My son, now retired, was a helicopter pilot at Fairchild when this happened. He had been practicing landings in virtually the exact spot where the B-52 augered in. He was vectored away to a different area several miles to the south of the crash site. I was there a couple of weeks later and saw the very large burn spot.
I have read much of the proceedings and analysis of the whole sorry affair. Holland was a known violator of safety-of-flight directives and many other officers refused to fly with him. One or more of his superiors were disciplined for their knowing negligence in allowing Col Holland's actions to continue after they became obvious.
No, the B-52 isn't capable of such maneuvers. I was scared on more than one occasion by incorrect actions of the pilots with whom I flew in B-52s between 1963 and 1966, including around 20 missions in Vietnam.
Mac in Oklahoma City
USAF (61-81), Retired
