B-52D

The B-52 Stratofortress was originally designed as a nuclear bomber, an all-jet successor to the B-36 Peacemaker. As a Boeing-built bomber, it continued the "Fortress" moniker started with the B-17 Flying Fortress and the B-29 Superfortress. Its official moniker notwithstanding, I understand that the B-52 was commonly referred to as the "BUFF", for "Big, Ugly, Fat, um, 'Fellow'".

During the height of the Cold War, several B-52s were on station just outside the Soviet Union, ready to provide either a rapid first strike or a retaliatory strike. The B-52 was eventually retrofitted to carry conventional weapons, flying thousands of sorties over Vietnam, carpet-bombing the enemy. During the Gulf War, the mere sound of the B-52 was enough to strike fear in the heart of the Iraqi Republican Guard. By then fitted with cruise missiles, it fought in the War on Terror in the skies of Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom and returned to Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Over 60 years after its first flight (the YB-52 prototype), the plane is still a mainstay in this country's arsenal. I've read that it's likely that the B-52 will still be in service at the plane's 100th anniversary.

The Air Force Museum has two fact sheets on the B-52D Stratofortress.

The museum's B-52D is located toward the north end of the flight line (Aerial view).

I approached the plane from the main museum grounds (from the south), and was walking around it, photographing it. As I was on my way to and taking overall photos of the B-52G just north of the B-52D, my wife pointed out a sign which warned that I was "Entering Explosive Clear Zone -- Stay on the Path".

Now, the grass had been recently mowed, so I was pretty sure I was safe, but I was a good little boy and got back on the side walk. This somewhat shortened my picture-taking of the -D, and definitely limited the number of shots I took of the -G.

This is B-52D 56-0629. I was unable to Google up any additional information about this specific plane.