“Wise Guy” Rises Again

  • Published
  • By 355th Wing Public Affairs
  • 355th Wing Public Affairs
DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz., --  A B-52H Stratofortress, Wise Guy, departed Davis-Monthan Air Force Base following its regeneration process at the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group, May 14, 2019.

Wise Guy arrived at the 309th AMARG in August 2008. The 93-ton bomber was placed in high-level storage, to await the call to return to service.

That call came as a result of a B-52H destroyed by a fire during a takeoff emergency at Anderson AFB, Guam in May 2016. With the B-52 fleet reduced by one aircraft, the Air Force chose Wise Guy, as the replacement.

The terms of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, designated the 309th AMARG as both a storage and conversion/elimination facility for heavy bombers. This regeneration process entails moving B-52Hs from storage to the conversion or elimination facility.

Wise Guy’s regeneration journey through that process began in November 2018.

On January 5, 2019, a cross organizational team brought together members of the Air Force Global Strike Command, Defense Logistics Agency, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, 2nd Bomb Wing, 5th Bomb Wing, Tinker AFB’s Expeditionary Depot Maintenance unit and AMARG to launch this regeneration effort.

After more than 10 years in storage, Wise Guy departed from Davis-Monthan and landed at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, to start the second phase of the project. Phase two will bring the aircraft up to the common fleet standard, and will be followed by Programmed Depot Maintenance at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma.

“It’s a true testament to everyone who worked on the aircraft,” said David Strawderman, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center B-52 program manager. “To be able to pull it from storage and get it sky-worthy in this short amount of time is nothing short of amazing.”

Wise Guy will complete its PDM in February 2021 as a fully restored, fleet-configured B-52H. Once restored, the START-converted bomber will be equipped for conventional weapons only and will continue the B-52H long-range, heavy bomber mission.

In a conventional conflict, B-52Hs, including Wise Guy, will perform strategic attack, close-air-support, air interdiction, offensive counter-air and maritime operations.