Stratofortress: The Story of the B-52

by Martin W Bowman

Overview

Boeing's mighty B-52 Stratofortress has seen continuous operational service with the United States Air Force since the type was introduced in 1957. The aircraft has been upgraded several times and has assumed many different new roles since it was originally conceived and then provided the key airborne platform for America's strategic nuclear force. It is predicted that it will serve as a front-line aircraft until 2040.

Apart from the formidable threat it provided during the long years of the 'Cold War', the aircraft has played a significant part in all US overseas operations since Vietnam. The more recent include Desert Storm in 1991, the Balkan conflict, Afghanistan and the liberation of Iraq. Over 700 were built and around 80 remain in service. This book includes chapters on Concept Requirement, Design and Development, Production, Evolution and Variant Models, Operational Tasking, Operational History (with firsthand accounts from crews), Weapons and Equipment Carried, Flying the Aircraft and Current Service Operations. It is highly illustrated with many original shots taken aboard B-52s, together with archive material and color profiles.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781848848603
Publisher:	Pen and Sword
Publication date:	07/19/2012
Series:	Pen and Sword Large Format Aviation Books
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	6.70(w) x 9.70(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Martin Bowman is one of Britain's leading aviation authors and has written a great deal of books focussing on aspects of Second World War aviation history. He lives in Norwich in Norfolk. He is the author of many Pen and Sword Aviation titles, including all releases in the exhaustive Air War D-Day and Air War Market Garden series.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Road to Predition 9

Chapter 1 Peace is our Profession 19

Chapter 2 Stratocracy in South-east Asia 1965-73 51

Chapter 3 Linebacker and the Eleven-day War 75

Chapter 4 Versions and Variants 95

Chapter 5 Peace - The Old-fashioned Way: The Gulf War 1990-1991 121

Chapter 6 The War Against Terror 153

Appendix I B-52 Specifications 167

Appendix II Defensive Weapons Systems 169

Appendix III Offensive Weapons Systems 173

Appendix IV B-52 Production Totals and Airframe Serial Numbers 183

Appendix V SAC B-52 Squadrons Late 1961 186

Appendix VI SAC Organizations 15 July 1978 188

Appendix VII SAC Wings 1963-31 May 1992 190

Appendix VIII B-52s in the Total SAC Inventory 1955-1991 195

Appendix IX B-52 Units Gained by Air Combat Command on Activation, 1 June 1992 197

Appendix X B-52 Stratofortress Losses to all Causes 199

Appendix XI B-52s In Museums and Collections of the World 206

Glossary 208

Bibliography 214

Index 216

Profiles 225