Happy birthday B-52

[Mr Quatro]

Great plane

http://www.warbirdsnews.com/warbirds...ofortress.html

Sixty-two years ago today, the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress took flight for the first time. The B-52 began life as a proposed replacement for Strategic Air Command’s B-36s and B-50s. Originally designed to be powered by turboprops, Pratt & Whitney J57 turbojet engines were selected as the powerplant of choice. At the roll-out ceremony, Air Force Chief of Staff General Nathan Twining said: “The long rifle was the great weapon of its day…today this B-52 is the long rifle of the air age.” The BUFF (Big Ugly Fat Fellow) is the longest-serving front-line warplane in history and is one of the best-loved of all aircraft. Although it was designed as a nuclear bomber, the BUFF is capable of carrying a huge conventional payload. The B-52 was widely used in the Vietnam War and flew 1,624 sorties during Operation Desert Storm. Production of the B-52 ended in 1962 after 744 aircraft were built and 94 remain in Air Force and Reserve inventory.

[Commander Wallace]

One of the all time greats .

[Schroeder]

Pretty impressive service record.

[Jimbuna]

Also expected to remain in use to the 2040s.

[Aktungbby]

The Definition of a full (non nuclear) load:

[Mr Quatro]

It's sad, but I don't see how a B-52 could ever make a round trip in war time.

Like Jim said the B-52 may live to be 100 years old ...

[Aktungbby]

Not to worry https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_B-52_Units_of_the_United_States_Air_Force lots of KC refueling units and currently inactive bases such as Guam and Saudi Arabia- For desert storm alone:
801st Provision Bombardment Wing, Moron AFB, Spain Activated in January 1991. Inactivated March 1991. Composed of B-52G aircraft and personnel 806th Provisional Bombardment Wing, RAF Fairford, England Activated in January 1991. Inactivated March 1991. Composed of B-52G aircraft and personnel from the 62d, 340th, 524th, and 668th Bombardment Squadrons 1701st Provisional Air Refueling Wing, Prince Abdulla AB, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia Activated in August 1990. Inactivated March 1991. Air refueling wing of KC-10s, KC-135s. Had 6 B-52Gs from 60th Bombardment Squadron (January–March 1991) 1703d Provisional Air Refueling Wing, King Khalid Military City, Saudi Arabia Activated in August 1990. Inactivated March 1991. Air refueling wing of KC-135s. Had 7 B-52Gs from 69th Bombardment Squadron (October 1990 – March 1991) 1708th Provisional Bombardment Wing, Prince Abdulla AB, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia Activated in August 1990. Inactivated March 1991. Composed of B-52G aircraft and personnel from the 69th and 524th Bombardment Squadrons (August 1990 – March 1991) Additional B-52G aircraft and personnel from the 69th, 524th, 596th, 328th and 668th Bombardment Squadrons (December 1990 – March 1991) 4300th Provisional Bombardment Wing, Diego Garcia AB, British Indian Ocean Territories Activated in January 1991. Inactivated March 1991 Composed of B-52G aircraft and personnel from the 69th and 328th Bombardment Squadrons

[Stealhead]

They deploy to Anderson AB in Guam most often as well as Diego Garcia the most logistically useful bases for current interests. Guam is far from inactive it is easily one of the busiest US military bases in the Pacific.

What you listed are old provisional wings in other words temporary. Most of those BUFFS are no longer flying the G is retired Desert Strom was the last hurrah of the G model and of New York based BUFFs.

Today they have Expadtionary Bomb squadrons they are permanent(ish) but the name is self explanatory the Air Force is tight lipped about Global Strike Command so information about the units is speculative.

In fact the entire USAF as well as USMC has an expadtionary structure since the early 90's more efficent.