B-52H Reaches 50 Years of Service

May 9, 2011

USAF’s B-52H bomber fleet surpasses 50 years of operations. On May 9, 1961, Boeing delivered the first B-52H, dubbed State of Michigan, to Strategic Air Command 379th Bomb Wing at Wurtsmith AFB, Mich.

Related Content

Space Force’s Guetlein Confirmed as Golden Dome Czar

July 18, 2025
The Senate voted to confirm Space Force Gen. Michael A. Guetlein to his new job as “direct reporting program manager” for President Donald Trump’s Golden Dome missile defense initiative on July 17. 

What to Watch for the Air Force as House, Senate Advance Differing Defense Bills

July 17, 2025
The Senate Armed Services Committee this week released the full text of its version of the 2026 defense policy bill—often referred to as the National Defense Authorization Act—that would allow the Air Force and Space Force to spend billions of dollars more than the services had sought for next year.

HASC’s Draft Authorization Would Save E-7, Block A-10 Retirements

July 16, 2025
The House Armed Services Committee on July 15 passed its draft of the 2026 defense policy bill, 55-2, in a late-night vote following nearly 14 hours of debate over hot-button issues ranging from President Donald Trump’s desire to use a Qatari jet as Air Force One to cutting military aid…

Defense Policy Nominee Has Advocated Merging NRO and Space System Command

July 16, 2025
Combining the National Reconnaissance Office with the Space Force's Space Systems Command could help turbocharge national security space acquisition, argues Mark Berkowitz, the Trump administration's nominee to be assistant secretary of defense for space policy, in a newly published essay he coauthored.