How The B-52 Lost Its Tail Guns & Its 6th Crew Member

On October 1, 1991, the only enlisted airman aboard America’s enduring bomber stopped flying with it and has not returned. He sat alone, facing backward, with a radar scope and a trigger, positioned as part of the aircraft’s extended mission role.

This crew member was not a pilot or a navigator, but he played a crucial role in the aircraft’s operations during its earlier era. His position contributed to the aircraft’s ability to engage adversaries in night-time aerial combat.

Within months, the United States Air Force erased his job, effectively removing this sixth crew member from the aircraft’s typical crew complement. The change marked a significant shift in how the bomber was operated and staffed.

The story centers on how a 1950s jet bomber once shot MiG fighters out of the night sky, with the onboard role and skills of the sixth crew member integral to those early capabilities. The subsequent removal of the position reflects a broader evolution in aircraft design and mission requirements.