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 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>.

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 height of the [[Cold War]] nuclear armed B-52s would fly over the US-Canadian border, refuelling over Newfoundland, fly along the edge of Baffin Island and turn around at 89 degrees north. Sealed in each cockpit was information need in case of a retalitory nuclear strike against the Soviet Union. The B-52s would refuel again over Alaska and head south along the Pacific Ocean/Canadian border. 24 hours after taking off, the bombers would land in Washington State, but another flight of two would already be aloft.  Between missions the crews lived in "mole holes" within running distance of their aircraft. Fortunately the call never came for the B-52s to turn towards the Soviet Union to deliver the weapons of mass destruction. But in the 1960s, ICBMs and submarine launched ballistic missiles replaced the B-52 as a nuclear deterrent.  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==