Plastic Model Airplane Kits

Archive for the ‘B-52 Stratofortress’ Category

Boeing B-52 Stratofortress

Designed and constructed by Boeing the B-52 Stratofortress is operated by the USAF (United States Air Force). The aircraft was designed and built to be a long range strategic bomber. Although the B-52 is jet powered it only has subsonic flight characteristics.

The original contract was for 5 aircraft to be built in 1946 and went through many design changes to get to the B-52 we still have flying today. The first prototypes evolved from a 6 turboprop straight wing plane to a swept wing aircraft powered by 8 turbojets. The B-52 was built to carry nuclear bombs and to replace the old Convair B-36.

B-52 Stratofortress Active Service Since 1955

Her first tour of duty was for SAC the (Strategic Air Command) which came to an end in 1992. All the aircraft of SAC were moved to ACC (Air Combat Command) until 2010. A new division AFGSC (The Air Force Global Strike Command) was established. The AFGSC commands all the B-2 Spirit and B-52 Stratofortress aircraft. The B-52 has such low operating costs for its superior performance keep them in service. Even with the supersonic bombers like the Rockwell B-1B Lancer and the Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit availability. The North American XB-70 Valkyrie with Mach 3 capability never made it into service to replace the older bombers. The B-52 celebrated its 50th anniversary of continuous military service in 2005. All the B-52s are twice the age of the pilots that fly them today.

The first B-52B entered service in 1955 with the 93rd BW (93rd Heavy Bomber Wing) in California at Castle Air Force Base. The B-52s were a direct replacement for the aging B-36s. The new B-52 crews would get 5 weeks of school then on to flying the B-52 to qualify with up to 50 hours of flight time.

In the early days of service the B-52s were plagued with many problems that needed to be solved. The sheer weight of the new aircraft proved to be problematic for the taxiways and ramps. The early computers were just not reliable for bombing and fire control.

The crews suffered from weird climate control problems. The cockpit design is two stories which present some unique problems controlling climate. Many wonder about why is there a problem like this? The pilots in the cockpit are warmed by the sunlight while the navigator and observer on the lower deck of the cockpit freeze. Everything from hydraulic systems unreliable engines and the first alternator failure resulted in the first B-52 crash in 1956. The Air Force employed tiger teams called (Sky Speed) teams of expert maintenance contractors at all the bases to quickly solve maintenance problems.

The only nuclear bomb ever dropped and detonated was in 1956 over the Bikini Atoll as a test. The code name for the operation was (Cherokee) the only nuclear detonation as a result of a bomb drop by a B-52. In 1956 the 93rd BW with 4 B-52Bs and 42nd BW with 4 B-52Cs made a nonstop flight around North America in 31 hours and 30 minutes. The flight was 15,530 miles refueling were performed with Boeing KC-97 Stratotankers which were prop driven causing the B-52s to slowdown for refueling. The code name for given for the flight was Operation Quick Kick. Later in 1957 in a demonstration called Operation Power Flite three B-52Bs flew nonstop around the world, 24,325 miles in 45 hours and 19 minutes at an average speed of 536.8 mph. The Mackay Trophy was presented to the 93rd BW for the accomplishment.

Over the next few years the B-52s set many new records for speed and distance without refueling. The best distance unrefueled flight goes to a B-52H covering 12,532 miles from Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan to Torrejon Air Base in Spain.

Over its many years of service concerns for the lifespan of the B-52s came up as an issue. With all the changes in the world presented new requirements for bombers new projects proved to be unable to meet them or just too costly to make changes to. Like XB-70 Valkyrie and the Convair B-58 Hustler. As testified by General Curtis E. LeMay to Congress, The B-52s are going to just fall apart before we get replacements.

The B-52 and the Cold War

The original intent for the B-52 was to deter the Soviet military. It was believed at the time the Soviets were increasing its nuclear capabilities and the Strategic Air Command was given the job to counter or destroy the forces that would launch an attack. The Eisenhower administration wanted the focus to be on strategic targets instead of civilians. The new plan was given the name SIOP (Single Integrated Operation Plan) or the plan of attack if nuclear broke out.

Although you never heard it said, MAD (mutual assured destruction) capability was carried out through the Cold War with B-52s. SAC carried out patrols under code names such as Chrome Dome, Giant Lance, Hard Head, Head Start and Round Robin. The long range bombers would hang around at high altitude at points all around the Soviet Union. The idea was to provide the first strike is case of nuclear war. The Cold War’s role of deterrent!

Service during the Vietnam War 28 B-52Fs were fitted with racks to carry 24 750 lb bombs. The project was named South Bay in 1964 and later 46 more aircraft received the same modifications in project Sun Bath. The B-52s first real combat mission was executed in 1965 with 30 bombers in Operation Arc Light. It turned out to be somewhat of a disaster for the bombers because the first wave arrived too early. Maneuvering on station caused two bombers to collide with the loss of eight men and both bombers. One bomber turned back due to electrical problems which left 27 B-52s to bomb a one by two mile target kill box. The result was less than 50% of the bombs hit the target. Another sad fact was ARVN Troops during the post strike inspection tipped off the VC and they had departed the area before the raid.

The first B-52 to be shot down occurred in 1972 a model D from U-Tapao took a hit from a SAM while on a raid. A total of 30 B-52s were lost during the Vietnam War, 10 by enemy fire and the 20 others by being damaged and crashing over Laos or Thailand.

B-52 Stratofortress Air-to-air victories

In 1972 after a bombing raid in Operation Linebacker II and while turning away when a North Vietnamese Air Force MiG-21 approached Staff Sgt Samuel O. Turner opened up on the MiG with his 4 .50 caliber machine guns. The MiG-21 exploded behind the B-52. Sgt Turner received the Silver Star and the B-52 tail number 55-0676 is on display at Fairchild AFB Spokane, Washington with the air to air kill markings.

Maintenance depots like Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma refurbish B-52s from time to time. The Air Force plans to keep the B-52H in service until 2045 or later that is 90 years after B-52s entered service.

See All B-52 Stratofortress Listings!