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On this day in 1962, the final Boeing B-52 Stratofortress ever produced rolled out of Boeing’s Wichita factory, marking the end of a historic production era. More than six decades later, that same aircraft continues to serve with the United States Air Force. The aircraft, a B-52H with serial number 61-0040, was the 744th and final B-52 built and left the production line on June 22, 1962. Today, it remains operational with the 23rd Bomb Squadron of the 5th Bomb Wing at Minot Air Force Base.

Lauren Smith, the wife of Jeromy Smith, a flight test engineer for the U.S. Air Force who died in the crash, told KTLA that the plane was experiencing issues before Monday’s flight. “My husband told me on Friday that they were supposed to fly on Friday and that something was wrong with the plane,” Smith said. “I don’t know what was wrong, but the flight kept getting pushed back. He was supposed to fly in the morning and then it got pushed back to noon and then it got pushed back to 2 o’clock. And then they said they’re going...

The B-52 involved in a deadly crash during a test flight at an Air Force base in California made a sharp right and then nearly completed a 180-degree turn before plunging to the ground at a rate of nearly a mile a minute, limited tracking data shows Tuesday. The B-52 was airborne for 3 minutes and 15 seconds before it crashed, according to AirNav Systems. The flight tracking that was available Tuesday shows the bomber turning to the northeast right after taking off and nearly completing a 180 degree turn before crashing on another runway, according to AirNav Systems. The...

Eight crew members are dead in a B-52 bomber crash shortly after takeoff from Edwards Air Force Base, northeast of Los Angeles, on Monday morning, the base said. The B-52 Stratofortress was on a routine test mission that took off at 11:20 a.m. local time at the remote air base, officials said. It is now considered a recovery operation. “It was tragic and unsurvivable,” Colonel James Hayes said at a news conference. Emergency crews responded immediately to the crash involving the bomber, which left a towering black plume in its wake, the base said. Teams are working to notify families...

BREAKING: A Russian Tu-22M3 strategic bomber has crashed in Russia's Irkutsk Oblast. VIDEO AT LINK......... There is currently no information regarding the fate of the crew. https://x.com/bayraktar_1love/status/2066516457383448972

A B-52 Stratofortress crashed shortly after takeoff from Edwards Air Force Base in Kern County, located northeast of Lancaster, officials confirmed Monday. The incident happened around 11:20 a.m., according to a post on X from the base. Emergency crews responded to the scene, but additional details were not available.

A massive plume of black smoke appeared in the skies above Edwards Air Force Base in Kern County Monday after an $85 million B-52 Stratofortress crashed. Images on X showed the cloud of smoke as users questioned what had happened. “Did something just happen at Edwards Air Force Base? Currently seeing a large column coming from the base, cams are aligned with one of the runways,” one user wrote. “A United States Air Force B-52 Stratofortress crashed shortly after takeoff on the Edwards airfield at 11:20 a.m. Emergency crews immediately responded to the scene and the situation is ongoing. More...

With the U.S. Air Force set to still be flying B-52s at least into 2050, at which point the youngest examples will be some 88 years old, it has become common to quip about the bombers staying in service forever. However, the Air Force is now looking to conduct a formal review of its requirements to see whether the development of a successor might be warranted, and potentially sooner rather than later. The Air Force is asking for $1 million in its budget request for the 2027 Fiscal Year to conduct a New Heavy Bomber Analysis of Alternatives (AoA). Aviation...

The B-52 may fly forever, but its 1960s-era engines certainly won't, and that's why it's such a big deal that the mighty BUFF is finally getting all-new and much more efficient turbofan engines. The B-52's engine upgrade is a VERY BIG DEAL | 5:37 Sandboxx | 531K subscribers | 125,659 views | May 5, 2026

The U.S. has deployed B-52 Stratofortress bombers to the skies over Iran for the first time since Operation Epic Fury began, Pentagon officials say. Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine made the announcement Tuesday morning during a press conference alongside War Secretary Pete Hegseth. Caine said the U.S. and Israel have dismantled Iran's air fighting capability to such an extent that the lumbering bombers can now operate safely in the region. "Given the increase in air superiority, we've successfully started to conduct the first overland B-52 missions, which allow us, as we've said before, to continue to get on top...

