European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 25, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse With their in Iam Abat 5iciaaahbabawings _ giant Guillotine turns surplus b-52s into scrap a Workman watches the Gigantic Blade drop onto the Wing of a b-52 destined for destruction. By Arthur h. Rotstein the associated press rom Vietnam to Iraq and through the cold War the b-52 Strat fortress did the Job traversing continents devastating landscapes shouldering the nuclear Arsenal. But now the big bomber has met its match the air Force the machine a 13,000-Pound Guillotine Blade hoisted by a Crane turns a b-52 into 100,000-pounds of scrap Metal in no time at All. The scrap Matic is a weapon of peace an International arms treaty requires the United states to destroy some of its systems for attacking with nuclear weapons. The eight engine Long Range b-52 was capable of flying thousands of Miles refuelling in flight to drop nuclear warheads or conventional bombs. Many of the aircraft built Between 1955 and 1962, were brought to the Arizona desert surrounding Davis Monthan fab years ago obsolete and destined for the scrap Heap. But some models modified to carry air launched cruise missiles remained in operation. Now 365 of those jets Are doomed under the strategic arms reduction treaty with Russia and other successor states of the soviet takes about 300 hours to prepare a plane for destruction said logistics management specialist Carl Mlodzik. The b-52s Are stripped of their engines and other reusable parts. Radioactive parts and hazardous fluids Are removed and disposed of elsewhere. Then a 120-foot tall Crane brings Over the Guillotine attached by cables to drop the Blade about 80 feet. More than a dozen airmen watched As the Blade went to work on one Day s task destruction of two b-52ds, nos. 50073 and 50070. The first slice Cut across the Tail Section of 50073, severing the fuselage. Although the treaty allows 60 Days from the first chop to finish the Job this Crew chore in a Day. It took seven drops of the Guillotine to Cut the fuselage of 50070 into three pieces and sever both wings. The nose almost rolled Over at the last Cut but stayed upright. It s pretty impressive. You Don t get to see an air plane destroyed very often said tech. Sgt. Richard Foster a Sheet metalworkers for 16 years. History said tech sgt. Ken f. Prince. Since August 1993, .177 b-52s have been turned into junk Metal. The other 188 Are lined up on the desert at Davis Monthan near Tucson at the aerospace and maintenance regeneration Center. They re to be destroyed Over the next two years. The planes Are being destroyed at the rate of three a week More than too tie chopped up in heaps on the desert floor. Under the treaty,.the hulks must stay in place for 90 Days to allow satellite verification. Then they can be hauled off for scrap said master sgt. Sam Haney a base spokesman. At 20 cents a Pound each scrapped b-52 earns the air Force about $20,000. 20 the stars and stripes clockwise from above b-52s sit in the desert whole ones at top chopped ones at Bottom so satellites can verify their number and destruction the eternal guardian one of the doomed bombers is ready for the chopping Block the remains of a destroyed b 52 awaits salvages. Tuesday october 25, 1994 the stars and stripes
