Warplanes of the USA: Boeing B-52 Stratofortress

Boeing B-52 Stratofortress

(USAF Photo)

A U.S. Air Force Boeing B-52F-70-BW Stratofortress (s/n 57-0162, nicknamed "Casper The Friendly Ghost") from the 320th Bomb Wing dropping Mk 117 750 lb (340 kg) bombs over Vietnam. This aircraft was the first B-52F used to test conventional bombing in 1964, and later dropped the 50,000th bomb of the "Arc Light" campaign. B-52Fs could carry 51 bombs and served in Vietnam from June 1965 to April 1966 when they were replaced by "Big Belly" B-52Ds which could carry 108 bombs.

(Senior Master Sgt. Mahmoud Rasouliyan, USAF Photo)

A B-52 Stratofortress takes off from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, to participate in an exercise scenario Aug. 22. The aircraft, aircrew and maintainers are deployed from Barksdale AFB, La., as part of the continuous bomber presence in the Pacific region. During their deployment to Guam, the bomber squadron's participation in exercises will emphasize the U.S. bomber presence, demonstrating U.S. commitment to the Pacific region.

The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is an American long-range, subsonic, jet-powered strategic bomber. The B-52 was designed and built by Boeing, which has continued to provide support and upgrades. It has been operated by the United States Air Force (USAF) since the 1950s, and NASA for nearly 50 years. The bomber can carry up to 70,000 pounds (32,000 kg) of weapons and has a typical combat range of around 8,800 miles (14,200km) without aerial refueling.

Beginning with the successful contract bid in June 1946, the B-52 designevolved from a straight wing aircraft powered by six turboprop engines to thefinal prototype YB-52 with eight turbojet engines and swept wings. The B-52took its maiden flight in April 1952. The B-52 has been in service with theUSAF since 1955, and NASA from 1959 to 2007. Built to carry nuclear weapons forCold War–era deterrence missions, the B-52 Stratofortress replaced the ConvairB-36 Peacemaker.

Superior performance at high subsonic speeds and relatively low operating costshave kept them in service despite the development of more advanced strategicbombers, such as the Mach 2+ Convair B-58 Hustler, the canceled Mach 3 NorthAmerican XB-70 Valkyrie, the variable-geometry Rockwell B-1 Lancer, and thestealth Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit. A veteran of several wars, the B-52 hasdropped only conventional munitions in combat.

The B-52's official name Stratofortress is rarely used; informally, theaircraft has become commonly referred to as the BUFF (Big Ugly FatFucker/Fella). There are 76 aircraft in inventory as of 2024; 58 operated byactive forces (2nd Bomb Wing and 5th Bomb Wing), 18 by reserve forces (307thBomb Wing), and about 12 in long-term storage at the Davis-Monthan AFBBoneyard. The bombers flew under the Strategic Air Command (SAC) until it wasdisestablished in 1992 and its aircraft absorbed into the Air Combat Command(ACC); in 2010, all B-52 Stratofortresses were transferred from the ACC to thenew Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC). The B-52 completed 60 years ofcontinuous service with its original operator in 2015. After being upgradedbetween 2013 and 2015, the last airplanes are expected to serve into the 2050s. (Wikipedia)

(AF GlobalStrike Photo)

First flight of the Boeing YB-52 Stratofortress, 15 April 1952.

(USGOV-PD Photo)

Boeing XB-52 in flight, c1952.

(USAF Photo)

XB-52 bomber on flightline; with a Northrop X-4 in the foreground and a Convair B-36 in the background.

(USAF Photo)

Boeing YB-52 in flight.

(NMUSAF Photo)

Boeing B-52A (Serial No. 52-001) in flight. Note the external fuel tanks have been removed.

(USGOV-PD Photo)

Boeing NB-52A.

(USAF Photo)

Boeing NB-52A (Serial No. 52-003) permanent test variant, carrying North American Aviation's legendary X-15, and mission markings. Horizontal X-15 silhouettes indicating glide flights, near-vertical ones recording powered ones.

(USGOV-PD Photo)

Boeing NB-52A (SN 56-6670), with X-15 No. 1.

(USAF Photo)

Boeing NB-52A releasing an X-15.

(USAF Photo)

Boeing NB-52A launch aircraft at Edwards AFB.

(NASA Photo, Tom Tschida)

NB-52A Stratofortress carrying an experimental UAV Boeing X-43.

(NASA Photo, Tony Landis)

B-52B mothership, NASA's venerable workhorse, rolls out on the Edwards AFB runway after a test flight in 1996. Over the course of more than 40 years, the B-52 launched numerous experimental aircraft, ranging from the X-15 to the X-38, and was also used as a flying testbed for a variety of other research projects.

