B-1B: BOMBER THUNDERS OVER CITY

Many Cape Girardeau area residents got an unexpected and rare view of one of the U.S. Air Force's top weapons systems, the B-1B bomber, as it flew over the southern edge of the city shortly after 1 p.m. Thursday.

Steve Kaeser, air traffic manager with the Federal Aviation Administration's Memphis Air Traffic Control Center, confirmed that a B-1B bomber passed over Cape Girardeau at an altitude of 12,000 feet.

"We don't know where it came from, or where it was going," Kaeser said. "All we can tell you is that it entered our air control space at Evansville, Ind., and left our air space at Springfield, Mo."

One source speculated the bomber might have been en route to McConnell Air Force Base near Wichita, Kan. The Air Force's 384th Bomb Wing has a fleet of B-1B bombers stationed there. But no information was available from the base's public affairs office late Thursday afternoon.

Some Cape Girardeau residents said they heard the loud, thunder-cracking noise of the bomber's four turbo-fan jet engines as it passed over head. The deep rumbling sound of the bomber could be heard for three to four minutes, long after it passed out of sight, far to the west of town.

Cape Girardeau Police Department Lt. Bob Ross was at his shift commander's desk inside the police station when he heard the bomber fly over. But he said there were no phone calls about the unusually loud sound of the aircraft.

Some people said they noticed the sound because it was louder and lasted much longer than that of a jet fighter aircraft making a quick pass over the city.

Some thought it was a low-flying B-52 from nearby Eaker Air Force base in Arkansas. But the last B-52 (Memphis Belle III) stationed at Eaker left the base Nov. 12 for eventual retirement at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.

Unlike its predecessors, the B-52G and H models, the B-1B is not as well known to the public, or seen very often in this area.

According to the 1991 edition of The World Almanac, only 90 B-1Bs were built.

The B-1's primary strategic role is for near-supersonic, low-level attacks. It has adjustable wings that are 136 feet long when fully extended and 78 feet long in the swept-back position.

The B-1 that flew over Cape Girardeau Thursday afternoon was traveling at a slower, subsonic speed, and had its wings fully extended.

The B-1B is equipped with electronic jamming equipment, infrared equipment and other devices that can defeat an enemy's defensive systems. Its ability to fly at supersonic speeds at low levels also helps protect it from enemy jets.

Each of its four jet engines can develop up to 30,000 pounds of thrust. Total takeoff weight of the B-1B is 477,000 pounds.

The B-1B has a terrain-following "map of the earth" radar system that enables it to penetrate enemy territory at very low flight levels at near supersonic speeds.

It carries four crewmen, including the pilot, co-pilot, and two systems (offensive and defensive) operators.

The B-1B's three internal weapons' bays can hold either nuclear or conventional weapons. It can also carry advanced cruise missiles.

The aircraft is manufactured by Rockwell International.