The B-52 bomber: Long-standing symbol of US strength

BBC News ^ | 13 June 2014 | Jonathan Beale

[sukhoi-30mki]

The Boeing B-52 - sometimes known as the Stratofortress - is a long-range, jet-powered strategic bomber which is widely expected to prop up the US Air Force well beyond the year 2045

Before our marathon eight-hour flight Captain Thomas Hyde, the commanding officer of one of the B-52 bombers, briefly describes the mission.

He says we will be doing a number of simulated bombing runs around what he calls "the island". He makes it sound like a short training flight over a remote abandoned outcrop of rock somewhere in the North Sea. But the island he is referring to is in fact Britain.

It is the first time the B-52s have returned to their European "home" for more than a decade.

RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire is one of the long range bombers' forward operating bases - alongside the more exotic islands of Guam and Diego Garcia.

Military muscle

The last time they were in Europe was in 2003 - the year America launched "shock and awe" on Iraq.

Now their arrival is more about flexing America's military muscle.

But it is seen as significant given Russia's recent intervention in Ukraine.

Colonel Leyland Bohannon of the US Air Force says the timing is "interesting" while insisting it is "not connected".

Though he adds wherever you fly a nuclear capable bomber "it does send a message".

The B-52 is a warrior of the Cold War. But it is still a symbol of American power.

The one we are flying in was built in 1961. It has since undergone numerous upgrades.

And while the B-52 was once used to conduct "carpet bombing" now it is more likely to carry cruise missiles and Laser Guided Bombs.

[sukhoi-30mki]

Once used to conduct "carpet bombing" the B-52 is now more likely to carry cruise missiles and Laser Guided Bombs

[nascarnation]

I know they say airplanes never “get old” as parts are replaced on a schedule of their fatigue life.

But it’s still pretty darn impressive.

[drunknsage]

Strangest landing gear ever and nowhere near as pretty as the Vulcan, but still an amazing aircraft.

[Blood of Tyrants]

They were offering rides in a 1929 Ford Trimotor at my local airport. It’s pretty impressive that they can still find parts to keep an 85 year old aircraft flying.

[Robe]

I have a friend of mine who is Retired USAF and JROTC high School instructor. He was one of the last B-52 Tail Gunners.
HE told me it was a rough ride back there ,as for every foot the nose traveled(pitch axis) the tail would travel 8ft.
He had a great picture in is office of him in the tail gunner position taken from another BUFF.
BTW BUFF doesn't stand of Big Ugly Fat Fellow, that's a polite interpretation, I'll leave the actual word to you creative imagination.

[Robert A Cook PE]

Needs new engines.

But they’ve been saying that since 1963.

[Tupelo]

I have read that the DOD projects the B52 to still be in service in 2055. Over 100 years of service. that is amazin. B52 and Ma Deuce. Two success stories from the much maligned Military, Industrial Complex. Air force friends that worked on and flew B52s always referred to them as “The Buf”. Translated to mean, Big Ugly Feller. FELLER? Right!

[jagusafr]

Dale Brown was right - they just keep teaching the Old Dog new tricks. Amazing, really.

[thackney]

[Gaffer]

I remember the 52s when I was stationed very shortly at Robins AFB, GA before heading overseas (one of my TWO short assignments in CONUS during the entire 8 years I did - second was 6 months at NORAD NCMC - the rest was OCONUS).

There, the 52s were part of the 19th Bomb Wing of SAC. They were separated from the rest of the base.

They also ran 52s out of Kadena right before I got there but the Okinawans complained and they moved them to Guam.

Instead of a fully laden B52 crashing on takeoff (their fear), they had no problem with the fully loaded KC-135s that the AF replaced them with - go figure, flaming gas or bombs.)

[Gaffer]

Gear is steerable IIRC

[jumpingcholla34]

I just find it amazing that the airframe is original. How do they not have problems with metal fatigue?

[llevrok]

Gen. Buck Turgidson said it best for me

He can barrel in that baby so low!

[SpeakerToAnimals]

A bomber is a flying dump truck. The BUFF is as close to perfect as possible.

I always chuckle about the "nuclear capable" line reporters like. An F16 is capable of carrying nukes. B-61

[thackney]

Which nukes can the F16 carry?

http://www.af.mil/AboutUs/FactSheets/tabid/131/Category/728/Default.aspx

[EQAndyBuzz]

We had them at Ellsworth. Part of the Triad.

I would love to see them en masse going into Iraq and just taking out the entire ISIS military wing in one bombing run.

[Yo-Yo]

B61.

[SpeakerToAnimals]

The B61 has been deployed by a variety of U.S. military aircraft. Aircraft cleared for its use have included the B-1 Lancer, B-2 Spirit, B-52 Stratofortress; F-101 Voodoo, F-100 D & F Super Sabre, F-104 Starfighter, F/A-18 Hornet, F-111 Aardvark and F-4 Phantom II fighter bombers; A-4 Skyhawk, A-6 Intruder and A-7 Corsair II attack aircraft; the F-15 Eagle, F-15E Strike Eagle and F-16 Falcon; British, German and Italian Panavia Tornado IDS aircraft. USAFE and all NATO dual role aircraft can carry B61s. The Lockheed S-3 Viking was also able to deploy the B61 as a nuclear depth bomb.

I googled B-61 gravity bomb. This is an excerpt from wiki. There are hundreds of these in Europe, 12 in Turkey (NATO ally).

[afsnco]

I was a SAC trained killer for my first 9 years, 76-85. Barksdale and Griffiss had Gs at that time, and Andersen still had Ds, the tall tails. Amazing birds. They must’ve been over-engineered to a fare-thee-well.

There could literally be grandsons of the first H pilots now flying those same Hs (the only ones left in the active inventory). And if they’re around as long as they claim, there could be great, great grandsons flying them.

The pucker factor maxed out whenever we saw the crews run to the birds cocked on alert on the Christmas tree. You hoped that when they got to the end of the runway, they didn’t go full military power and MITO. That would’ve been a bad day.

[thackney]

Thank you!