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| Most post-World War II bombers evolved from military requirements issued in the early or mid-forties, but none were produced as initially envisioned. Geopolitical factors accounted for the programs; the military threat, varying in degrees of intensity through the years, never ceased to exist. While these factors justified the development of new weapons, technology dictated their eventual configurations. Strategic concepts fell in between, influenced by circumstances as well as the state-of-the-art. Thus the B-36, earmarked in 1941 as a long-range bomber, capable of bearing heavy loads of conventional bombs, matured as the first long-range atomic carrier. The impact of technology was far more spectacular in the case of the B-52, affecting the development of one of history's most successful weapon systems, and the concepts which spelled the long-lasting bomber's many forms of employment.
As called for in 1945, the B-52 was to have an operating radius of 4,340 nautical miles, a speed of 260 knots at altitude of 43,000 feet, and a bombload capacity of 10,000 pounds. Although jet propulsion had already been adopted for the smaller B-45 and B-47 then under development, the high fuel consumption associated with jet engines ruled against their use in long-range aircraft. But what was true in 1945, no longer applied several years later. After floundering through a series of changing requirements and revised studies, the B-52 project became active in 1948. Air Force officials decided that progress in the development of turbojets should make it possible to equip the new long-range bomber with such engines. The
decision, however, was not unanimous. Money was short, B-52 substitutes were proposed, and it took the deteriorating international situation caused by the Korean conflict to ensure production of the jet-powered B-52-the initial procurement contract being signed in February 1951.
While technological improvements received top priority when new weapons were designed, untried technology was a tricky business. Hovering over the B-52 weapon system was the specter of the B-47's initial deficiencies. As a result, the B-52 was designed, built, and developed as an integrated package. Components and parts were thoroughly tested before being installed in the new bomber. Changes were integrated on the production lines, giving birth to new models in the series, a fairly common occurrence. Yet, in contrast to the usual pattern, B-52 testing only suggested improvements, and at no time uncovered serious flaws in any of the aircraft. In fact, Maj. Gen. Albert Boyd, Commander of the Wright Air Development Center, and one of the Air Force's foremost test pilots, said that the B-52's first true production model was the finest airplane yet built.
Initially flown in December 1954, the B-52's performance was truly impressive. The new bomber could reach a speed of 546 knots, twice more than called for in 1945, and could carry a load of 43,000 pounds, an increase of about 30,000 pounds. Still, most of the early B-52s were phased out by 1970, due to Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara's mid-sixties decision to decrease the strategic bomber force. However, the later B-52G and H-models, and even some of the earlier B-52Ds, were expected to see unrestricted service into the 1980s.
By mid-1973, the B-52s had already compiled impressive records. Many of the aircraft had played important roles during the Vietnam War. Modified B-52Ds, referred to as Big Belly, dropped aerial mines in the North Vietnamese harbors and river inlets in May 1972. In December of the same year, B-52Ds and B-52Gs began to bomb military targets in the Hanoi and Haiphong areas of North Vietnam, where they encountered the most awesome defenses. Although the B-52s were often used for purposes they had not been intended to fulfill, after decades of hard work they remained one of the Strategic Air Command's best assets.
| CREW | 6 |
| ENGINE | 8 x turbo-jet P+W TF-33-P-3, 75.7kN |
| WEIGHTS |
| Take-off weight | 221350-226000 kg | 487996 - 498247 lb |
| Empty weight | 111350 kg | 245486 lb |
| DIMENSIONS |
| Wingspan | 56.4 m | 185 ft 0 in |
| Length | 47.6 m | 156 ft 2 in |
| Height | 12.4 m | 41 ft 8 in |
| Wing area | 371.6 m2 | 3999.87 sq ft |
| PERFORMANCE |
| Max. speed | 1070 km/h | 665 mph |
| Cruise speed | 900 km/h | 559 mph |
| Ceiling | 18300 m | 60050 ft |
| Range w/max.fuel | 16000 km | 9942 miles |
| Range w/max payload | 11800 km | 7332 miles |
| ARMAMENT | 4 x 20mm machine-guns, 34000kg of bombs and missiles |
 | A three-view drawing (1000 x 592) |
| ken jenner, e-mail, 30.09.2010 17:51 I worked on the b-52d's on my first deployment from Elsworth AFB in 1966.Spent six months in Guam when all the boming runs were done from there,looking back its really unbelieveable how many missons these planes have been on.During the time I was there these planes were landing and taking off 24 hrs a day 7 days a week.Our plane would come in,it would get refueled and loaded with bombs and off it would go,unless there was a real major mechanical problem.
