Outcome 54 and 55 commemoration ceremony

The 92nd Air Refueling Wing leadership team host the official party for the 54 and Outcome 55 commemoration ceremony at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, Sept. 8, 2023. During the ceremony, family members, friends and members of Team Fairchild recognized the 65th anniversary of the B-52 Stratofortress collision involving Outcome 54 and Outcome 55 that claimed the lives of 13 Strategic Air Command Airmen. Among those lost was 1st Lt. John Cork, whose son Dennis attended the ceremony. Dennis was a year old at the time of the collision. Greg Staples also attended the ceremony. He is the son of son of Maj. Donald Staples, who lost his life on board Outcome 54. Greg was nine years old at the time of the collision. On Sept. 8, 1958, 13 crewmembers on board Outcome 54 and Outcome 55 made the ultimate sacrifice while defending freedom during the Cold War with the Soviet Union. The two B-52s collided in the Fairchild AFB traffic pattern two miles from the runway. Only three Airmen survived the incident. Pictured left to right are: Chief Master Sgt. William Arcuri, 92nd ARW command chief; Col. Garret Bilbo, 92nd ARW deputy commander; Greg Staples; Dennis Cork; retired Col. Jerry Molstad; and Col. Chesley Dycus, 92nd ARW commander.

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Outcome 54 and 55 commemoration ceremony

The Outcome 54 and Outcome 55 memorial plaque is displayed during a commemoration ceremony at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, Sept. 8, 2023. The 92nd ARW leadership team hosted Greg Staples, Dennis Cork and retired Col. Jerry Molstad to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the B-52 Stratofortress collision involving Outcome 54 and Outcome 55 that claimed the lives of 13 Strategic Air Command Airmen. Staples is the son of son of Maj. Donald Staples, who lost his life on board Outcome 54. Greg was nine years old at the time of the collision. On Sept. 8, 1958, 13 crewmembers on board Outcome 54 and Outcome 55 made the ultimate sacrifice while defending freedom during the Cold War with the Soviet Union. The two B-52s collided in the Fairchild AFB traffic pattern two miles from the runway. Only three Airmen survived the incident. Among those lost was Lt. John Cork, whose son Dennis also attended the commemoration ceremony. Dennis was a year old when his father passed.

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Outcome 54 and 55 commemoration ceremony

Dennis Cork, son of 1st Lt. John Cork, speaks with Col. Garret Bilbo, 92nd Air Refueling Wing deputy commander, after a commemoration ceremony at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, Sept. 8, 2023. The 92nd ARW leadership team hosted Cork, Greg Staples and retired Col. Jerry Molstad to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the B-52 Stratofortress collision involving Outcome 54 and Outcome 55 that claimed the lives of 13 Strategic Air Command Airmen. Among those lost was 1st Lt. John Cork, whose son Dennis was a year old at the time of the collision. Greg Staples also attended the ceremony. He is the son of son of Maj. Donald Staples, who lost his life on board Outcome 54. Greg was nine years old at the time of the collision. On Sept. 8, 1958, 13 crewmembers on board Outcome 54 and Outcome 55 made the ultimate sacrifice while defending freedom during the Cold War with the Soviet Union. The two B-52s collided in the Fairchild AFB traffic pattern two miles from the runway. Only three Airmen survived the incident.

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Outcome 54 and 55 commemoration ceremony

U.S. Air Force Col. Chesley Dycus, 92nd Air Refueling Wing commander, places a wreath at the memorial plaque for those involved in the collision between Outcome 54 and Outcome 55 at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, Sept. 8, 2023. The 92nd ARW leadership team hosted Greg Staples, Dennis Cork and retired Col. Jerry Molstad to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the B-52 Stratofortress collision involving Outcome 54 and Outcome 55 that claimed the lives of 13 Strategic Air Command Airmen. Staples is the son of son of Maj. Donald Staples, who lost his life on board Outcome 54. He was nine years old at the time of the collision. On Sept. 8, 1958, 13 crewmembers on board Outcome 54 and Outcome 55 made the ultimate sacrifice while defending freedom during the Cold War with the Soviet Union. The two B-52s collided in the Fairchild AFB traffic pattern two miles from the runway. Only three Airmen survived the incident. Among those lost was Lt. John Cork, whose son Dennis also attended the commemoration ceremony. Dennis was a year old when his father passed.

