Stratofortress: The Story of the B-52

by Martin W. Bowman

Boeing's mighty B-52 Stratofortress has seen continuous operational service with the United States Air Force since the type was introduced in 1957. The aircraft has been upgraded several times and has assumed many different new roles since it was originally conceived and then provided the key airborne platform for America's strategic nuclear force. It is predicted that it will serve as a front-line aircraft until 2040.

Apart from the formidable threat it provided during the long years of the 'Cold War', the aircraft has played a significant part in all US overseas operations since Vietnam. The more recent include Desert Storm in 1991, the Balkan conflict, Afghanistan and the liberation of Iraq. Over 700 were built and around 80 remain in service. This book includes chapters on Concept Requirement, Design and Development, Production, Evolution and Variant Models, Operational Tasking, Operational History (with firsthand accounts from crews), Weapons and Equipment Carried, Flying the Aircraft and Current Service Operations. It is highly illustrated with many original shots taken aboard B-52s, together with archive material and color profiles.

Genres: Military Fiction

224 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Martin W. Bowman is one of Britain's leading aviation authors, with over 100 published books on the Second World War and post-war aviation history, and several on the landscape of East Anglia. He has also established an international reputation for his superb imagery and aerial photography. He has a passion for flying in military aircraft. He lives in Norwich, Norfolk.

Reviews

[W.A. McDonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Learned a lot about BUF

I enlisted in the army in 1985. At that time I thought this old dog was on its last leg. It was old then. Since my discharge, this old bag has flown fought in all of our major conflicts since. Something I was not aware of until this book. Lots of details about individual planes that I eventually started skimming. Genealogy is fun, but gets old after a while.
I recommend this book.

[Robert Hepple · Rating 4 out of 5]

First published in 2005, 'Stratofortress - The Story of the B-52' is a short summary of the development and operational use of the USAF B-52, the longest serving bomber aircraft in history. A lot is crammed into a small package, with some informative text, detailed appendices summarising individual aircraft and units using them, some superb supporting photos, and ending with some nice colour profile artworks. A great book about a very popular subject.

[Sid Mickle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very detailed, informative and first hand!

[Michael Burnam-Fink · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing says airpower like the iconic silhouette of the B-52. Since it started operations in 1955, and going forward until at least 2040, the lean fuselage and huge wingspan of the BUFF has represented the ability of the United States to lay down destruction on call.

Bowman has written a bunch of these books, and this is exactly what you'd expect from the cover, a detailed history of the B-52. The book covers the tense alert posture of Strategic Air Command, with a third of the fleet on airborne alert with live nuclear weapons, the Vietnam War, with Arc Light strikes and the deadly Linebacker II raids over Hanoi, and the modern use of the B-52 deliver cruise missiles and smart bombs with global reach. There's an exhaustive investigation of the many B-52 variants (A-H), lots of photos and diagrams, and lists of tail numbers and names.