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The Arc Light Memorial at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, is dedicated to the 75 men who lost their lives flying B-52 missions against Communist forces in Vietnam between 18 June 1965 and 15 August 1973. Called Arc Light missions, these almost daily sorties required crews on temporary duty from their home bases in the United States to fly B-52's each carrying up to 60,000 pounds of bombs. Operating from Andersen, U-Tapao Airfield, Thailand, and Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, they performed conventional bombing, direct air support, and interdiction missions.
The Arc Light Memorial was originally conceived in late 1973 by Lt Gen George H. McKee, Eighth Air Force commander at the time and headquartered at Andersen AFB, as a memorial to Maj Gen William J. Crumm, an earlier Eighth Air Force commander, who was killed on 7 July 1967, flying an Arc Light mission.
General McKee, with concurrence from General John C. Meyer, Commander-in-Chief, Strategic Air Command, later expanded the concept of the memorial to include all crew members who had lost their lives flying Arc Light missions.
The Memorial, a tribute to the brave men of Arc Light and Linebacker II operations from 18 to 29 December 1972, and set picturesquely on the site of the old Eighth Air Force Headquarters, featured a B-52 Stratofortress, aircraft number 55-0100, which flew many Arc Light sorties culminating with the climatic Linebacker II strikes. On either side of the B-52 are Inscribed marble plaques mounted on concrete pillars. One of the plaques describes the Arc Light history; the other plaque lists those who died in combat flying Arc Light missions. The plaques were carved in Taiwan In October 1973 and transported to the Arc Light site in November 1973.
The Arc Light Memorial was first scheduled for dedication on 18 December 1973, the first anniversary of Linebacker II operations, but was changed to 12 February 1974, the first anniversary of the return of the prisoners of war from North Vietnam to Clark Air Base, Philippines.
Throughout the preparation of the Memorial, the majority of coordination was done through word of mouth, thus, leaving few written records. The list of names on the marble plaque was limited to persons killed on Arc Light combat missions serving as crew members. After the list was prepared, it was checked and rechecked by Eighth Air Force staff members as well as by Headquarters SAC personnel. Originally, 73 crew members were inscribed on the plaque. Later, two maintenance personnel, killed during Arc Light missions were added, making the total honored 75.
In keeping with the historic event, the dedication in 1974 saluted the bravery displayed by the SAC crew force in fighting for the release of captured Americans as well as the professionalism and dedication displayed throughout the Arc Light missions.
Almost 9 years later on 17 June 1983, a rededication ceremony was held to honor the men who gave their lives during Arc Light. On this date, General Bennie L. Davis, Commander-in-Chief, SAC, and Mr Al Pickens, president of the Arc Light Chapter of the Air Force Association on Guam, unveiled a new bronze plaque donated by the chapter. The plaque again listed the names of the 75 men who lost their lives on Arc Light missions. Also, another bronze plaque above the names included the 1974 dedication speech by General Meyer.
The 306th Bomb Wing has since received a certificate and an American Flag flown in the skies of the Pacific Rim onboard a B-52H Stratofortress while at Andersen AFB, Guam, USA, on 22 June 2004 to memorialize the 306th and commitment to the BUFF tradition of global power projection. A commemorative network 56 coin and raw video footage of the ceremony have also been received. These items are now in the 306th archive.
