While the first B-52 Stratofortress never saw combat, its successors would go on to cement their place in Air Force history.
June 2025 marks significant milestones for the United States military. Last Saturday marked the 250th anniversary of the US Army, which was commemorated with a high-profile parade in Washington, DC. Additionally, there are two noteworthy dates for the United States Air Force.
June 29 marks the 40th anniversary of the arrival of the B-1B Lancer at Dyess Air Force Base (AFB), Texas. The very first B-ONE, “The Star of Abilene,” was delivered, marking a new era for the base.
The B-1B’s unveiling came 30 years after the aircraft it was intended to replace, the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, which officially entered service in June 1955.
When Was the B-52’s “Birthday”? It’s Complicated
Dates with aircraft are complex. The B-52 took its maiden flight three years earlier on April 15, 1952, but the Air Force Materiel Command History Office noted that June 29, 2025, will mark “the 70th anniversary of the first operational Strategic Air Command (SAC) B-52 Stratofortress” with the “delivery to the 93rd Bombardment Wing (Heavy) at Castle Air Force Base, Calif.”
The aircraft, AF Serial Number 52-8711, was one of the 27 B-52Bs built that were capable of carrying a reconnaissance pod, and designated the RB-52B. It was operated by a six-man crew for bombing missions, and eight for reconnaissance.
The aircraft flew from Boeing’s Moses Lake testing facility at Larson Air Force Base (AFB), Washington. The bomber “performed a seven-hour training mission prior to the delivery to Castle AFB.”
According to a Department of Defense flashback published this month: “A small crowd of VIP’s and invited guests awaited the delivery of the latest piece of advanced technology hardware that would become a part of Air Force culture and history for the next 70 years and beyond. Off in the distance, the crowd spotted the now-familiar smoke trail from the eight Pratt & Whitney J57-P-29 engines as the new aircraft slowly came into view. After making several low passes over Castle AFB, CA, the first operational Boeing B-52 Stratofortress touched down at 1:55 pm, becoming the latest mainstay of the Strategic Air Command (SAC) bomber force.”
That First B-52 Never Saw Combat—but Later Ones Did
Between the delivery of the first B-52 Stratofortress seven decades ago and October 1962, a total of 744 of the long-range strategic bombers were built, including two prototypes. Today, there are just 76 B-52s in service, with 58 in the active forces and an additional 18 in the reserve forces. Another full dozen are in storage at Davis-Monthan AFB’s famed “Boneyard.”
However, none of those aircraft include RB-52B 52-8711.
The very first bomber remained in service with the 93rd Bomb Wing until December 1963, when it was transferred to the 22nd Bombardment Wing (Heavy) at March AFB, California. Less than two years later, the Stratofortress was retired from service. On September 29, 1965, it was flown to Offutt AFB, Nebraska, where it entered the collection of the Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum, joining such other notable aircraft as a Convair F-102A Delta Dagger, a Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk, a Lockheed U-2C, and a Lockheed SR-71A Blackbird.
Now, more than six decades later, the very first B-52 to enter operational service remains on display at the famed aviation museum. Though it never saw combat, RB-52B 52-8711 serves as a reminder of the legacy of the famed Stratofortress.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a thirty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
.jpg){kind=link}