Feeling BUFF

 

 

"BUFF is a term the Air Force gave these monsters. It stood for Big Ugly Fat F......"

Yes, the picture above is really a B-52, coming back from a mission. Yes, the B-52 is coming back from a bombing mission over Viet Nam. Yes, I took this picture - I really am that old.

I was stationed on Okinawa in 1970/1971. It was before the Ryukyuan Islands officially became a part of Japan in 1972. I was in a small Navy detachment quartered on an Army Base, located right next to a giant Air Force Base called Kadena. Kadena Air Force Base was a home base to a squadron of B-52s, F-4s and the now famous "Habus" (SR-71s).

Quite often in my time off, I would go down to the beach and watch B-52s take off for another bombing mission. They would leave in a group of three planes. They were simply awesome to watch take off. They were so loaded down with fuel and bombs, each wing had four engines and two extra wheels on the tips. When they finally were airborne after taking up almost 2 miles of runway, their wings were so heavy with fuel, they made the planes look like bats in flight. Once all three B-52s were airborne, a C-141 tanker would immediately take off to give these birds a drink. The planes used up so much fuel just getting to altitude, they needed a drink to ensure they could complete the mission.

What we would hear through "channels" was this. The enemy feared these planes more than anything else. They could not see the planes. However, they could hear the whine of the bombs dropping. And then it would be concussion explosion after concussion explosion. They could not stand it. It literally drove the enemy nuts.

The reason I bring this up is simple. We still have BUFFs (the latest version) as well as B-1s and B-2s. We could use these weapons from high altitude, far away from the range of shoulder fired SAMS. We could really ruin the day for ISIS. We could pulverize them and demoralize them with non-stop bombing. Even if we did not hit them directly, the concussion of the explosions would disorient them. It is a weapon we can use with minimum cost and maximum effect. And we could use it tomorrow if need be.

Now is the time to act. With the severed body of James Foley barely a few days old, now is the time employ our assets. If ISIS wants to live in millenniums past, fine. We will show them what our weapons from a few decades past will do. I am a believer in mercy - we should show the same mercy they showed to Mr. Foley. Mr. Foley who did NOTHING wrong.