April 15, 1952 - First flight of the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress:
On that day the YB-52 prototype model, designed to carry nuclear weapons as a Cold War deterrent, took off from Boeing Field in Seattle headed to Larson AFB.
Boeing produced 744 B-52’s from 1952 to 1962. The plane went into service in 1955, and over the last six decades, the bomber has been adapted as needed for changing mission and combat requirements, such as low-level bombing, and missile deployment. Nearly 60 B-52’s are still in service with several more in reserve. The versatile aircraft continues to be a valuable contributor to U.S. military arsenal, and is planned for use by the USAF through 2050.<