Boeing B-52H-175-BW Stratofortress
61-0040
c/n 464467
Alive and kicking Air Force's youngest B-52 Stratofortress turns 50 this year
http://airman.dodlive.mil/2012/04/alive-and-kicking/Slide Show -
http://www.flickr.com/photos/airmanmagazine/sets/72157629323755404/show/50 Years of Service for the B-52I don't know why I get teary eyed when I read about these aircraft, possibly because as a child of the Cold War they are indelibly etched into my soul. The noise, the size of the aircraft, and SAC (Strategic Air Command).
My first gas stop on my way out west two years ago was in Frostburg, MD at a Sheetz. While I was fueling an individual about my age came up to me at pointed at my SAC sticker on the front of the windshield and then pointed at himself. He was deaf but had a paper and pencil with him. He could read lips as well. Between that and writing he told me his dad was a BUFF pilot in the early 70's at Minot, ND. At the end of the conversation we were both crying...
For those of you that wouldn't understand, it's like how we feel riding our bikes. You can't explain it to someone who's never been there, at least not adequately.