B-52 went through 6 major redesigns during the design period. The YB-52 was the second-to-last major redesign.
The X-15 was designed to be carried aloft and drop launched from under the wing of NASA B-52 mother ship. Air Force NB-52A “The High and Mighty One” and NB-52B “The Challenger” served as carrier planes for all X-15 flights.
In 1964, a B-52 configured as a testbed to investigate structural failures flew through severe turbulence, shearing off its vertical stabilizer. The aircraft landed safely.
During the Vietnam War, B-52D tail gunners were credited with shooting down two MiG-21 Fishbeds. These victories make the B-52 the largest aircraft credited with air-to-air kills.
In 1972, B-52 tail-gunner Albert Moore shot down a MiG-21 over Vietnam. Moore was the last recorded bomber gunner to shoot down an enemy aircraft with machine guns in aerial combat.
On the B-52D, the pilots and EDM operator ejected upwards, while the lower deck crew ejected downwards, until B-52G the gunner had to jettison the tail gun to bail out.
There have been 742 B-52s built, plus the original two prototypes.
The B-52 is expected to serve until the 2040s. That’s over 90 years of service.
