They are a remarkable aircraft and after all these years still in service. I knew several B52 mechanics and crew members.
I had a job where we watched them take off. I used to tell fresh young airmen how the B52 took off and flew up to altitude.
The B52’s would rev their engines on the runway, dump all the clutches and spin their wheels. That accounted for all the black smoke. Then point to a refueling picture and tell them that’s actually a tow bar to help them get to altitude.
Wow, Your imagination was out of control when you told those young airmen how the B-52 took off.....Thank you for your service!
A similar story was used by a fellow pilot when he was breaking in the Jets....
He was flying the T-33 trainer at the time.
Joe had a classmate, who had lit a rolled up paper, throw it in the exhaust pipe at the time Joe added fuel to the fire. People seeing this would think that this was the way to start any jet! Gullable, of course.
PS, the speed that the B-52 leaves the runway is called, “Unstick Speed!”
(that is the truth)
Cheers