A Brief History
On April 15, 1952, a milestone in aviation history was crossed when the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress made its first flight, a flight directly headed to First Place in the pantheon of bomber aircraft.
Digging Deeper
There is no typographical error in the date, it really was 68 years ago (as 2020). The pilots flying the B-52 for the US Air Force were not even born then! (Neither was the author.)
When the B-52 first flew, it was the heaviest airplane in the world and could not be caught by fighter planes of the day. Designed to carry nuclear weapons at high altitude to any point on the globe, the B-52 is air refuel-able, and can theoretically stay aloft for days if needed. (We have not yet designed pilots that can stay awake for days!)
Capable of carrying 70,000 pounds of bombs, including racks on the exterior of the airplane, the B-52 can fly at 650 mph at 50,000. Armed with .50 caliber tail guns, during the Vietnam War B-52’s shot down 3 pursuing jet fighters! The B-52, at 159 feet long and a wingspan of 185 feet, and weighing a maximum of almost half a million pounds was therefore (by far) the largest airplane ever to shoot down another airplane in combat! The B-52H model entering service in 1961 was equipped with a 20mm Gatling gun instead of .50 caliber machine guns, but all rear guns on all models were removed starting in 1991. Other modifications centered on improving the electronics and electronic warfare capability of the big birds.
The B-52 is crewed by 5 airmen, a pilot, co-pilot, navigator, bombardier, and electronic weapon systems operator. The B-52, or BUFF (Big Ugly Fat Fellow), used to carry a 6th crewman, the tail gunner, but of course with no tail gun, no tail gunner!
With the development of effective ground to air missiles (SAM’s) the B-52 was forced to change tactics to fly at low altitude as fast as it could. Using water injection into its 8 jet engines, the sight of B-52’s on a penetrating run trailing 8 huge tails of black smoke is intimidating!
The B-52 never yet has had to use nuclear weapons in actual combat, but has had plenty of use dropping mass quantities of conventional bombs, cruise missiles, and smart bombs during real combat. Vietnam, Serbia, the first and second Iraq wars, and Afghanistan have all trembled under the might of the B-52. In Operation Desert Storm, B-52’s dropped 40% of all the bombs dropped during combat!
Of the 742 B-52 bombers bought by the Air Force, 31 were shot down in combat and 85 remain in service today, and it was recently determined that they will stay in service until 2040 or beyond! Costing US taxpayers $14 to $53 million each, the B-52 seems like a bargain compared to the billion dollar B-2! Even the B-1 costs $300 million. The B-52 remains the heaviest bomber ever made, and is likely to have the longest service life of any bomber in history. Whether dropping 120 500 lb bombs, nuclear weapons, cruise missiles or 30 2000 lb bombs, the B-52 is a massive and reliable projection of American military power. No air force other than the USAF has flown the B-52, giving the plane a distinctly American flavor.
B-52’s have starred in books and movies, and of course, the rock group The B-52’s took us to The Love Shack!
Incredibly, the common 1960’s beehive hair-do was called The B-52. B-52’s have flown around the world non-stop with aerial refueling, and one flew from Okinawa, Japan to Spain un-refueled non-stop, a trip of over 12,000 miles.
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Historical Evidence
For more information, please see…
Yenne, Bill. B-52 Stratofortress: The Complete History of the World’s Longest Serving and Best Known Bomber. Zenith Press, 2012.
The featured image in this article, a side view of YB-52 bomber, is a work of a U.S. Air Force Airman or employee, taken or made as part of that person’s official duties. As a work of the U.S. federal government, the image or file is in the public domain in the United States.
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="1754 http://www.crackedhistory.com/?p=1754">87 Comments
It sounds really impressive to me! With my limited knowledge of bombers I would say it is likely one of the best.
The B52 was a major accomplishment for taking care of the enemy. It was fast and carried a huge payload. Compared to the cost of modern aircraft, it is very cost efficient and can be around for a long time.
This plane sounds incredible. It could carry such a large number of bombs at a pretty fast speed. Impressive!
This plane is very impressive! It’s crazy how fast the plane could go.
Sounds like a really impressive plane!!
The B-52 was the closest comparison to a floating fortress. Very impressive, an could be advanced in the present. So that’s to say a lot, since it was design and built in the WWII era.
