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A week in history August 6 - 12

The B-29 Superfortress “Enola Gay” dropped the first atomic bomb, dubbed “Little Boy,” during the attack on Hiroshima, Japan, during World War II on August 6, 1945. On August 6, the same day as the bombing of Hiroshima, Maj. Richard Ira Bong, a former Lockhead P-38 Lightning pilot and Medal of Honor recipient was killed when the Lockhead P-80 Shooting Star he was piloting during a test flight exploded midflight. Fairchild AFB‘s “Bong Street,” was named in honor of him. (Courtesy Photo)
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A week in history July 30 – August 5

A KC-135 Stratotanker rests on the ramp at Moron Air Base, Spain during Operation CHROME DOME. B-52 Stratofortresses flew routes near the Soviet Union border and were refueled by KC-135 Stratotankers to keep them on constant airborne alert. (Courtesy Photo)
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A week in history July 30 – August 5

Operation CHROME DOME was a Cold War effort by the U.S. to keep B-52 Stratofortress strategic bomber aircraft armed with nuclear weapons and to remain on constant airborne alert. The bombers flew routes near the Soviet Union border and were refueled by KC-135 Stratotankers. (Courtesy Photo)
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Working on the railroad

Volunteer workers lay tracks as part of Operation Cannonball Nov. 8, 1990, at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington. (U.S. Air Force courtesy photo)
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Relic

Tech. Sgt. Benjamin Whitfield, 92nd Air Refueling Wing historic property custodian, displays the "brain" of a vintage B-52 simulator dubbed “Alpine Clover" July 10, 2017, at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington. Created in the late 1950's to help train B-52 pilots, these simulators saw numerous updates before retiring in the late 1980's. (U.S. Air Force photo / A1C Ryan Lackey)
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Simulated cockpit

The B-52 simulator, also known as “Alpine Clover,” was one of the sites to see when the museum was open at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington. (U.S. Air Force courtesy photo)
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In the hot seat

Tech. Sgt. Benjamin Whitfield, 92nd Air Refueling Wing historic property custodian, sits in the cockpit of a vintage B-52 simulator dubbed “Alpine Clover" July 10, 2017, at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington. Revolutionary during its time, these simulators could be driven by rail to any base that needed training. (U.S. Air Force photo / Airman 1st Class Ryan Lackey)
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Simulated Brain

Tech. Sgt. Benjamin Whitfield, 92nd Air Refueling Wing historic property custodian, displays the "brain" of a vintage B-52 simulator dubbed “Alpine Clover" July 10, 2017, at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington. Created in the late 1950's to help train B-52 pilots, these simulators saw numerous updates before retiring in the late 1980's. (U.S. Air Force photo / Airman 1st Class Ryan Lackey)
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Workshop on rails

Tech. Sgt. Benjamin Whitfield, 92nd Air Refueling Wing historic property custodian, and Calistra Alba, 92nd ARW historian, inspect the B-52 simulator support car "DFX-7" July 10, 2017, at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington. Utility workshop cars were attached to the simulators for maintenance support on the go. (U.S. Air Force photo / Airman 1st Class Ryan Lackey)
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Shadow of its former self

Tech. Sgt. Benjamin Whitfield, 92nd Air Refueling Wing historic property custodian, stands in the cavernous hull of "Little John", a former KC-135 simulator July 10, 2017, at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington. The KC-135 and B-52 were often used together on missions, so training often occurred in the same place. (U.S. Air Force photo / Airman 1st Class Ryan Lackey)
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A week in history July 9 - 15

On July 11, 1955, a Convair RB-36 Peacemaker, commanded by Maj. William W. Deyerle assigned to the 347th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, 99th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, lost a rudder approximately 30 miles from Denver, Colorado. The disabled RB-36 crew kept the airplane on an even flight path and decided the wide, long runway at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, was the best location to attempt a landing. The airplane was taking up to about 21,000 feet on the way to EAFB, and at approximately 6:30 p.m. two and a half hours after the rudder was lost, Deverle and Maj. William Thorstenson eased the 150-ton aircraft down for a landing. (Courtesy Photo)
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A week in history June 11 - 30

Three 92nd Bombardment Group crews began “Project Green,” flying modified B-17 Stratofortress’s carrying troops on the first leg of their journey home from Istres, France to Casablanca, Morocco. They transported nearly 20,000 troops and more than 5,000 French citizens between June 15 and Sept. 11, 1945. (Courtesy Photo)
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A week in history June 11 - 30

Three 92nd Bombardment Group crews began “Project Green,” flying modified B-17 Stratofortress’s carrying troops on the first leg of their journey home from Istres, France to Casablanca, Morocco. They transported nearly 20,000 troops and more than 5,000 French citizens between June 15 and Sept. 11, 1945. (Courtesy Photo)
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Spokane Bomber Views clipping

Spokane Bomber Views news clipping from Aug. 27, 1948, detailing the renaming of the post office on what is now Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash. (Courtesy of the 92nd Air Refueling Wing Historian Office)
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LA Times headline

Los Angeles Times front page from Aug. 7, 1945, including the story on the death of Richard Bong. (Courtesy of the 92nd Air Refueling Wing Historian Office)
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Richard Bong in P-38

Richard Bong in the cockpit of a P-38 Lightning. (Photo provided by the 92nd Air Refueling Wing Historian Office)
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