from: Neil Webner <nwebner@earthlink.net>
to:  webguy@55srwa.org,
date:   Wed, Feb 27, 2008 at 7:00 PM

Dear Sir,
I am searching for information on my brother-in-law, Captain Robert Dennis, who perished with three others in Bermuda when their RB-47 failed to get above 2,000 feet on the way to a recon mission in Cuba March 27, 1962. Specifically, I would like to know the mission of the RB-47 at that time (such as, at what altitude did they take pictures) and whether it was common for the observers to use their own cameras (as family history would have us believe).

Bob was a photographer hobbyist and utilized his skills as the crew's observer.
I am also interested in flight conditions at that time. We intend to use the information for purposes of family historical documentation and would appreciate any assistance.
Neil Webner
Columbus OH
614-451-7419
nwebner@earthlink.net
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From: MaxMoore55@aol.com
To: nwebner@earthlink.net
Sent: Thursday, February 28, 2008 12:28 PM
Subject: Re: Bob Dennis
....."whether it was common for the observers to use their own cameras (as family history would have us believe)."
   Bob was a photographer hobbyist and utilized his skills as the crew's observer.
I can answer this part - My recollection is that, no it was not common and Bob was asked to do so and be on the mission because of his photo knowledge.
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From: Neil Webner
Sent: Friday, February 29, 2008 10:48 AM
To: MaxMoore55@aol.com
Subject: Re: Bob Dennis
Great information Thank all of you!

I have applied via Freedom of Information Act for any available details pertaining to the mission and the crash. We were told in 1962 following the crash that it was the fault of an inappropriate fuel mixture; something about excess water in the fuel. Never made a lot of sense to me. But then the military was not reluctant to admit when other planes including RB47s were shot at, so the crash likely did not result from enemy fire. Plus it came down in Bermuda, too far from Cuba unless the fire came from a Russian ship which seems very unlikely.

I have another friend -- a high school classmate and a pilot -- who sat on a SAC runway for a period of time waiting for orders to bomb Cuba. It was an experience he will never forget.
Heros all!
Neil
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from: Marvin Adams <sparkymladams@webtv.net>
to:      Neil Webner <nwebner@earthlink.net>,
date:  Fri, Feb 29, 2008 at 10:10 PM
subject:   Re: Bob Dennis

Gents:
The aircraft your discussing crashed on takeoff. Bill Brittion was the Aircraft Commander. He was the leader of three aircraft. The cause of the accident was the mixture of the water and alcohol had not been properly agitated (so it would be a homogeneous before it was loaded into the aircraft water injection system). The water would be injected into the engines at the start of the takeoff roll. This mixture would give about 20% more thrust for take off. From the time the water injection was started and was finished was only about 120 seconds. The aircraft crashed on take-off, it never actually became airborne.
It is my understanding that the Maytag Company that serviced the aircraft acknowledged that they were responsible.
The two aircraft behind the leader aborted their take roll.
Sparky Adams
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