This is not photoshopped.

[Swoop]

It happened in early 1990 in the Persian Gulf, while U.S. carriers and B-52s were holding joint exercises. Two B-52s called the carrier (USS Ranger) and asked if they could do a fly-by, and the carrier air controller said yes. When the B-52s reported they were 9 kilometers out, the carrier controller said he didn't see them. The B-52s told the carrier folks to look down. The paint job on the B-52 made it hard to see from above, but as it got closer, the sailors could make it out, and the water the B-52 jets were causing to spray out. It's very, very rare for a USAF aircraft to do a fly-by below the flight deck of a carrier. But B-52s had been practicing low level flights for years, to come in under Soviet radar. In this case, the B-52 pilots asked the carrier controller if they would like the bombers come around again. The carrier guys said yes, and a lot more sailors had their cameras out this time.

When you realise the sizes involved with these 2 objects... IMPRESSIVE!

[placidfemme]

That is a kewl picture... not often you see something like that

[cooneyr]

Not disputing it didnt happen but werent B52's designed for seriously high altitude i.e. that which you could drop an A bomb from? Wouldnt want to go in at that level!

Seriously cool photo though.

Cheers
R

[marty]

here it is from another angle

[The_Dover]

that's bloody dangerous



























































i'm surprised he wasn't shot down by friendly fire.

[crazybigal]

this is how they ended up! chopped into five pieces by a 13,000-pound steel blade dropped from a crane. The guillotine sliced four times on each plane, severing the wings and leaving the fuselage in three pieces. The ruined B-52s remained in place for three months so that Russian satellites could confirm that the bombers had been destroyed

[Steam]

Did you ever see that one where a tomcat flies past a carrier for the media, breaks the sound barrier just 300m away from the carrier, then breaks up, the pilot bails out, and it crashes into the sea? Have a look for it, it's most cool.

[marty]

like this?

except it doesn't break up sorry...

[Finn]

Photoshop.

[Maha]

like this?

except it doesn't break up sorry...

Now that was immpressive.......

[Pixie]

Not disputing it didnt happen but werent B52's designed for seriously high altitude i.e. that which you could drop an A bomb from? Wouldnt want to go in at that level!

Seriously cool photo though.

Cheers
R

It is necessary for all aircraft to be able to fly down to zero meters above the landscape.Every flight involves this manoeuvre

[unhingedlizard]

It is necessary for all aircraft to be able to fly down to zero meters above the landscape.Every flight involves this manoeuvre

Described by those in the know as "Landing' pronounced LAND-ING

[Hitcher]

The photo op was possibly something to do with the USS Ranger's impending decommisioning.

[Swoop]

...werent B52's designed for seriously high altitude i.e. that which you could drop an A bomb from?

Quite correct, they were initially designed for high alt ingress/egress to target. Soviet defences got better and the "BUFF" ended up having to go in under the radar. There are some seriously good photos around that show B-52's down and real dirty!

[Hitcher]

She came from Planet Claire.