STRATOFORTRESS: The Story of the B-52 Review

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(More customer reviews)Martin W. Bowman's STRATOFORTRESS: THE STORY OF THE B-52 (1844152340, $50.00) covers the Boeing Stratofortress, another highly notable US craft which was introduced in the late 1950s. It's been updated numerous times over the decades, and chapters follow its evolving design, concept, different models, and history, including source material accounts from pilots and military men who flew the plane in battles. Accompany the history and battle survey are many original photos taken aboard B-52 during a recent visit by the author to their American base, with details on production versions polished models.


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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 first-hand accounts from crews), Weapons and Equipment Carried, Flying the Aircraft and Current Service Operations.

t will be highly illustrated with many original shots taken aboard B-52s,together with archive material and also color profiles.

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B-52 Stratofortress (General Aviation) Review

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(More customer reviews)This book is arguably the best book overall on the US Air Force's B-52 heavy bomber covering it's first 40 years, i.e. up to 1995. The B-52 has seen much action in Bosnia and Afghanistan since this book's publishing in 1995, so be aware of this if you are looking for the most recent chapters in the life of this venerable warhorse. Robert Dorr's excellent writing combined with Lindsay Peacock's fascination with the aircraft of the now defunct Strategic Air Command make this book a necessary purchase for all people who have been associated with or are interested in Boeing's bomber masterpiece. Walter Boyne's (a former B-52 pilot) 144-page "Boeing B-52: A Documentary History" first completed in 1981 is also an excellent book but, more for the serious historian or former crew-members due to it's in-depth discussions on equipment and tactics. "B-52 Stratofortress" totals 229 pages and covers a broader range of topics with only slightly less depth. The readability is excellent even to those not intimately familiar with "B-52ese" and/or Air Force acronyms. Chapters include development of the B-52, nuclear bomb tests in the Pacific, technical features, newer models, ground alert operations, weapons, B-52s in combat in VietNam, action in Desert Storm, and aircraft/unit attrition up to 1994. Also included are nine separate appendices covering 39 pages listing each model's specifications, production details, variants, unit usage of each aircraft, B-52 usage of each wing and squadron, base assignments, modifications on each model, a cutaway drawing of a B-52G, individual aircraft distribution of the B-52 fleet in 1964, unit distribution over the years, individual aircraft losses, and details on aircraft consigned to storage. A tremendous variety of excellent photos with informative captions are used showing most every aspect of the "BUFF" in use. Of particular interest to the laymen or Carswell AFB veteran is a chapter describing a low level mission one of the authors got to fly in a B-52H out of Carswell in early 1991.
If you are fascinated by B-52s, this is the book for you... It is not a "general" coffee-table book for the "general" public, though. There is no war-mongering in this book either. It is an excellent survey of a remarkably versatile aircraft.

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Boeing's mighty B-52 is undoubtedly the most famous jet bomber ever built, having served now for almost 40 years. The last in the line of Boeing ‘heavies', the Stratofortress has gone on to break all records for longevity, firstly with Strategic Air Command, and more recently with Air Combat Command.

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B-52 Stratofortress Units in Combat 1955-73 (Combat Aircraft) Review

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(More customer reviews)This is another fine book from Osprey Publishing.
As promised by the title, the focus is on combat operations involving the B-52. There is an overview of the development of the aircraft and its Cold War deterrence mission, but that is cursory and serves to set the stage for the employment of the B-52 in Vietnam. The text is well-written and contains plenty of detail. The color plates are outstanding, as is the accompanying text.
The military aviation enthusiast, this would be an excellent choice.

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Designed to form the backbone of Strategic Air Command’s nuclear deterrent, the B-52 force was brought to higher states of readiness whenever crisis threatened the USA, most notably when Kennedy and Khruschev went eyeball-to-eyeball over Cuba. Soon afterwards, B-52s formed the backbone of the USAF’s bombing campaign in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. This book follows the story of the B-52 from its genesis to its first combat missions in June 1965 and through to the briefly sustained but bloodily fought Linebacker II offensive in late 1972. Even after the withdrawal of US forces in 1973, B-52s remained in-theatre, flying training missions mainly from Guam.

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Boeing B-52: Stratofortress (Crowood Aviation) Review

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(More customer reviews)I found this book fascinating, especially the chapter having to do with the island of Guam. I was a B-52 crew chief for approximately 12 years and I have stood on Pati's Point and looked across Andersen's flight line at the forest of B-52D "tall tails". I simply couldn't put it down until the end. We, my wife and I, did find several errors in the book, but to the novice/civilian reading it they are of no consequence as they concern the organizations and not the plane. I also am a member of the B-52 Stratofortress Association.

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Explains the development of the B-52, covering equipment, weapons, mission profiles, and notable achievements. First-hand accounts from over 40 aircrew describe what it is like to fly and fight in the B-52, symbol of the United States' airborne might.

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