Boeing B-52B Stratofortress

The Boeing B‑52B Stratofortress, the second production model of the iconic B‑52 series, entered service in 1955 after its first flight in June 1954. Developed during the early Cold War, the B‑52B was built at Boeing's Renton, Washington plant and represented a major evolution from the prototype YB‑52, incorporating a longer 185‑foot wingspan, stronger wing structure, and upgraded engines. Powered by four Pratt & Whitney J57‑P-29W turbojets, the B‑52B could cruise at Mach 0.86 and carry up to 30,000 pounds of conventional or nuclear ordnance on 12 external hardpoints. Its advanced avionics suite featured an all‑electric fire‑control system and an early inertial navigation unit, providing unprecedented long‑range strike capability. Only 74 B‑52Bs were produced before the model was superseded by the B‑52C and later variants, but the aircraft proved its reliability during missions over Korea, Vietnam, and numerous training exercises. The B‑52B solidified the Stratofortress as a cornerstone of U.S. strategic bombing, demonstrating the feasibility of sustained intercontinental deterrence and influencing bomber design for decades to come. Although the B‑52B was retired in the early 1970s, its wing design and engine upgrades informed the development of the still‑active B‑52H today.

Boeing

Boeing B-52B Stratofortress

Classification

Production & History

Design & Classification