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"In the early morning hours of Friday, 18 June 1965, 30 B-52 Stratofortress bombers lifted off from Andersen Air Force Base initiating a new phase In the Southeast Asia Conflict. This was the beginning of bombing missions known as Arc Light. Most missions flew against enemy logistics targets in South Vietnam, but eventually some struck like targets in Laos, Cambodia and even North Vietnam. Some missions were in close support, defending American and Allied troops, bases, villages, and towns. Displayed here is the "D" model of the B-52 bomber Number 0100, which always comprised the backbone of the Arc Light fleet and was specially modified for the conventional weapons used. Other Arc Light bombers were B-52F's used in the earliest months and B-52G's flying from Andersen from April 1972 until the termination of Arc Light. Bombers launched from a Thailand base joined the force in April 1967 followed by Okinawa-based bombers in February 1968. All were assigned to Strategic Air Command (SAC). On 1 April 1970 SAC's Eighth-Air Force moved its headquarters here to Andersen taking over operations from Third Air Division. Andersen flights ceased temporarily in August 1970 and bombers from Okinawa stopped permanently the following month, but the Guam-based headquarters continued to control Arc Light forces. Andersen resumed flying in February 1972, in a surge of Arc Light activity named Bullet Shot. The force grew rapidly under successive phases of Bullet Shot, reaching its peak in numbers and performance before midyear. The Guam-based force alone soon surpassed all previous records of Arc Light performance. It was obvious that the United States aimed at final conclusion of the long conflict. By October 1972 it seemed that peace negotiations were successfully underway, but they came to an impasse. Operation Linebacker II followed -- from 18 through 29 December 1972, with the exception of Christmas Day. During this "11-day war" B-52's flew from both Andersen and the Thailand base against strategic targets in the enemy's heartland, primarily the Hanoi and Haiphong areas. Arc Light bombers had flown missions over North Vietnam on previous occasions, but never on this scale. For the first time bombers, flying in massive waves, struck areas bristling with more surface-to-air missile defenses than had ever been encountered before in aerial warfare. In all the B-52's flew more than 700 sorties against 34 target complexes. The force suffered heartrending losses, too. But when the smoke cleared, the loss rates were computed at about two percent -- far less than on comparable raids during World War II. Peace negotiations progressed rapidly after Linebacker II culminating in the signing of a cease-fire on 28 January 1973, Guam time. Soon the enemy released the prisoners of war they had been holding. Arc Light operations continued afterwards in support of Allies in Laos and Cambodia, but terminated on 15 August 1973. From 18 June 1965 through 15 August 1973 Arc Light B-52's flew nearly 130,000 sorties, accumulated almost 900,000 flying hours and dropped about 9 million bombs with a total weight of almost 3 million tons. In Operation Linebacker II alone, the bombers delivered more than 49,000 bombs weighing almost 15,000 tons. In this one operation alone they destroyed or damaged over 1,600 military structures and 373 pieces of railroad equipment. An estimated three million gallons of petroleum products were destroyed and enemy rail lines interdicted In more than 500 places."
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I am a monument brought into being by the people of Guam and Andersen Air Force Base. Their wisdom...their foresight...and their support...turned an idea into lasting reality.
I am one of more than 200 B-52s which served their masters well for eight long years of Southeast Asia missions and memories.
I symbolize the effectiveness of airpower as it was manifested by B-52s throughout the years of Arc Light. (1965-1973)
In December 1972, the potent B-52s were unleashed against the enemy's strategic military targets. In eleven days of unprecedented strikes, the 729 B-52 sorties of Linebacker II clearly portrayed American determination to negotiate an end to the conflict.
One year ago today, a group of proud American fighting men began their journey home. Hundreds more former prisoners of war followed in their footsteps.
Yes...I symbolize the effectiveness of airpower -- effectiveness demonstrated under constraint...and confirmed with certainty during 11 decisive days. (18 Dec. 1972 - 29 Dec. 1972)
I was there.
Four times I saw them brave the brutal, battle laden skies. The men I carried were not alone.
The majority returned. Tragically...others did not.. .and will not.
Most of all...most of all...I commemorate their sacrifice and honor their memory. I perpetuate their legacy of courage and commitment.
If you listen closely...very closely...you can almost hear them calling: "Charlie tower...Charlie tower...This is "Old 100". ..on its final mission..."
ARC LIGHT
MEMORIAL PLAQUE |
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306th BW (McCoy) Reunion Association. All rights reserved. This page last updated: 27 Jan 2007
