Boeing B-52G Stratofortress in Operation Desert Storm

On 16 February 1991 a flight of B-52Gs launching from and returning to Barksdale AFB, in Louisiana, struck targets inside Iraq. This was at the time the longest distance combat mission in history: 35 hours and 14,000 statute miles round trip. Over the next months, B-52Gs operating from bases in the United Kingdom, Spain and on the island of Diego Garcia flew low level bombing missions. The B-52s moved to high level missions after Coalition forces ensured air superiority and were able to suppress air defense systems capable of reaching bombers at a higher altitude. B-52s were an important part of the air war during Operation Desert Storm as they could be employed with impunity. The conventional strikes were carried out by three bombers dropping 153 750 pound bombs at a time, covering an area one and a half miles long by one mile wide. The bombings demoralized the defending Iraqi troops, and they could be induced to surrender rather than be destroyed. Flying approximately 1620 sorties in the Gulf War, B-52s delivered 40% of the weapons dropped by coalition forces, while suffering only one aircraft loss, with several receiving minor damage from enemy action.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Boeing
• B-52
• Stratofortress
• BUFF
• Operation
• Desert
• Storm
• strategic
• bomber
• Iraq
• combat
• missions
• battle
• damage

[Ryanshinobi]

Nothing says "FU" quite like a B52 run.

[ANDE2004]

Yeah, I second that! It was a sad day when I launched my G-Model to retirement at Davis Monthan after Desert Storm, I was by her side through it all during the war, and she never failed to deliver her payload and bring herself and her crew home safe after a mission. Its a huge sense of pride to see your jet in the pattern on her return leg and get the chance to plug in and greet the crew you launched 12 hours earlier... "Shady Lady" I will never forget you!! May you rest in peace!!

[alanheath]

I cannot see the point of such a long run to bomb Iraq. Why use bases in the US? There were plenty of bases much closer - including in Saudi Arabia.

[smezzle]

What an awesome plane. All function, no glamour. I love reading the Cold War histories, stuff like Operation Chrome Dome. SAC sent B52's to fly over the North Pole for an entire month or some crazy thing. At that operational level, you'd expect some broken engines and crew fatigue to wreck planes. Not with this. Amazing that this plane was so adaptable, too. Shows that the US has the best planes, best airmen, and the best ground crews.

[canals22]

Anyone has photos of Triple Deuce ??

[DEVASTATOR478]

I LOVE B-52 .

[twistedtea2007]

@paulojosh

No you suck! Go kiss Obamas wind mills and bubble cars you commie

[299AHMET]

beni gören benden kaçsın der gibi bir uçak:)

[evoldevildogs]

@uijterlinde6 so true its probably the dirtiest war machine on the face of the planet

[evoldevildogs]

wow i wouldn't have imagined that such a sophisticated bomber would survive so much damage i guess the b-52 is really following the legacy of the b- 17-29 

[1138thz]

@ANDE2004

Hats off ANDE2004 the B52 is the most magnificent machine that has ever been fielded. The finest hours? This is just from a Marine Tanker but I say its 1972 Operation Linebacker II 30,000,000lbs of ordinance. AND the merciless pummeling the B52's gave the Iraqi forces to the tune of what? 60,000,000lbs or ordinance or 40% of the total dropped in desert storm? My hat is off to the flight crews, the ground crews, refueling crews, and the ordinance studs that made that happen. Teamwork!