[Paleo Conservative]

no question the b-52 is without doubt the most important jet ever to be deployed by the us military!!

Before the B-52 was built, Boeing built the B-47. If you look carefully at it, you will see the configuration of the engines mounted on pylons from swept wings is the prototype of most of the world's jetliners today.

[southland]

Re post # 18: The inside pods of the B 47 were modified for the 4 outboard jets on the B 36 which is the largest bomber ever built. The B 36 never saw combat but likely prevented WW3 in the 1950's . It was a monster of an airplane and would operate at ceilings above all the worlds fighters until it was retired in 1957- 58. We or Russia did not have anything that would touch it at above 40,000 feet in that era before we had 100 series fighters and I doubt anything will do much above 40,000 feet now with out rocket propelled projectiles.