B-1B The 8th Chadwick

The 8th Chadwick is the 8th aircraft to carry the Chadwick name. The Chadwick tradition dates back to WWII and the 13th Attack Squadron, The Devil's Own Grim Reapers. Chadwick was the call sign for the 13th and the CO's aircraft was named the Chadwick. The tradition was carried on during the Korean War, where 13th Bomb Squadron B-26 Invaders with the name Chadwick also carried the the "Winged Wheel" insignia to designate that this was the CO's aircraft. The tradition was neglected during the Vietnam War, but revived by Lt Col Buck Shawhan when he took command of the 13th Bomb Squadron at Dyess AFB, Texas. The 13th Bomb Squadron was deactivated at Dyess AFB in June 2005.

In this photo we see Capt Brain"G Spot/Dot" Farmer and Col Robert McCormick, Vice Commander, 7th Bomb Wing, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas standing in front of the B-1B Lancer "The 8th Chadwick" at the reactivation ceremonies for the 13th Bomb Squadron at Whiteman AFB in September 2005. Col McCormick was the first CO of the 13th when it was reactivated as a B-1B outfit back in 2000 at Dyess AFB. The 8th Chadwick was still sporting 13th Bomb Squadron colors and insignias when she was flown up from Texas to Whiteman AFB to hand over the 13th Bomb Squadron colors to the new 13th Bomb Squadron under the command of Lt Col Thomas Bussiere. So far no B-2 Spirits have been named the 9th Chadwick, but the Spirit of Missouri would be a likely candidate to carry this honor.

Fear the Reaper!