All the missions those plans flew over nam and all the bombs they dropped hard to believe there is anything left of that place,one marvalous aircraft!
Anyone out there from the 28th OMS ELLSWORTH AFB S.D. years 1966-1970 contact me. reply |
| Roger Fagerland, e-mail, 24.09.2010 03:51 5 hears at Loring AFB and 2 at Plattsburgh and 1 at Blytheville. Best years were at Loring. Went back this summer and the place looks pretty sad. Flight line full of weeds. Anyone there between 61 and 69 from OMS? reply | | Dr. Jerry V. Ramsey, e-mail, 22.09.2010 06:19 I was a 19 year-old Tail Gunner in the D /E models at Clinton - Sherman AFB OKLA in 1960-63 during the Bay of Pigs and Cuban Missle Crisis. What a ride! reply | | Robert P. Nemeth, e-mail, 12.09.2010 20:22 Awesome plane. My Dad Robert W. Nemeth and 3 other men Leroy E. Pitman, Stephen R. Roseman and John Y. Whitley were presumed missing.The pilot and co pilot were the ony 2 survivors.It happened on Dec.12 1974.It happened in guam.Does anybody else remember? Does anybody have any information ? please get in touch with me if so.
Sincerely Robert P. Nemeth reply |
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| | Robert P. Nemeth, e-mail, 12.09.2010 20:22 Awesome plane. My Dad Robert W. Nemeth and 3 other men Leroy E. Pitman, Stephen R. Roseman and John Y. Whitley were presumed missing.The pilot and co pilot were the ony 2 survivors.It happened on Dec.12 1974.It happened in guam.Does anybody else remember? Does anybody have any information ? please get in touch with me if so.
Sincerely Robert P. Nemeth reply | | Don Aird, e-mail, 10.09.2010 04:12 I saw an arc light go in west of FSB Veghel the summer of 1970. I was part of an eight inch /175 MM artillery battery. It was midafternoon I was walking around the battery. All of a sudden the ground started to shake. I ran to one of our 8 inch guns (weighed 29 tons). I climbed up on the gun and looked west about 8 miles I could see this long massive column of smoke. I couldn't figure it out, if this was an artillery strike we would have been shooting. Then I noticed three shinny planes almost out of sight heading north east. It was three B-52s. They had dropped their loads are were long gone. reply | | sswfnhtu, e-mail, 30.06.2010 06:42 I have some ideas, thank you for sharing, I really like the safety valve reply | | Skip Tollifson, e-mail, 21.06.2010 04:32 Antares 1973 and I have been having fun exchanging views. He hates the U.S. and writes back in Russian which I then translate. It is mostly profane B.S. on his part. He thinks Russia is Utopia. Perhaps it is the cheap vodka that makes him this way. Try it out. Write to this "gentleman." reply | | S H, 18.07.2010 23:40 Interesting that the author of this page decided to include a B-52 with only SEVEN engines!
FWIW, this was a test airframe for a possible engine upgrade. reply | | Steve Creech, e-mail, 01.08.2010 22:03 If any of you "old heads" out there have any information regarding the operation of the last resort bombsight reticle on the C through F models, I would certainly like to hear from you. I'm an old D & G crew chief type and would like to pass this information on to the Curator of Collections @ the AF Academy. He is seeing that one of my old D models, 55-083, "Diamond Lil" gets the best of care and I'd just like to return a favor. My thanks in advance to anyone who can help. reply | | dan schroeder, e-mail, 05.08.2010 06:04 I worked on both G & H models as a hydralic specialist from 1969-1973. Mostly at K.I. Sawyer afb,but also at Anderson afb Guam during linebacker 11. Once you worked on these beast,you came to love them.I have both fond and sad memories of that time. We lost some planes and crews,but we accomplished our mission. I would do it all over again if I had the chance. reply | | Jon Thralls, e-mail, 10.08.2010 09:33 B-52...A magnificent piece of machinery. I worked the Fire Control Systems on B-52B's (A3A FCS), B-52D's (MD-9FCS), B-52F's (MD-FCS) and B-52G's (ASG-15FCS) for over 20 years, at bases from Barksdale AFB, La, to UTapao RTNS, Thailand.
