7th January 1971

United States Air Force

99th Bomb Wing
"Let Aggressors Beware"
346th Bombardment Squadron

Strategic Air Command

Boeing B-52C Stratofortress

54‑2666

Thursday 7th January 1971

Major Donald F. Rousseau
electronic warfare officer

Crashed about 6:30pm into Lake Michigan near Charlevoix, about 375 miles north of Chicago, at night during a routine training mission, a practice bombing run. Explosion seen in the sky by eyewitnesses. Possible Wing failure. There were no survivors
Heavy snowfall hampered search operations by the US Coast Guard and USAF.

photo via Jennifer Westover Rousseau

Full Crew involved

memorial plaque photo via Rick Wiles				photo needed
memorial plaque photo via Rick Wiles	Lt. Col. William Lemmon AC Pilot	Lt. Douglas Bachman Co-Pilot electronic warfare officer	Captain Joel Hirsch Nav/Bombardier electronic warfare officer	Captain John Weaver Nav/Bombardier

Major Donald F. Rousseau Extra on board for training flight Nav/Bombardier electronic warfare officer	Lt. Dennis Ferguson Extra on board for training flight Nav/Bombardier	Tech. Sgt. Gerry Achey gunner	Maj. John Simonly navigator instructor	Major Gerald Black Nav/Bombardier