1 Video & 1 Photo
Planes Spotted over Southampton
A squadron of jets flew overhead on the afternoon of January 24, the view form Scuttle Hole Road, Bridgehampton. STEPHEN J. KOTZ
A formation of jets that flew over Southampton on Tuesday, January 24, raised eyebrows, and for one local man, a camera lens. David Nardy took note, and video of the aircraft at around 4:25 p.m. from his backyard on North Sea Mecox Road.
“I never saw anything like it,” he said, pointing out that he’s seen military training runs before, but not over the East End. It looked to him like the planes were flying down the length of Long Island. He joked, “We thought it was all the billionaires flying out to escape Armageddon.”
Jim Brundige, the manager of East Hampton Airport offered more clues to the mystery. He’d seen a long lens photo of the aircraft and was able to identify the planes as B-52 jets flying at about 35,000 feet. He suggested the Department of Defense might provide information, but noted the military doesn’t inform him of local flyovers. The military, he said, “wouldn’t notify me or anybody else.” Such intel is the subject of internal Department of Defense communications.
DOD spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Devin Robinson noted the Air Force is the only arm of the military that flies B-52s. He directed The Press to the Air Force Media Relations office.
Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) Public Affairs spokesperson Carla Pampe confirmed B-52s from Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, and Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, were conducting a scheduled training mission yesterday in the area.
“We regularly conduct training exercises in different areas of operations, demonstrating the flexibility of our bomber force,” she wrote in response to an email query. “Strategic bomber missions enhance the readiness and training necessary to respond to any potential crisis or challenge across the globe.”
The AFGSC website describes the command as “responsible for the nation’s three intercontinental ballistic missile wings, the Air Force’s entire bomber force, including the B-52, B-1 and B-2 wings, the Long Range Strike Bomber program, Air Force Nuclear Command, Control and Communications (NC3) systems, and operational and maintenance support to organizations within the nuclear enterprise.” It was established in 2009.
According to the Air Force website, the B-52H Stratofortress is a long-range, heavy bomber that can perform a variety of missions. “The bomber is capable of flying at high subsonic speeds at altitudes of up to 50,000 feet (15,166.6 meters). It can carry nuclear or precision guided conventional ordnance with worldwide precision navigation capability,” the website states.
