U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- The U.S. Air Force Academy recognizes the actions of a B-52 tail gunner during the Vietnam War with a plaque unveiling ceremony, Friday, Oct. 11 at 10 a.m. The plaque recounts the mission to bomb the North Vietnamese railroad yards at Thai Nguyen as part of Operation Linebacker II. On Dec. 24, 1972, 18-year-old Airman 1st Class Albert Moore was manning the tail gun of Diamond Lil (the B-52D Stratofortress located near the Academy’s North Gate) for this bombing mission. When a MiG-21 enemy aircraft began maneuvering into attack position, Moore successfully defended his aircraft by shooting down the MiG-21. This was one of two confirmed MiG kills by a B-52D Stratofortress in the Vietnam War and the last confirmed kill by a tail gunner in wartime using machine guns.
Moore was awarded the Silver Star, the nation’s third highest award for heroism. He continued to serve in the U.S. Air Force until 1975. He died in 2009 at the age of 55.
From 1957-1983, Diamond Lil flew more than 15,000 hours and more than 200 combat missions. After being decommissioned, the B-52D was brought to the Academy for display.
The plaque is a gift to the Academy from the Air Force Gunners Association to commemorate Moore’s heroic actions and to all of the enlisted crew members who were willing to make the ultimate sacrifice in defense of their nation.
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Media registration: News media planning to attend the 10 a.m. ceremony must email the following information by Thursday, Oct 10 at 4 p.m.: Media outlet, first name, last name, and cell phone number. Information should be sent to: media.rel@afacademy.af.edu. One email may list all attending representatives from each outlet. Arrival instructions will be provided to registered media. For more information, please contact U.S. Air Force Academy Strategic Communications at (719) 333-7731 or email media.rel@afacademy.af.edu