Description
The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is a bomber that has been in service with the United States Air Force for over 50 years. The Stratofortress was designed to be a replacement for the Douglas B-47 Stratojet, and it has been in service ever since. The Stratofortress has seen service in the Cold War, the Vietnam War, the Desert Storm War, and the War in Afghanistan. The Stratofortress is still in service and is expected to continue to be in service for many years to come.
The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress began her life at the Boeing Aircraft Corp back in 1946. She was the answer to the problem that General Curtis LeMay of the USAF was looking for: A BIG bomber.
The B-52, in 1955 entered the service of the USAF and as of 2016 she is still in service and on active duty. The B-52 had lived through the Cold War, being on alert 24/7 in case the Russian Bear stepped out of line. The B-52 saw service in the Vietnam War of which Operation Rolling Thunder became one of the monumental programs in USAF history. The B-52 went on to service in the deserts of the Middle East in Operation Desert Storm and later in Enduring Freedom and Afghanistan. Through all this, the B-52 has stood for the many revisions, from A to H, that have been done to her massive airframe and her cockpit, which is now an up to-date glass cockpit. Of the 744 that were built 85 of the H model still remain in service. Her armament capacity is immense. 50 years of service, and many battle scars later, still the B-52 remains the Queen of the skies of War.
REVIEWS
An excellent account of the story of one of the USAF's best known aircraft of the Cold War era and beyond and indeed one that has still not come to an end. With personal memories included to bring life to some of the stories, this is well worth reading I think. When you see a B-52 take to the air at an airshow, it is always such an impressive sight and one we will continue to see for some time yet.
Military Modeling
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