Understandable why it’s apart of the top 20 weapons of all time.
That’s a big plane! I couldn’t imagine trying to maneuver that thing in a dog fight.
This big plane is protecting the world peace now. But I hope this world can keep peace without any weapons.
This plane was definitely an asset to our military.
Very interesting that a plane could carry such a heavy load!
Surprising that when the B-52 first flew it was the biggest airplane in the world!
This bomber is really impressive by how long it can stays in the air, along with how many weapons it could carry.
It’s impressive that the B-52, being such a big plane, was able to be refueled in the air, making it able to stay in the air for days.
I can’t believe how long it can stay in the air. That just shows how much of a threat it truly can be in the time of need.
It amazes me that this aircraft could stay in the air for days.
It is extraordinary that the B-52 can carry tons of weight and go days with out refueling.
I know someone in the air force that works with the B-52 everyday. I had a little background about this plane. The one thing I didn’t know is how much weight it can hold.
I can’t believe how big this plane actually is and how long it can go without refueling.
I don’t know much about planes but it’s amazing that an aircraft can stay in the air without landing for days!!
Such an amazing advancement in planes.
Back in those days, the advancement in planes were so advanced, one of the reasons why the US thrived back then with our military
I’m amazed at how long it’s been in service.
The B-52 has definitely been built to last. It is crazy how long they have been developed and used for!
This plane sounds very impressive. Especially considering all of the bombs that it can carry.
This plane is extremely impressive with the idea that it can carry 70,000 Ib’s of bombs. It makes you wonder what would happen and what could be designed if there was a World War 3.
its amazing the number of bombs this plane can carry.
Just looking at the picture of this plane is astonishing. It’s crazy how much this plane could carry.
The B-52’s have proven to be reliable and have earned their keep for at least another 24 years.
The plane flies so far without refueling, how amazing and it could carry a lot.
I love how many other things have taken on the name of B-52! From bands to hair styles, that’s a cool component of the Boeing aircraft’s legacy.
It is incredible to think that something that is half a million pounds can fly in the air. It is also interesting to hear that it was air refuelable, allowing it to stay in the air for days.
I find it amazing that the plane weighed a lot, was able to carry so much, and that it was able to travel long distances for days.
It is amazing to read that a plane could carry so much weight and that it was refuelable.
I have heard love shack many times, but on a real note it is the perfect combination of bomb and plane. if it cant be shot down then it can drop the bomb anywhere
Military engineering brings us some very extensive advances in technology and this is another example of that.
It is awesome to see what technology can bring us. It is also incredible to see that a single plane could carry so much weight.
It is amazing to me that a plane in 1952 could stay in the air for days at a time. However, I guess that should be expected considering the millions of dollars that it cost to manufacture the plane.
The B52 is one heck of a machine! I had no idea what it was able to do.
I find it so amazing on how advanced the B52 is! From the weight to the amount of weapons it can hold is insane. I could not imagine how much that costs.
It sounds to me like it was the greatest bomber. The number of jets taken out from the B-52 is impressive and it seems like it was a very reliable and trusted weapon in the air for the U.S. I also like the BUFF nickname it was given.
What an incredible aircraft. I definitely think that the B-52 is one of the most amazing jets around. It’s crazy to think that you could fly over 12,000 miles without stopping to fuel up. I never would have thought one plane could carry that many weapons!
I was shocked to learn that the B52 was able to stay in the air for days!
The B-52 sounds like an outstanding war machine.
Interesting article. I have never heard of the B-52 prior to this article. I found it interesting how much it was able to carry. The advancements in technology is outstanding.
B-52 was a great bomber. It played an important role in the war.
It looks so cool, it should be a nice bomb carrier.
B-52 seems like it was a Great War weapon. I don’t really know about war weapons, so it’s interesting to learn more.
what an incredible piece of ingenuity.
It seems funny to call something priced in the millions a bargain. It seems like a good investment though.
The B-52 was and still is an incredible bomber. I had no idea that the first B-52 took flight in 1952!
This B-52 looked like a cool bomber item.
I couldn’t even imagine being the the pilot of that plane, its like a battleship of the sky.
It is impressive that it can stay in the air for that long of a time. Carrying that many pounds of bombs and whatever else and to be able to fly in the air for that long is incredible.
