B-52 Stratofortress, Illustrated

By Lou Drendel

The first thing to know about the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is that it is a remarkable airplane for many reasons, not the least of which is its longevity. The first flight of the B-52 was in 1955 and the production line shut down in 1962 after cranking out 742 bombers in 8 different models. Sixty years later, the B-52 is still flying, and plans are to keep it flying for several more years. Of course, the B-52 of today is not your Grandfather’s B-52. (Think about that! At least three generations of USAF pilots have flown the B-52!) This is a chronicle of the remarkable career of the B-52, illustrated with dozens of photos.