Boeing B-52 Stratofortress - Death from above

The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is a long-range, subsonic, jet-powered, strategic bomber operated by the United States Air Force (USAF) since 1955. Built to carry nuclear weapons for Cold War-era deterrence missions, the B-52 Stratofortress replaced the Convair B-36. Although a veteran of a number of wars, the Stratofortress has dropped only conventional munitions in actual combat. With the longest unrefueled range of any contemporary bomber, the B-52 carries up to 70000 pounds of weapons.

With the escalating situation in Southeast Asia, in June 1964 28 B-52Fs were fitted with external racks for 24× 750 pound (340 kg) bombs under project South Bay. An additional 46 aircraft received similar modifications under project Sun Bath. In March 1965, the United States commenced Operation Rolling Thunder (cost 6 billions US-Dollar!), and the first combat mission of Operation Arc Light was flown by B-52Fs on 18 June 1965, when thirty bombers of the 9th and 441st Bombardment Squadrons struck a communist stronghold near Ben Cat in South Vietnam.
In spring 1967, the aircraft began flying from U Tapao Airfield in Thailand which had the advantage of not requiring in-flight refueling. These missions lasted only 2 to 3 hours. The zenith of B-52 attacks in Vietnam was Operation Linebacker II from 18 December to 29 December 1972 which consisted of waves of B-52s. Over 12 days B-52s flew 729 sorties, dropping 15237 tons of bombs on Hanoi, Haiphong, and other targets. Damage to North Vietnam's infrastructure was severe. The Air Force estimated 500 rail interdictions had taken place, 372 pieces of rolling stock and three million gallons of petroleum products were destroyed, and 80 percent of North Vietnam's electrical power production capability had been eliminated. The North Vietnamese government itself claimed that 1624 civilians had been killed by the bombing.
B-52D tail gunners were credited with shooting down two MiG-21 "Fishbeds"; one on 18 December 1972, by SSgt Samuel O. Turner, and one on 24 December 1972, by A1C Albert E. Moore. Turner was awarded a Silver Star for his actions. The last Arc Light mission took place on 15 August 1973 and all B-52s left Southeast Asia shortly after.

On 16 February 1991 during Operation Desert Storm 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 14000 statute miles round trip. The bombings demoralized the defending Iraqi troops, and they could be induced to surrender rather than be destroyed.

On 23 September 1996, two B-52H struck Baghdad power stations and communications facilities with 13 AGM-86C air-launched cruise missiles (ALCM) as part of Operation Desert Strike, a 34-hour, 16000 statute mile round trip mission from Andersen AFB, on Guam—the longest distance ever flown for a combat mission. Only two days prior, the crews had completed a 17-hour flight from Louisiana to Guam.

B-52s also played a role in Operation Iraqi Freedom, which commenced on 20 March 2003. On the night of 21 March 2003, B-52Hs launched at least 100 AGM-86 ALCMs (air-launched cruise missiles).

The US Air Force intends to keep the B-52 in service until at least 2040, an unprecedented length of service for a military aircraft.

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[kimmi110795]

why you call it death from above???AC130 is much scarier to have over your head

[cyberarmy007]

@kimmi110795

Are you sure about that? A Mark 84 "Hammer" bomb with 2,000 Ib from a B-52 above your head proves the opposite!

[T95BlackEagle]

B-52 is the most dangerous bomber aircraft of all time in the history!

[browniecup100]

imagine a B-52's full payload of cluster bombs.

[Ahamster1]

@JonZam83 :P plus it's long history of bombing carries that fear-factor

[JonZam83]

The B-52 was originally designed to drop nukes. It's been here ever since the whole Russia and U.S. conflict. To have a plane here and in service that long means that this plane is powerful and much more useful than any other bomber.

[JonZam83]

@Ahamster1 Maybe, but the Stratofortress carries more death 

[JonZam83]

@cyberarmy007 And the B-52 were designed to drop nukes, so really, you wanna be on the side that has B-52's. AC-130 may be a dangerous plane, but a B-52 carries missiles and bombs. It's much more dangerous

[vetttech1999]

Im guessing that does not meet federal emission standards on takeoff ! Serious thrust going on there.

[Ahamster1]

@T95BlackEagle actually the B-2 stealth bomber has the element of surprise, making it more deadly as such

[CUSTOMER715]

B-52 inbound!!!!!!!

[zonda2003]

Definatly the most deadly with the amout of nuclear weapons/warheads it can carry. I love the B-52

[JVALKO1]

@fatboyslinky b2 is always fucking broking, its a waste of money....