(Alan Radecki Photo)

NASA's NB-52B Balls 8 (lower) and its replacement B-52H on the flight line at Edwards Air Force Base in 2004.

(USAF Photo)

Boeing B-52Bs. Three closest aircraft with visible tail numbers are B-52B-35-BO (S/N 53-0396), RB-52B-30-BO (S/N 53-0377) and B-52B-35-BO (S/N 53-0391).

(USAF Photo)

Boeing B-52C.

(USAF Photo)

Boeing B-52D.

(USGOV-PD Photo)

Boeing B-52D-1-BW (Serial No. 55-0049)

(USAF Photo)

Boeing B-52D-40-BW (SN 56-0695) in flight launching Quail decoy.

(USGOV-PD Photo)

Boeing B-52D-70-BO (Serial No. 56-0582) is refueled by Boeing KC-135A-BN (Serial No. 55-3127).

(USGOV-PD Photo)

Boeing B-52D-40-BW (Serial No. 56-0695) with anti-flash white on the underside, and GAM-72 Quail decoy missile and trailer.

(USGOV-PD Photo)

Boeing B-52D-80-BO (Serial No. 56-0620).

(USGOV-PD Photo)

Boeing B-52D-75-BO (Serial No. 56-0591) Tommys Tigator.

(USAF Photo)

Boeing B-52D-30-BW (Serial No. 56-0660) deploying its drag chute, 5 April 1966.

(USAF Photo)

Boeing B-52D-60-BO Stratofortress (s/n 55-0104) of the 484th Bomb Wing, at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, on 20 March 1966.

(USGOV-PD Photo)

Boeing B-52D-55-BO (Serial No. 55-0068). Note the B-52Hs in the background.

(USAF Photo)

Boeing B-52E.

(USGOV-PD Photo)

Boeing B-52E-85-BO (Serial No. 56-0635) is refueled by Boeing KC-135A (Serial No. 57-1467).

(USGOV-PD Photo)

Boeing JB-52E (Serial No. 57-0119) in flight. This aircraft was used to test the General Electric TF39-GE-1C turbofan to be used in the new C-5A Galaxy. The test engine was located on the right inboard pylon and replaced the twin Pratt & Whitney J57 engines normally in that location. The single TF39 had about twice the thrust of the twin J57s it replaced.

(USGOV-PD Photo)

Boeing NB-52E during the Air Force Flight Dynamics Laboratory-Boeing Control Configured Vehicles program.

(USGOV-PD Photo)

Boeing B-52F takeoff with AGM-28 Hound Dog missiles, 1960.

(USGOV-PD Photo)

Boeing B-52F-65-BW (Serial No. 57-0153).

(USAF Photo)

Boeing B-52G. During Desert Storm, B-52s delivered 40 percent of all the weapons dropped by coalition forces. It is highly effective when used for ocean surveillance, and can assist the U.S. Navy in anti-ship and mine-laying operations. Two B-52s, in two hours, can monitor 140,000 square miles of ocean surface.

(NMUSAF Photo)

Boeing B-52G.

(NMUSAF Photo)

Boeing B-52G.

(USAF Photo, Senior Airman Sarah E. Shaw)

The high aspect ratio wing of a United States Air Force B-52H Stratofortress from the 96th Bomb Squadron, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana., deployed to the 2nd Air Expeditionary Group, Naval Station Diego Garcia, British Indian Island Territory, drops away after air refueling.

(USGOV-PD Photo)

B-52H dropping a JDAM test bomb.

(USAF Photo, Senior Airman Keifer Bowes)

A U.S. B-52H Stratofortress prepares to join with Qatar Emiri Air Force Mirage 2000s and U.S. F-35A Lightning IIs to fly in formation over Southwest Asia, May 21, 2019. This flight was conducted to continue building military-to-military relationships with the QEAF. The B-52H is part of the Bomber Task Force deployed to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility to defend U.S. forces and interests in the region.

(Balon Greyjoy Photo)

A B-52H-175-BW(61-0036) Stratofortress taking off from Tinker AFB, Oklahoma.
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Preserved Boeing B-52 Stratofortress bombers