BREAKING: CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper just confirmed that B-52 bombers are UNLOADING up to 70,000 pounds of munitions in every mission on Iran The US has struck over 10,000 THOUSAND Iranian targets, and 92% of Iran's largest navy vessels are destroyed TWO THIRDS of Iran's missile, drone, and naval production facilities and shipyards are destroyed or damaged 🔥 "And we're not done yet. We are on a path to completely eliminate Iran's wider military manufacturing apparatus, which is why my operational assessment continues to be Iran's combat capability is declining as U.S. combat capability continues to increase." "U.S. forces...

More than a dozen unsanctioned drones repeatedly swarmed a US Air Force base that is home to a nuclear bomber fleet — and were able to resist efforts to bring them down via jamming technology, according to military officials. The restricted airspace of Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier City, Louisiana, was infiltrated by “multiple unauthorized drones” between March 9 and March 15, a base spokesperson told The Post. The 22-acre installation located east of Shreveport, hosts a fleet of B-52 bombers which can carry out nuclear strikes with “worldwide precision,” according to the Air Force.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_z7GQANdT0

The war with Iran kicked off its second week on Saturday after US and Israeli forces launched attacks that took out Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and dozens of senior Iranian officials. Now the US is expanding air operations. During a press conference last Wednesday, War Secretary Pete Hegseth said the B-52s would be among the airpower used “controlling the skies, picking targets,” and bringing “death and destruction from the sky all day long.” “As President Trump said, more and larger waves are coming. We are just getting started. We are accelerating, not decelerating,” he added. “Now with complete control...

B-1B and B-52 bombers arrive at RAF Fairford as the U.S. prepares for a sustained, high-intensity bombing campaign against Iranian missile sites and infrastructure. Analysts warn of a "dramatic surge" in Operation Epic Fury. The deployment of heavy bombers to the United Kingdom’s RAF Fairford indicates that the U.S. and its allies are moving from initial "decapitation" strikes to a sustained, high-intensity bombardment of Iranian military and industrial infrastructure.As of March 7–9, 2026, multiple U.S. strategic bombers have landed at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire. Official military reports confirm that a total of four B-1B Lancer bombers have arrived, with additional...

When I stood under the bomb bay of a retired B-52 bomber at the U.S. Air Force Museum this summer, I quickly understood why some consider this bomber the best to fly. Longevity means you earn a place in the record books and get to claim that crown. You don’t keep an airplane flying for six decades by accident. The B-52H Stratofortress didn’t just outlast its stablemates; it became the most complete version of the BUFF idea—long legs, big payload, and the electronics to make both matter in the 21st century.

A Delta Connection Embraer E175 regional jet, operated by SkyWest Airlines as Flight 3788 from Minneapolis–Saint Paul to Minot International Airport, executed a sudden “aggressive maneuver” during its final approach to avoid a near-fatal mid‑air collision with a U.S. Air Force B‑52 bomber from nearby Minot Air Force Base. While on final approach from Minneapolis–Saint Paul, the Delta Connection crew received a last-second instruction from air traffic control to turn due to “inadequate separation.” During the turn, the pilot spotted the B‑52 rapidly converging and hauled the jet sharply behind it for safety. Once landed safely, the pilot addressed passengers...

A Delta regional jet on approach to Minot, North Dakota, made an "aggressive maneuver" to avoid a mid-air collision with a B-52 bomber, according to the Delta pilot. The incident took place on July 18, according to the airline. The flight, operated by SkyWest, had departed from Minneapolis. Once on the ground, the pilot apologized to passengers for the abrupt move and explained the situation. "Given his speed ... I don't know how fast they were going, but they were a lot faster than us, I felt it was the safest thing to do to turn behind it," the pilot...

The war with Iran proves once again the importance for Israel to have an American strategic bomber as part of the Israeli Air Force's aircraft arsenal. B-52 Stratofortress Strategic Bomber The war with Iran proves once again the importance for Israel to have an American strategic bomber as part of the Israeli Air Force's aircraft arsenal. Twice, in 2013, during my tenure as Ambassador in Washington, and later, as a Member of Knesset in 2018, I asked the United States to sell us a strategic bomber. I understood that the U.S. would not be willing to sell us one of...

The U.S. and Israeli Air Forces conducted joint military drills this week, including with a B-52 bomber: a clear message to the Iranian regime and its nuclear program. Plus, President Trump’s threats to Hamas intensify. What comes next in Gaza? Watch now!