B-52 Formal Training Unit: Developing the next generation of B-5
Lt. Col. James Bresnahan, 11th Bomb Squadron commander, and Lt. Col. Millard Matthews, III, 93rd Bomb Squadron commander, pose with an FTU aircrew as they are awarded the N.V. Meeks Jr. Memorial Trophy during their graduation ceremony at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, September 12, 2025. The aircrew, consisting of 1st Lt. William Rowland, Capt. Shaina Young, 1st Lt. Adam Quebedeaux, and 1st Lt. Jason Turenchalk, won the trophy for being the highest performers in their class. The trophy was created in 1963 in honor of Maj. Meeks, a B-47 bomber pilot, who was killed when the jet he was flying caught fire, rendering him unable to eject. He was able to maintain control of the jet long enough for the remaining crew to exit before he steered it to an unpopulated area and impacted the ground. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Alicia Thomas.)