Thirty-one B-52s were lost in Southeast Asia. Eighteen were lost to surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) or ground fire, and the other 13 were non-combat losses. No B-52s were lost to communist aircraft, but during Operation Linebacker II, two B-52D tail gunners, Staff Sgt. Samuel Turner and Airman 1st Class Albert Moore, each shot down a MiG-21 on separate missions.
During a Linebacker II mission on Dec. 18, 1972, Turner became the first B-52 tail gunner credited with shooting down an enemy aircraft. For successfully defending his aircraft and crew, Turner received the Silver Star.
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