Definitely an engineering feat! I would hate to see the shadow of that thing above me.
This thing would be like flying a tank! I can’t imagine the training and preparation that one must endure to get the opportunity.
It nice try and interesting arcticle
I had no idea that the B-52 had been in service that long. It’s crazy to think that with technology an old plane like that is still the best at what it does.
B-52’s have been around a long time and there is nothing else like them. Apparently they got it right the first time! It is so amazing how much weight they can carry and stay a loft, that’s a powerful aircraft!
I’m sure the military had to retrofit many of today’s tech in the old flying bus. The B-52s are a sight to see in person.
Th B-52s are a great part of history! Its amazing to see the 62 year old still runs strong and needs no technological advancements.
There had to have been a lot of thought and testing that went into the B-52’s if they lasted that long.
This aircraft is massive! I would love to see this in person.
B-52’s really changed the Viet Nam War. Could one imagine how the war would’ve been different without this discovery.
I’m glad to see that the B-52 is sticking around and not being scrapped just because its old. When something works and is effective its nice to see it kept around. The A-10 is another plane that has been dodging the chopping block for some time. They work. Let them be.
It is truly an amazing sight to see the B-52 in flight. It is a massive plan that can carry an impressive payload. I find it amazing how our country invented the largest plan in the world that at its time of creation could not even be caught by fighter jets, big plane with big speed.
It has stood the test of time. With all the technology we have today and to be able to withstand being phased out only shows how great of a plane this was and is.
Been in the military, I have seen what a B-52 can do and this aircraft is amazing. The fact that it has been around for so many years, shows how powerful and how great this aircraft is. I know that B-52 has safe lot of soldiers life in combat.
The B-52 was definitely the most advanced “fighter plane” of its time. very interesting to read about the B-52. I find it funny that there was a hair style called the B-52.
It is amazing that technology that is 65 years old is still considered to be useful. The B-52 is amazing to see in person; it is gigantic.
I got to see the b52 once and it was awesome I couldn’t believe how big it was. It was amazing to have a plane that size go out and fight in wars.
I think it is awesome the the B-52s are still useful. Those lanes are huge!
Even though this plane was designed to carry intense amounts of ammunition that could do some serious damage, I am glad that the designers were still able to have a light heart when giving the plane its name!
I have a shirt that has the B-52 plane on it from the D-Day re-enactment in Conneaut, OH.
This type of plane can do some serious damage.
What unbelievable aircraft for the B-52. In that case, I tend to imagine that this plane must have been so big and I could not compare it with the Airforce one used by the US present. It is among the amazing jets in the world. One cannot think of flying more than 12,000 miles before stopping for fueling up think of plane carrying such weapons.
I have to wonder if this is one of the planes that my cousin can fly. I know he is in the US Air Force and flies one of the largest planes in the world. He said that he can on land it in a few locations. He is currently deployed or just arriving back home but I will definitely have to ask him next time I see him.
Amazing piece of machinery the size of the aircraft is unbelievable. I think it is really neat that here in Mansfield we have Lahm airport which has the capability to accept a aircraft of this mass.
I don’t think that anyone could argue that it was not the best bomber plane. The fact that it can travel such far distances and still carry so much weight is amazing to me.
It’s crazy that the aircraft could carry 70,000 pounds of bombs and still out fly fighter jets! Also, impressive that they are to be in combat until 2040 and beyond.
I had never heard of an aircraft that can refuel in the air before reading this article, but it is fascinating that we have planes with that capability. I wonder if it would be disorienting to board an aircraft and travel for days without ever needing to come down.
This aircraft could do some serious damage and in a way its kind of scary to have a plane that could do some much damage. Especially if the wrong person gets a hold of it but it is amazing how long it can fly before needing to refuel.
The B-52 seems like a great war weapon. I cant imagine how difficult it was to fly and care for a plane this large.
As i knew before reading this article planes could refuel in the air if needed. I still find it fascinating!
about 62 years ago, B-52 Stratofortress pushed American airplane to have a new start
The B-52 was definitely the most advanced bomber of its time. I find it funny that there was a hair style called the B-52.
I love airplanes, and this article about the B-52 is very interesting. What stood out to me was that is requires 5 crewmen