A Final Flight

JE Diamond AFIt is with great sadness that we announce that Jim Diamond, the B-47 Association’s longtime Webmaster passed away on 3 July 2014 after a short battle with cancer. Jim, a retired Master Sergeant served his country and from the very early days of the B-47 Association served on its Board of Directors. He also served as the President of the 40th until his untimely death. In honor of his service the B-47 Association Board of Directors has made a contribution to the Strategic Air and Space Museum toward the refurbishment of their B-47 and a brick reading “MSGT JIM DIAMOND, 40BW C/CHIEF, B-47 ASSOC BOARD” will be placed in the memorial plaza at the museum.

11 thoughts on “A Final Flight”

  1. So sorry to hear of Jim’s passing,he will be greatly missed, our thoughts and prayer’s go out to him and his family. Member of the B-47 Association. Gerald Allen, Louisville, Kentucky.

  2. To the family of Jim Diamond. Please accept the condolences of the many who viewed this website over the years. Jim did a wonderful job keeping the site up and running as well to communicate his knowledge and experiences. Rest in Peace Jim.

  3. MSGT Jim Diamond will be missed, he did a good job for the association. Jim was stationed at Brize-Norton AB when I did several Reflex tours out of Plattsburgh AFB in the 1960’s.

  4. Though we never met, just corresponded over the years, I counted Jim as a good friend, among others. This news comes as a jarring shock. One kind of expects people to hang around a bit more, to just be there, to write to and get a reply, to answer a phone call. But reality is reality. So sorry. He performed creative wonders for the Association and website. My sympathy to his family and friends, and USAF buddies.

    Alec in Australia, distant but near.

  5. Very sorry to hear of Jims passing. To Jims family I send my love and prayers. I knew Jim Diamond and the Diamond family from Freeman, Mo. most of my childhood and through our High School years. Jim graduated from Freeman H.S. ahead of me, but his brother Richard and I were in the same class and graduated in 1956. Richard would tell me of his brother Jims experiences in the USAF. So in the summer of 1956 I to joined the USAF. Jim and I had similar paths in the Air Force, he with the B-47 Bombers and I with KC-97 Air Refueling Tankers. I’m sure our paths crossed many times during our SAC years. We found each other on his B-47 wed-site a few years ago and I met him and his family at Richards funeral. A Great Gentleman and Veteran has taken his last flight. May God Bless and Keep Him.

  6. My condolences to Jims’ family. He was a true friend who will be greatly missed to all who knew him and this organization. Jim was the driving force behind my ‘gear up’ landing story.
    Rest in peace Buddy.

    Don Foster

  7. Thanks, Jim, for a terrific job. You’ve made one of the few sites I’ve visited every day for years.
    509th BW, 1956 – 1966

  8. Sorry to hear this news. Jim had that wonderful smile and I enjoyed working with him on the webpage over the years. He will be missed.Our heartfelt condolences to Sally and family.

  9. I just ran across this site and wanted to say that even though Jim and I was both Crew Chiefs in the 40th Bomb Wing we were in different Sqdn and I didn’t know him then but when we first starting getting the very first 40 th Bomb Wing Reunion organized Jim and I worked very close together for a year or better to make it a success. Throughout the years after that in the other reunions Jim and I were on the committee or officers in organizing other reunions. Even though I wasn’t a member of the B-47 association I knew of Jim’s work that he did for that organization also. He was dedicated to that oraganization as well as the 40th BombWing organization. His hard work and dedication was greatly appreciated by all members of both organizations.

  10. Would like to find the final description of B47e ?-0333
    That crashed from Mountain Home AFB Idaho in the early 60s . As I was the last person to see the flight crew ALIVE . I was acting Crew Chief who launched it. Also unfortunately the one to find the remains of one of the crew members in Montana. I know part of the story but not the total ending. Never heard what caused the the crash. I can fill in the start from 0600 to takeoff and later how ended up at the crash site and part of the inquest of the crash. But the aftermath nothing.
    Please fill in the missing pieces please.!!!??

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