Posted on Jun 18, 2015
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As a Marine, I'm not that versed on military aircraft as I am on ground combat weapons
http://www.boeing.com/defense/b-52-bomber/
TSgt Hunter Logan
http://www.boeing.com/defense/b-52-bomber/
TSgt Hunter Logan
Aviation
Strategic Air Command (SAC)
Air Force
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 18
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Absolutely be there for 100 years and one of the best "values for money" ever.
The first B-52s rolled off the assembly line in 1952. It saw it's first combat operations in Vietnam conducting "Arc Light" bombing missions. 742 were created, 85 remain with plenty of spares in storage. This platform not only dropped tons of bombs, but had a nuclear mission as well and later were modified to carry Air Launched Cruise Missiles and heaps more ordinance. Having said that, it's most important and greatest mission was "close air support" of our Marines during the siege of the Khe Sahn iin 1968.
"Operation Niagara" was the destruction of enemy targets conducting siege operations. In that end, those BUFFs dropped 98,721 tons of ordinance on the enemy. That's like dropping the USS Enterprise on them.
They'll keep maintaining those airframes and upgrading the avionics and there have already been 3 generation aircrews - Father, son and grandson flying them. No reason to mess with success. During peace-time it also does Long range Search & Rescue & drug interdiction. Great platform.
The first B-52s rolled off the assembly line in 1952. It saw it's first combat operations in Vietnam conducting "Arc Light" bombing missions. 742 were created, 85 remain with plenty of spares in storage. This platform not only dropped tons of bombs, but had a nuclear mission as well and later were modified to carry Air Launched Cruise Missiles and heaps more ordinance. Having said that, it's most important and greatest mission was "close air support" of our Marines during the siege of the Khe Sahn iin 1968.
"Operation Niagara" was the destruction of enemy targets conducting siege operations. In that end, those BUFFs dropped 98,721 tons of ordinance on the enemy. That's like dropping the USS Enterprise on them.
They'll keep maintaining those airframes and upgrading the avionics and there have already been 3 generation aircrews - Father, son and grandson flying them. No reason to mess with success. During peace-time it also does Long range Search & Rescue & drug interdiction. Great platform.
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Maj Mike Sciales
"From the beginning until the 60th day [the 60th day of the siege at Khe Sanh] B-52 bombers continually dropped their bombs in this area with ever growing intensity and at any moment of the day. If someone came to visit this place, he might say that this was a storm of bombs and ammunition which eradicated all living creatures and vegetation whatsoever, even those located in caves or in deep underground shelters."
- Entry in an enemy notebook captured at Khe Sanh
Now that is a customer feedback.
- Entry in an enemy notebook captured at Khe Sanh
Now that is a customer feedback.
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I knew a nav on one that was flying the same bird his father was the pilot of in the eighties, whose grandfather was the crew chief of in the sixties. It's an amazing plane. I heard rumors of replacing the engines with newer, more powerful, fuel efficient ones, supposedly the fuel cost savings over the lifetime would pay for themselves while offering more speed, altitude, and range. It's a lovely idea.
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I worked on the B-52G in the early '90's and it was an impressive aircraft. And I know that some of them served in the later stages of Vietnam along with serving in Desert Storm. It was and still is the only plane that can carry all different types of munitions that have been developed.
There is a story that the enemy is more afraid of the B-52 than they are of the B-1 and B-2. Both in Vietnam and Desert Storm prisoners talked about the B-52 and what it did to them psychologically. Of course the best story was during Desert Storm. An Iraqi General surrendered his entire division. When asked why he surrendered. He said "it was because of the B-52." The interrogator told him that the B-52 didn't strike his area. He replied "I know, but I saw an area that was." Now that was a smart commanding officer who did not want to be on the receiving end of the Big Stick of the mighty B-52.
There is a story that the enemy is more afraid of the B-52 than they are of the B-1 and B-2. Both in Vietnam and Desert Storm prisoners talked about the B-52 and what it did to them psychologically. Of course the best story was during Desert Storm. An Iraqi General surrendered his entire division. When asked why he surrendered. He said "it was because of the B-52." The interrogator told him that the B-52 didn't strike his area. He replied "I know, but I saw an area that was." Now that was a smart commanding officer who did not want to be on the receiving end of the Big Stick of the mighty B-52.
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Boeing Engineering recently released a statement about recent upgrades to the B-52 and the fact that the plane could easily serve until 2040. Having been deployed originally in 1950 it is reasonable to believe the plane could survive another 10 years, especially given the planes' role in our Global Mission.
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Coming out of Pensacola in 1985, where I trained with the F-14 and A-6 guys, I thought BUFF pilots were pussies: bus drivers who stayed up high, pickled their payloads, and went home every night. Then, we conducted joint war at sea exercises, where the pilots came in hot and low, clearing my Destroyer's mast by, maybe, 100 feet. That earned my respect, and proved to me that those cowboys are shit hot, despite the heavy hardware!
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Maj Mike Sciales
I'll confess, I thought they were a bit robotic and slavish to SAC, however, as you correctly noted -- they sure did some amazing flying. I became a big fan when I watched a BUFF come screaming over the pub into pattern at RAF Upper Heyford, UK for an airshow in '89 and execute a 90 degree, low altitude slow roll turn. I thought it was going to crash. We bought those guys beers all night long. They also fairly earned the "bus driver" distinction during Desert Storm for flying directly from munitions storage at RAF Fairford to targets and recover- re-arm in Diego Garcia and back. A vital effort but kind of a commuter war. Global warriors.
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I know of know other major military equipment that is still being used from the time i was a young child. (I'm now 65!!!) The only military aircraft that are used that are equivalent in age or older are privately-owned classic warbirds.
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I believe it can and will fly to and past the 100 year mark. It is a tried and true platform and has state of the art avionics and a solid airframe. The BUFF is an awesome plane to watch, especially when it drops the entire bomb bay load all at one. Pretty devastating and intimidating. I'd hate to be one the receiving end of its massive fire power.
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TSgt Scott Hurley
And the running gag is that the B-1 and B-2 will be in the Boneyard long before the B-52 will be. And when the last B-2 enters the yard, a B-52 will bring the crew home. I think it will be the same for the B-1.
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It will last until an engineer says it can no longer upgrade it, something better is built but not seen or the money gets tighter like the A-10. Do you really think that if the powers that be were to say upgrade this to do that, that it could not be done? It all depends on who's pet project it is and the pay off!
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TSgt (Join to see)
Dale Brown's "Megafortress" is based upon the futuristic modification of B-52 bombers. If you haven't yet, check it out. The series begins with "Flight of the Old Dog"
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One of my first memories is seeing a BUFF pop over a hill and fly right over my grand mothers ranch, it scared the hell out of me. The Joys of growing up during the cold war.
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