United States
NB-52A
52-0003 - Pima Air & Space Museum adjacent to Davis-Monthan Air Force Basein Tucson, Arizona. It is a converted B-52A that was used by the Air ForceFlight Test Center at Edwards AFB, California as the X-15 Launch Aircraft; nowon display and marked as 0003 The High and the Mighty One.
B-52B
52-0005 - under restoration at the Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum(former Lowry AFB), Denver, Colorado. It is marked as "005 “ and wasaccepted on 3 March 1955. It was operated by the 6515th Maintenance Group (AirResearch & Development Command) at Edwards AFB, 93rd BW / 330th BS atCastle AFB, 3415th MSG (ATC) at Lowry AFB, then redesignated as a GB-52Btraining airframe at the Lowry Technical Training Center, withdrawn fromservice April 1982.
NB-52B
52-0008 - Edwards AFB Museum, California. It is marked as "0008",originally a B-52B then modified as an RB-52B then NB-52B. Assigned to NASA asBalls 8 for use as a mothership for the X-15, X-38, and X-43A, withdrawn fromservice on 17 December 2004.
RB-52B
52-0013 - Heritage Park at the National Museum of Nuclear Science and Historyadjacent to Kirtland AFB in Albuquerque, New Mexico. One of the few B-52s tohave actually dropped a nuclear weapon when it took part in Operation Dominicin 1962.
52-8711 - Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum in Ashland, Nebraska. Itwas originally a B-52B and was the first operational B-52 delivered to the AirForce, entering service with the 93d Bombardment Wing on June 29, 1955.
53-0379 - Although not preserved as such, the aircraft sits on the edge ofRogers Dry Lake south of Edwards Air Force Base, California(34.818730,-117.852651). It was used for barrier testing until 1970 and has been locatedon the photo range for some time.

(Peter Rimar Photo)
55-0068 at the USAF History & Traditions Museum, Lackland AFB, Texas
55-0083 at the US Air Force Academy, in Colorado Springs, Colorado
B-52D
55-0057 - Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. It was operated by the 306th BW atMcCoy AFB, Florida and the 7th BW at Carswell AFB, Texas.
55-0062 - K.I. Sawyer Heritage Air Museum on the former K.I. Sawyer AFB,Michigan. It was accepted by the USAF in February 1957.
55-0067 - Pima Air & Space Museum, adjacent to Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson,Arizona. It is marked as "067 The Lone Star Lady" and was operated bythe 7th BW at Carswell AFB and withdrawn from service on 5 November 1982.

(Jud McCrainie Photo)
55-0085 at the Museum of Aviation, Warner Robins, Georgia.
55-0071 - Battleship Memorial Park, Mobile, Alabama.
55-0083 - United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
55-0085 - Museum of Aviation, Robins AFB, Warner Robins, Georgia. It wasoperated by the 99th BW at Andersen AFB, Guam and the 7th BW at Carswell AFB,Texas.
55-0094 - Kansas Aviation Museum, Wichita, Kansas. It was accepted by the USAFon 30 April 1957 and participated in Arclight.
55-0095 - Only nose and cockpit section preserved, Valiant Air Command WarbirdMuseum, Titusville, Florida.
55-0677 - Yankee Air Museum, Willow Run Airport, Ypsilanti, Michigan. It ismarked as "677" and was operated by the 43rd BW at Andersen AFB, Guamand participated in Linebacker II as part of the 96th BW at Dyess AFB, Texas.
55-0679 - March Field Air Museum, March Air Reserve Base (former March AFB) inRiverside, California. It is marked as "679" and was accepted by theUSAF on 5 June 1957 and operated by the 92nd BW at Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota;494th BW at Sheppard AFB, Texas; 509th BW at Pease AFB, New Hampshire andAndersen AFB, Guam; 454th BW at March AFB, California; 22nd BW at Andersen AFB,Guam; 99th BW at Andersen AFB and U-Tapao RTAFB, Thailand;, 43rd SW at U-TapaoRTAFB;, 7th BW at Carswell AFB, Texas; 99th BW at Andersen AFB and U-Tapao;22nd BW at March AFB; 43rd SW at Andersen AFB and participated in LinebackerII;, 7th BW at Carswell AFB; 22nd BW at March AFB, 175 combat missions, becamea training airframe as a GB-52D and withdrawn from service in 1992.
56-0586 - Arc Light Memorial, Andersen AFB, Guam.
56-0589 - Sheppard AFB Air Park, Sheppard AFB, Wichita Falls, Texas.

(Nehrams2020 Photo)
56-0612 - Castle Air Museum at the former Castle AFB, Atwater, California.

(Michael Barera Photo)
56-0629 - Barksdale Global Power Museum, Barksdale AFB, Louisiana. It is markedas "0629" and was accepted by the USAF in October 1957 and wasoperated by the 4258SW at U-Tapao.
56-0657 - South Dakota Air and Space Museum, Ellsworth AFB, Rapid City, SouthDakota.
56-0665 - National Museum of the United States Air Force, Wright-Patterson AFB,Dayton, Ohio.
56-0666 - Vertical stabilizer only. National Museum of the Mighty Eighth AirForce in Savannah, Georgia.
56-0676 - Armed Forces & Aerospace Museum, Fairchild AFB, Washington. Itoperated in the Vietnam War and participated in Operation Linebacker II (akaChristmas Bombings), credited as a MiG Killer on 18 December 1972 when tailgunner SSgt Samuel O. Turner downed a MiG-21. Also based with the 96th BW atDyess AFB, Texas.
56-0683 - Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri.
56-0685 - Dyess Linear Air Park, Dyess AFB, Abilene, Texas.

