29 September 1965

The Strategic Air Command’s very first operational Boeing B-52, Boeing RB-52B-15-BO Stratofortress 52-8711. (Angelfire)

29 September 1965: Ten years after it entered service, the first operational Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, RB-52B-15-BO 52-8711, was retired to the Strategic Aerospace Museum, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska.

The first operational B-52 Stratofortress, RB-52B-15-BO 52-8711. (U.S. Air Force)
The first operational B-52 Stratofortress, RB-52B-15-BO 52-8711. (U.S. Air Force)

52-8711 had arrived at Castle Air Force Base, California, 29 June 1955, and was assigned to the 93rd Bombardment Wing (Heavy). It later served with the 22nd Bombardment Wing (Heavy) at March Air Force Base, California.

Boeing RB-52B-15-BO Stratofortress 52-8711, 22 Bombardment Wing (Heavy), March AFB, 1965. Compare this photograph to the image above. (U.S. Air Force)
Boeing RB-52B Stratofortress on display at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. (Wikimedia)

© 2019, Bryan R. Swopes

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One thought on “29 September 1965

  1. I was assigned to Castle AFB in ’67, 93rd Bomb Wing after tech school. I was assigned to B52F-57-0049. Ssgt Ruben Gomez was Crew chief.
    Around ’68 I was reassigned to the 56th Weather Recon Squadron, Yokota AB, Japan.
    I was then assigned to a WC135B-2668..shortly thereafter as Crew Chief.

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