B-52 Stratofortress: The Complete History of the World's Longest Serving and Best Known BomberThe B-52 is the longest serving and most versatile of the United States Air Force's combat aircraft. The Stratofortress entered active service in 1955 and is scheduled to continue as part of the air force's inventory through 2040. The jet-powered bomber was a mainstay of America's Cold War nuclear-deterrent strategy, providing air power that balanced the land and sea military forces. The massive plane also served as the launch platform for the experimental X-15 hypersonic rocket aircraft. Due to its versatility as an aircraft, the B-52 has seen combat service in all of America's military conflicts since it came on active duty: Vietnam, the first and second Gulf wars, and the War in Afghanistan. B-52 Stratofortress also covers every aspect of the aircraft's development, manufacture, and modification. These technical details set the stage for its military service, starting with its role as a nuclear bomber in the Cold War even though only conventional weapons have been used during its combat duty. The airplane’s service in key campaigns in Vietnam is covered, followed by the quieter years after it. The B-52 returned to prominence in the Gulf Wars and Afghanistan, taking part in massive bombing campaigns in both conflicts. Finally, the book ends with the constant upgrades that will keep the B-52 an integral part of U.S. airpower for decades to come. |
Contents
Chapter 1 The Origins of Strategic Air Power Doctrine | 12 |
Chapter 2 Boeing Bombers Before the Stratofortress | 18 |
Chapter 3 The Strategic Air Command and a Jet Bomber Fleet | 22 |
Chapter 4 What Weve Been Waiting For | 26 |
Chapter 5 Production and Model Evolution | 38 |
Chapter 6 The Strategic Air Command and Other Stratofortress Missions | 52 |
Chapter 7 War in Southeast Asia | 80 |
Chapter 8 Back to the Cold War | 100 |
Chapter 10 A Decade of Changes | 132 |
Chapter 11 TwentyFirstCentury Warrior | 144 |
Chapter 12 Back to the Future | 158 |
Appendix 1 Specifications by Stratofortress Model | 174 |
Appendix 2 Stratofortress Production by Model and Block Number | 177 |
Appendix 3 Stratofortress Combat Wings and Assigned Squadrons | 180 |
| 186 | |
| 189 | |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
Afghanistan air defenses Air Expeditionary air-launched aircraft reassigned airplane ALCM American Andersen AFB Arc Light attack B-52H Stratofortress Balls Eight Barksdale AFB Bill Yenne Boeing Model Boeing’s bomb bay Bombardment Squadron Inactivated Bombardment Wing Heavy BUFFs built in Seattle CALCM clin crew Cruise Missiles Curtis LeMay decades December deployed designed Diego Garcia Eight Pratt engines flight flown flying Guam Hound Dog ICBMs Inactivated in 1963 included Iraq Iraqi Freedom JDAM jet bomber Kosovo launched Linebacker March McNamara miles Minot AFB mission mothership North Vietnam North Vietnamese nuclear weapons Operation Desert Storm pounds of thrust Pratt & Whitney Provisional radar refueling SAC’s sorties stand-off Strategic Air Command strategic air power strategic bomber Strategic Wing strike Superseded tail turret targets thermonuclear turbofan turbojets U-Tapao U.S. Air Force U.S. Army U.S. Navy underwing pylons United upgrades USAAF USAF USAFphoto Vietnam World