(F1295 Photo)
56-0687 - B-52 Memorial Park, Orlando International Airport (former McCoy AFB),Orlando, Florida. It was operated by the 96th BW at Dyess AFB, Texas.
56-0692 - Tinker AFB, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
56-0695 - Charles B Hall Airpark, Tinker AFB, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
56-0696 - Travis AFB Heritage Center, Travis Air Force Base, Fairfield,California. It is marked as "Twilight D'Lite".
B-52E
57-0101 - forward fuselage displayed at Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, Honolulu,Hawaii.
57-0119 - As with 53-0379, it is located on the Edwards Air Force Base, photorange, in destroyed condition. It was used in a variety of test roles, mostnotably as the carrier for the General Electric TF39 engine used on the C-5Galaxy. It was towed to its present location in 1980 and blown up in 1991 tosatisfy conditions of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty.
B-52F
57-0038 - Joe Davies Heritage Airpark, Air Force Plant 42, Palmdale,California. This is the only preserved B-52F. It was on display at the OklahomaCity Fairgrounds from 1974 to 2006.
57-0042 - Only nose and cockpit section preserved. Under restoration to displayat Yanks Air Museum, Chino, California.
B-52G
57-6468 - Gate guard at Zorinsky Memorial Air Park, Offutt AFB, Bellevue,Nebraska.
57-6509 - Barksdale Global Power Museum, Barksdale AFB, Louisiana. It is markedas "6509 Nine O Nine II" and was operated by the 2nd BW at BarksdaleAFB and the 801st BW(P) at Moron AB, Spain during Operation Desert Storm.
58-0183 - Pima Air & Space Museum adjacent to Davis-Monthan Air Force Basein Tucson, Arizona. It is marked as " 0183 Valkyrie " and wasoperated by the 2nd BW / 596th BS at Barksdale AFB, assigned in January 1991 toOperation Secret Squirrel, withdrawn from service in July 1991.
58-0185 - Air Force Armament Museum at Eglin AFB, Florida. It is marked as"0185 El Lobo II" and first assigned to the 4135th Strategic Wing,Strategic Air Command, Eglin AFB, September 1959; last assigned to the 2nd BombWing, Barksdale AFB, Louisiana.
58-0191 - Hill Aerospace Museum at Hill AFB, Utah. It is marked as "0191Bearin' Arms" and was accepted into service on 16 October 1959 andoperated by the 72nd BW at Ramey AFB, Puerto Rico; 456th BW at Beale AFB,California and Andersen AFB, Guam; 17th BW at Andersen AFB, Guam and RobinsAFB, Georgia; 2nd BW at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana; 320th BW at Mather AFB,California; 97th BW at Blytheville AFB, Arkansas and Edwards AFB, California;62nd BW at Fairchild AFB, Washington; 93rd BW at Castle AFB, California; 2nd BWat Barksdale AFB, 93rd BW at Castle AFB, then withdrawn from service in August1991.
58-0225 - Mohawk Valley B-52 Memorial in Rome, New York. It is marked as"0225 Mohawk Valley" and was operated by the 416th Bomb Wing at theformer Griffiss Air Force Base in Rome, New York. The aircraft was damaged byan EF2 tornado on 16 July 2024.
59-2577 - Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota.
59-2579 - forward fuselage displayed at Tillamook Air Museum, Tillamook, Oregon.
59-2584 - Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington.

(William Grimes Photo)
59-2601 - Tactical Air Command Memorial Park, Langley Air Force Base, Virginia.

Australia
B-52G
59-2596 2596 Darwin's Pride - Darwin Aviation Museum in Winnellie, NorthernTerritory.
South Korea
B-52D

(Mammique Photo)
55-0105 - War Memorial of Korea, Seoul, was operated by the 4258 SW at U-TapaoRoyal Thai Navy Airfield in Thailand and the 96 BW at Dyess AFB, Texas.
United Kingdom
B-52D
56-0689 - Imperial War Museum Duxford, Duxford, England, was operated by the28th BW and 7th BW at Carswell AFB. The B-52D is located in the American AirMuseum building, alongside B-29A 44-61748 "It's Hawg Wild". B-52D56-0689 is one of the largest and heaviest aircraft to have ever landed at theairfield.

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