Cobra Ball 612664 Memorial - Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska
Posted by: 
BruceS
N 41° 07.475 W 095° 55.229
15T E 254831 N 4556698
Memorial honor members of the crew of an aircraft who died in a crash landing at Shemya AFS, Alaska.
Waymark Code: WMFCT5
Location: Nebraska, United States
Date Posted: 09/29/2012
Views: 6
"The RC-135S Cobra Ball is a measurement and signature intelligence MASINT collector equipped with special electro-optical instruments designed to observe ballistic missile flights at long range. The Cobra Ball monitors missile-associated signals and tracks missiles during boost and re-entry phases to provide reconnaissance for treaty verification and theater ballistic missile proliferation. The aircraft are extensively modified C-135Bs" - Wikipedia
Currently the three operating Cobra Balls operate from Offutt Air Force Base, previously the Cobra Balls all operated from Shemya AFS in the Aleutians Islands in Alaska. It was at Shemya that aircraft #612664 crashed on approach on March 15, 1981.
The memorial is located near the parade field in front of a barrack at Offutt Air Force Base. The memorial is inscribed:
612664
15 March 1981
We Carry On, Resolved To Honor
Your Memory...
Major William R. Bennett
Captain Lary A. Mayfield
1st Lieutenant Loren O. Ginter
Master Sergeant Stephen L. Kish
Staff Sergeant Steven C. Galcer
Staff Sergeant Harry L. Parsons III
This memorial is located on an active US Air Force Base. Access to the base is restricted and is easiest accessed by active duty, retired, or reserve service members or while accompanied by an individual in that status. Occasionally there are other times when the base has more open status during the year for various events.