Since it became operational in 1955, the B-52 has been the main long-range heavy bomber of the Strategic Air Command. It first flew on April 15, 1952. Nearly 750 were built when production ended in October 1963 (170 D models). The Ds were modified to carry conventional bombs and Quail decoy missiles.

The B-52 has set many records. On Jan. 18, 1957, three B-52Bs completed the first non-stop round-the-world flight by jet aircraft, lasting 45 hours, 19 minutes with only three aerial refuelings en route. It was also a B-52 that made the first airborne hydrogen bomb drop over Bikini Atoll on May 21, 1956. In June 1965 B-52s entered combat when they began flying missions in Southeast Asia. By August 1973, they had flown 126,615 combat sorties with 17 B-52s lost to enemy action.

---

SPECIFICATIONS:

Span: 185 ft.

Length: 156 ft. 6 in.

Height: 48 ft. 4 in.

Weight: 450,000 lbs. maximum

Armament: Four .50-cal. machine guns in tail plus bombs -- nuclear or up to 60,000 lbs. of conventional

Engines: Eight Pratt & Whitney J57s of 12,100 lbs. thrust ea. with water injection

Cost: $7,000,000

PERFORMANCE:

Maximum speed: 638 mph

Cruising speed: 526 mph

Range: 8,338 miles without refueling

Service ceiling: 49,400 ft.