All that you said was true, however when he killed everyone on board he was preparing for a performance scheduled and authorized by the command. He was allowed to fly but had some of superiors on board to watch him. You can read an analysis to find out why.
Darker Shades of Blue: A Case Study of Failed Leadership
Killed in the crash were Lt Col Arthur "Bud" Holland, the Chief of the 92d Bomb Wing Standardization and Evaluation branch. Lt Col Holland, an instructor pilot, was designated as the aircraft commander and was undoubtedly flying the aircraft at the time of the accident. 4 The copilot was Lt Col Mark McGeehan, also an instructor pilot and the 325th Bomb Squadron (BMS) Commander. There is a great deal of evidence that suggests considerable animosity existed between the two pilots who were at the controls of Czar 52..
This was a result of Lt Col McGeehan's unsuccessful efforts to have Bud Holland "grounded" for what he perceived as numerous and flagrant violations of air discipline while flying with 325th BMS aircrews. Colonel Robert Wolff was the Vice Wing Commander and was added to the flying schedule as a safety observer by Col Brooks, the Wing Commander, on the morning of the mishap. This was to be Col Wolff's "fini flight," an Air Force tradition where an aviator is hosed down following his last flight in an aircraft. Upon landing, Col Wolff was to be met on the flightline by his wife and friends for a champagne toast to a successful flying career. The radar navigator position was filled by Lt Col Ken Huston, the 325th BMS Operations Officer.
That blue speck near the tail is the doomed copilots hatch flying away too late for safe ejection.
Let me add that to successfully penetrate bad guy country with a B-52(flying aluminum mountain), it is necessary to fly as low as you can.
Very true - however, he was performing out of the envelope - something he did on a regular basis. A habit which had gotten him in trouble, but not grounded. As a result, he and his crew died.
Let me add that to successfully penetrate bad guy country with a B-52(flying aluminum mountain), it is necessary to fly as low as you can.
Depends on the mission and what kind of defenses you're trying to penetrate - but you knew that. It also entails following the basic rules of physics and flight. See my post 45 in this thread. Holland acted like a teenager with dad's car. He had a reputation for being a hotdog.