2008 Guam B-52 Crash - Aircraft and Crew

Aircraft and Crew

The bomber, assigned to the 20th Bomb Squadron, was, with its crew, on temporary duty at Andersen as part of a four month rotation. The bomber's unit had replaced Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit bombers which had been grounded following the loss of one of them on February 23 that year.

The crew of RAIDR 21 were: Major Christopher M. Cooper (aircraft commander), Major Brent D. Williams, (radar navigator), Captain Michael K. Dodson, (co-pilot), First Lieutenant Joshua D. Shepherd (navigator), First Lieutenant Robert D. Gerren (electronic warfare officer), and Colonel George Martin. Martin, a flight surgeon, was the deputy commander of 36th Medical Group at Andersen. The rest of the crew members were from the 20th Bomb Squadron or the 96th Bomb Squadron at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. While bodies and remains were recovered from the area, Dodson's and Gerren's remains were not recovered. A memorial service for the crew was held at Arlington National Cemetery on November 14, 2008.