch it. By
>Dawn's early light was a very
>funny movie to us at the 325th bomb Squadron.
>It is important to note:
>1. At the time we did not have Female crewmembers,
>only the KC-135 tankers
>had them.
>
>2. The 92BW had B-52Hs on alert, not the make
>of a G model D model crap they
>had. I have never been able to walk from the
>Defense station to the IP
>seat standing straight up before. The IFR bathtub
>would bite your head.
>
>3. The Alert pad was off the runway, and as
>you drive your POV to the
>facility you do not drive up a row of bombers.
>POVs where not allowed on the
>flight line. To do so would have you finding
>out what the word JACK-UP
>meant.
>
>There are many other examples in this movie
>that made us all laugh out loud.
>But the best was how the co-pilot kept correcting
>the Aircraft commander. Oh
>the 325th patch on the flight suits where from
>the Second World War, not the
>one worn by us in 1990.
>
>Way to many errors to list here, just another
>bad movie about the boys in
>SAC or the Air Force. Not as bad as some that
>has come out, but bad just the
>same.
>
>Now Bomber B52 was an all right movie, and a
>gathering of eagles. Strategic
>Air Command was more about the early days of
>SAC with B36s and B47s, but was
>cool just the same.
>
>


Posted via www.My-Newsgroups.com - web to news gateway for usenet access!

[Mary Shafer]

On 14 Jul 2004 04:21:21 GMT, (Regnirps) wrote:

> I would say the B-52 in "The X-15 Story" are accurate for the time ;-)

Was it the A or the B? I can't remember.

It's not a movie but the B-52 in "Six Million Dollar Man" was also
highly accurate. So were the HL-10 (the lifting body that comes off
the hooks) and the M2-F2 (the lifting body that had the landing
accident) that the HL-10 turned into.

Mary

--
Mary Shafer Retired aerospace research engineer

[Mary Shafer]

On 13 Jul 2004 21:18:08 GMT, "ian maclure" > wrote:

> Apocalypse Now!
> There were B52 parts in that....

That was a great movie with great flying.

Mary

--
Mary Shafer Retired aerospace research engineer

[matheson31]

The bomb in the face trick is hardly new. The Brits were doing it low level
with Vulcans and Buccaneers in 1977 at Red Flag. They would key the mike
and call "knickers". The first days debrief was "Verrrrry Interesting".

Later US squadrons adopted it with high drags. A well placed MK-82 snake
eye at low level would ruin a good tail chase.
--
Les Matheson
F-4C(WW)/D/E/G(WW), AC-130A, MC-130E WSO/EWO (ret)


"Matt Wiser" > wrote in message
news:40fc040c$1@bg2....
>
> Strange; I met a crew from that squadron at the Castle AFB air show in
'91,
> and they liked the movie. Didn't Powers Booth and Rebecca DeMornay go up
> there for pre-filming research? The crew said that they had, and they were
> very serious, and didn't complain when questions couldn't be answered.
When
> asked, they also said that they would never have thought of dealing with
> MiGs in the way it was done in the movie.
> Still, a megaton to kill a pair of MiGs ain't overkill, it's still only
500
> Kt per Foxbat.
>
>
> Rembember, it's entertainment, not a Civil War-style documentary.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> "Bill & Susan Maddux" > wrote:
> >I was on alert at Fairchild AFB, when this movie
> >came out on HBO in 1990.
> >Everybody from the Crew Chiefs to the flight
> >crews crammed in to the crew
> >lounge and the briefing room to watch it. By
> >Dawn's early light was a very
> >funny movie to us at the 325th bomb Squadron.
> >It is important to note:
> >1. At the time we did not have Female crewmembers,
> >only the KC-135 tankers
> >had them.
> >
> >2. The 92BW had B-52Hs on alert, not the make
> >of a G model D model crap they
> >had. I have never been able to walk from the
> >Defense station to the IP
> >seat standing straight up before. The IFR bathtub
> >would bite your head.
> >
> >3. The Alert pad was off the runway, and as
> >you drive your POV to the
> >facility you do not drive up a row of bombers.
> >POVs where not allowed on the
> >flight line. To do so would have you finding
> >out what the word JACK-UP
> >meant.
> >
> >There are many other examples in this movie
> >that made us all laugh out loud.
> >But the best was how the co-pilot kept correcting
> >the Aircraft commander. Oh
> >the 325th patch on the flight suits where from
> >the Second World War, not the
> >one worn by us in 1990.
> >
> >Way to many errors to list here, just another
> >bad movie about the boys in
> >SAC or the Air Force. Not as bad as some that
> >has come out, but bad just the
> >same.
> >
> >Now Bomber B52 was an all right movie, and a
> >gathering of eagles. Strategic
> >Air Command was more about the early days of
> >SAC with B36s and B47s, but was
> >cool just the same.
> >
> >
>
>
> Posted via www.My-Newsgroups.com - web to news gateway for usenet access!


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