“Mr. B-52” Honored at Barksdale

Officials at Barksdale AFB, La., have dedicated a new conference center in honor of retired Maj. Gen. William Eubank Jr. He was the officer who accepted the first B-52 bomber in 1955 on behalf of the Air Force and has been called “Mr. B-52.” Eubank, who entered the Army Air Corps in 1936 as a flying cadet, spent much of his career in Strategic Air Command, leading various wings and fielding of the B-47 and B-52 bombers and KC-135 tanker. His commands also set numerous flight records. He retired from the Air Force in 1965, serving last as deputy commander of 2nd Air Force at Barksdale, now home to 8th AF. Eubank, his wife, and several family members attended a March 4 ceremony at which Gen. Robert Elder, 8th AF commander, said, “Our efforts today to revitalize the Air Force’s long-standing missions of deterrence and homeland defense reflect the legacy which he established for us during his distinguished career.” Elder noted that by dedicating the Eubank Conference Center, “we recognize you as one of the giants whose shoulders we stand on today.” (Barksdale report by Carla Pampe)