One of life's greatest thrills was having an end of the runway FCS problem, requiring removal of the turret side panels, while standing on a B-5 stand 7 feet in the air, with all eight engines running. That was a violation of the safety manuals, but the rules change in wartime.
I visited the Pima Air Museum last year, and was glad to visit with an old acquaintance...B-52D #55-107. I didn't make it to the boneyard at Davis-Monathan, but I am sure there MANY old acquaintances there. After spending 8 years at Bergstom AFB, 3 years at Blytheville AFB, 18 months at UTapao, 3 years at Ellsworth, and 3 years at Dyess, I think that I have worked on every B-52D that SAC ever had, and most of the Gs. I never worked on the H models, but they are the "newest" B-52s,almost 50 years old,and still flying. The B-52... what an airplane!!!! reply | | Harvey Weinberg, e-mail, 14.08.2010 00:04 I was a crew chief on B-52C /D's at Westover AFB, MA from 69-73. I pulled a lot of alert duty, did 3 tdy's to Okinawa (1) and Guam (2)and truly loved working on that plane.
Looking to reconnect with other crew chiefs from Westover during the same time period. reply | | TexasVet, e-mail, 15.08.2010 22:12 I flew B52Gs out of Blytheville AFB, Ark, and then B52Ds out of Gaum. Never have to "walk" home - a very forgiving platform. Flew one home to Gaum one night on 6 engines with half hydrallics out, but landed OK. reply | |
| | Âüåòíàìñêèé Àññ Ëè Ñè Öèí, e-mail, 06.06.2010 03:08 Russian fighters MIG-21 fucking USAF in Nam reply | | Stan DeSart, e-mail, 20.05.2010 16:54 Was stationes at Beale AFB 61-63. It was an amazing Aircraft. I was an assistant crew chief on a (G) model for the last year at Beale. Loved the plane, the power still impresses me. I would love to see one fly over again. reply | | Skip Tollifson, e-mail, 12.05.2010 17:52 Bomb /Nav B52G Blytheville AFB from 1960 to 1963. 97th BW A&E Squadron. Got air sick on my first tng sortie. Plane was designated Foamy 19. Puked in my helmet. The navigator laughed and ordered me to wear the helmet. Nasty officer. Young A2C had no choice. Great aircraft. Many fond memories after the puking mission. Blytheville was a hell hole for young single guy. reply | | Ken, e-mail, 28.04.2010 05:35 commons.wikimedia.org /wiki /B-52
All kinds of pix of B-52s and info as well. The one at the top of this page is a B-52E. The engine is the same one used on C-5s. www.stratofortress.org /history.htm has some history. Dad was an electrician at Blytheville AFB 58-61 for SACs 97th BW. reply | | Tom Eisenhuth, e-mail, 22.04.2010 06:42 Would like to know everuyhing sbout the B52g bomber.
1.) how the engines were started.
2.) how the wheels were turned in a Crosswind. reply | | Richard, e-mail, 27.03.2010 01:46 Worked hydraulics D, E and G's. Blytheville 61-64, Larson, 64-65, Altus68-70, Grand Forks, 83-87.When a better bomber is built, Boeing will build it. reply |
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Robert P. Nemeth
Ken, I’m watching the NFL recognize operation linebacker today which prompted some google searches. My dad, Leroy Pitman, aka Junkyard Dog, was a B-52 navigator was stationed in South Dakota twice and Guam. He plane crashed in Guam, December 12, 1974 where he lost his life. Did you cross paths by chance?
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