Changes

===1952-2007===

===1952-2007===

[[Image:B-52a.JPG|thumb|280px|A B-52 Stratofortress drops its payload over a target]]

[[Image:B-52a.JPG|thumb|280px|A B-52 Stratofortress drops its payload over a target]]

This prototype led to the XB-52, the first model of the B-52 which rolled out in 1951. The first model of the plane was created by Bowing Company, and flew in 1954, the second B-52B model entered in 1962. This model added two large wing tanks and a new avionic bomb system which proved to be a significant update from its predecessor<ref>http://www.stratofortress.org/history.htm</ref>.  Although these plans were modified, Bowing built the B-52 H, the first of which was delivered in May of 1961. This new model replaced the [[machine guns]] used and incorporated more advanced avionics which permitted lower, more precise terrain –hugging perpetration.  The B-52H continued to be produced until May of 1961, bringing the total number of B-52H to 742. The B-52H is the only model B-52 used by the military today. On January 10-11, 1962, a B-52H set a new distance record flying an unrefueled 12,532.28 mile flight from [[Okinawa]] to [[Spain]]. Over the years the B-52H  became a major component of the [[United States Airforce]], later working alongside the stealth [[B-2 Spirit]] and the Airforce [[Rockwell B-1B]]. Because of the B-52H ability to use [[nuclear]] weapons, the B-52 served as a deterrent during the [[Cold War]], even though it was never used. During the [[Vietnam War]], the B-52 was used to carpet bomb enemy bases. The B-52 next major use was in [[Operation Desert Storm]]; here the planes dropped over 27, 000 [[tons]] of bombs<ref>http://www.stratofortress.org/history.htm</ref>.  In 1999, the B-52 served in the United States and [[NATO]] mission to stop ethnic cleansing in [[Kosovo]]. The B-52, which dropped twenty-nine percent of all U.S. bombs dropped and thirty-eight percent of all Air Force bombs during the war, dropped [[Cluster Bombs]] that paralyzed enemy airfields<ref>http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/systems/b-52-ops.htm</ref>. In response to the attacks on the [[United States]] on [[September 11th 2001]], The B-52 was used in [[Operation Enduring Freedom]], to bomb [[Al-Qaeda]] bases in [[Afghanistan]], and in [[Iraq]] as part of the United States, “shock and awe” campaign<ref>http://www.stratofortress.org/history.htm</ref>.

This prototype led to the XB-52, the first model of the B-52 which rolled out in 1951. The first model of the plane was created by Boeing Company, and flew in 1954, the second B-52B model entered in 1962. This model added two large wing tanks and a new avionic bomb system which proved to be a significant update from its predecessor<ref>http://www.stratofortress.org/history.htm</ref>.  Although these plans were modified, Boeing built the B-52 H, the first of which was delivered in May of 1961. This new model replaced the [[machine guns]] used and incorporated more advanced avionics which permitted lower, more precise terrain–hugging perpetration.  The B-52H continued to be produced until May of 1961, bringing the total number of B-52H to 742. The B-52H is the only model B-52 used by the military today. On January 10-11, 1962, a B-52H set a new distance record flying an unrefueled 12,532.28 mile flight from [[Okinawa]] to [[Spain]]. Over the years the B-52H  became a major component of the [[United States Air Force]], later working alongside the stealth [[B-2 Spirit]] and the Rockwell [[B-1B Lancer]]. Because of the B-52H ability to use [[nuclear]] weapons, the B-52 served as a deterrent during the [[Cold War]], even though it was never used. During the [[Vietnam War]], the B-52 was used to carpet bomb enemy bases. The B-52 next major use was in [[Operation Desert Storm]]; here the planes dropped over 27, 000 [[tons]] of bombs<ref>http://www.stratofortress.org/history.htm</ref>.  In 1999, the B-52 served in the United States and [[NATO]] mission to stop ethnic cleansing in [[Kosovo]]. The B-52, which dropped twenty-nine percent of all U.S. bombs dropped and thirty-eight percent of all Air Force bombs during the war, dropped [[Cluster Bombs]] that paralyzed enemy airfields<ref>http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/systems/b-52-ops.htm</ref>. In response to the attacks on the [[United States]] on [[September 11th 2001]], The B-52 was used in [[Operation Enduring Freedom]], to bomb [[Al-Qaeda]] bases in [[Afghanistan]], and in [[Iraq]] as part of the United States, “shock and awe” campaign<ref>http://www.stratofortress.org/history.htm</ref>.

==B-52 Information==

==B-52 Information==