YIGO, Guam —
The B-52 Stratofortress bomber is world famous for its long-range capabilities, but during a routine June 25 flight near Guam, crew members with the 20th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron stationed at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, and deployed to Andersen Air Force Base here were tasked with a unique situation: to use their aircraft's versatility to aid in the search and rescue of a local vessel missing at sea with six passengers on board.
At about 11 a.m., Air Force Capt. Sean Simpson, 20th EBS aircraft commander, and his crew were airborne over Guam. The Coast Guard Sector Rescue Coordination Center made a call to the 20th EBS at Andersen, requesting assistance locating a historic Pacific Island style canoe that has been missing since June 19.
The canoe sailors were supposed to make a one-day journey from Piagailoe Atoll with minimal provisions. But after they went missing for six days, their families contacted the Coast Guard for help.
Unique Situation
The information was relayed to the crews of the squadron's airborne B-52s. At first, they were surprised. “This was a unique situation for us,” Simpson said. “It's not every day the B-52 gets called for a search and rescue.”
Operating under the knowledge that the vessel could be anywhere within a vast area southeast of Guam, the crew knew the mission…