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Outcome 54 and 55 commemoration ceremony

Family members, friends and members of Team Fairchild render honors during the National Anthem as part of the Outcome 54 and Outcome 55 commemoration ceremony at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, Sept. 8, 2023. The 92nd Air Refueling Wing leadership team hosted Greg Staples, Dennis Cork and retired Col. Jerry Molstad to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the B-52 Stratofortress collision involving Outcome 54 and Outcome 55 that claimed the lives of 13 Strategic Air Command Airmen. Staples is the son of son of Maj. Donald Staples, who lost his life on board Outcome 54. He was nine years old at the time of the collision. On Sept. 8, 1958, 13 crewmembers on board Outcome 54 and Outcome 55 made the ultimate sacrifice while defending freedom during the Cold War with the Soviet Union. The two B-52s collided in the Fairchild AFB traffic pattern two miles from the runway. Only three Airmen survived the incident. Among those lost was Lt. John Cork, whose son Dennis also attended the commemoration ceremony. Dennis was a year old when his father passed.

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Outcome 54 and 55 commemoration ceremony

U.S. Air Force Col. Chesley Dycus, 92nd Air Refueling Wing commander, and Greg Staples, son of Maj. Donald Staples, salute the memorial plaque honoring those involved in the collision between Outcome 54 and Outcome 55 at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, Sept. 8, 2023. The 92nd ARW leadership team hosted Staples, Dennis Cork and retired Col. Jerry Molstad to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the B-52 Stratofortress collision involving Outcome 54 and Outcome 55 that claimed the lives of 13 Strategic Air Command Airmen. Staples is the son of son of Maj. Donald Staples, who lost his life on board Outcome 54. He was nine years old at the time of the collision. On Sept. 8, 1958, 13 crewmembers on board Outcome 54 and Outcome 55 made the ultimate sacrifice while defending freedom during the Cold War with the Soviet Union. The two B-52s collided in the Fairchild AFB traffic pattern two miles from the runway. Only three Airmen survived the incident. Among those lost was Lt. John Cork, whose son Dennis also attended the commemoration ceremony. Dennis was a year old when his father passed.

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Outcome 54 and 55 commemoration ceremony

230908-F-TG928-1057 Family members, friends and members of Team Fairchild participate in the Outcome 54 and Outcome 55 commemoration ceremony at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, Sept. 8, 2023. The 92nd Air Refueling Wing leadership team hosted Greg Staples, Dennis Cork and retired Col. Jerry Molstad to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the B-52 Stratofortress collision involving Outcome 54 and Outcome 55 that claimed the lives of 13 Strategic Air Command Airmen. Staples is the son of son of Maj. Donald Staples, who lost his life on board Outcome 54. He was nine years old at the time of the collision. On Sept. 8, 1958, 13 crewmembers on board Outcome 54 and Outcome 55 made the ultimate sacrifice while defending freedom during the Cold War with the Soviet Union. The two B-52s collided in the Fairchild AFB traffic pattern two miles from the runway. Only three Airmen survived the incident. Among those lost was Lt. John Cork, whose son Dennis also attended the commemoration ceremony. Dennis was a year old when his father passed.

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Outcome 54 and 55 commemoration ceremony

Greg Staples salutes the memorial plaque honoring those involved in a 1958 B-52 Stratofortress collision before a commemoration ceremony at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, Sept. 8, 2023. The 92nd Air Refueling Wing leadership team hosted Staples, Dennis Cork and retired Col. Jerry Molstad to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the collision involving Outcome 54 and Outcome 55 that claimed the lives of 13 Strategic Air Command Airmen. Staples is the son of son of Maj. Donald Staples, who lost his life on board Outcome 54. He was nine years old at the time of the collision. On Sept. 8, 1958, 13 crewmembers on board Outcome 54 and Outcome 55 made the ultimate sacrifice while defending freedom during the Cold War with the Soviet Union. The two B-52s collided in the Fairchild AFB traffic pattern two miles from the runway. Only three Airmen survived the incident. Among those lost was Lt. John Cork, whose son Dennis also attended the commemoration ceremony. Dennis was a year old when his father passed.

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PHOTOS: Outcome 54 and 55 65th commemoration

Published Sept. 21, 2023
By Airman 1st Class Haiden Morris
92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --

The 92nd Air Refueling Wing leadership team hosted Greg Staples, Dennis Cork and retired Col. Jerry Molstad to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the B-52 Stratofortress collision involving Outcome 54 and Outcome 55 that claimed the lives of 13 Strategic Air Command Airmen. Staples is the son of son of Maj. Donald Staples, who lost his life on board Outcome 54. He was nine years old at the time of the collision. On Sept. 8, 1958, 13 crewmembers on board Outcome 54 and Outcome 55 made the ultimate sacrifice while defending freedom during the Cold War with the Soviet Union. The two B-52s collided in the Fairchild AFB traffic pattern two miles from the runway. Only three Airmen survived the incident. Among those lost was Lt. John Cork, whose son Dennis also attended the commemoration ceremony. Dennis was a year old when his father passed.