Bossier City in Bossier Parish, Louisiana — The American South (West South Central)

Boeing B-52G “Stratofortress”

USAFM 1994-254

Gary Todd via Flickr (Public Domain), July 14, 2017

1. Boeing B-52G “Stratofortress” Marker

Inscription. Since it became operational in 1955, the B-52 has been the main long-range heavy bomber of the Strategic Air Command. It first flew on Apr. 15, 1952. Nearly 750 B-52s were built when production ended in Oct. 1963, of which 193 were-Gs. The B-52G was designed to reduce the overall aircraft weight in an effort to improve performance. The most obvious change was the redesigned tail. About eight feet of the vertical stabilizer was removed, and the chord (width) was increased. The wing was extensively modified as well. The self-sealing bladder-type fuel cells were removed, and the wing itself was sealed for fuel (wet wing). The tail gunner's position was moved from the tail turret to a remote firing station in the forward crew compartment. Other additions included the Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) and the Steerable Low Light TV systems (STV) mounted under the nose, which were electro-optical systems used for navigation.

Boeing (Wichita) built all 193 B-52Gs with the first aircraft rolling out of the production plant in the summer of 1958. The G model was capable of carrying two AGM-28 “Hound Dog” missiles like the F model,

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

but it was also equipped to carry the GAM-87 “Skybolt” and later the Air Launched Cruise Missile and the Short Range Attack Missile.

The B-52G was used extensively in the 1991 during Operation Desert Storm before being phased out of operational service in 1994. This B-52G on display, tail# 57-6509, flew 35 missions including the first three low level missions during Desert Storm from Jan-Feb 1991, and accumulated 100+ missions over Southeast Asia. Its paint scheme is the same as it was during Desert Storm. Aircraft 57-6509 was retired from service in Nov 1992 and was transferred to the 8th AF Museum.

Specifications
Span: 185' • Length: 160' 11" • Height: 40' 8" • Weight: 480,000 lbs max • Crew: Six (6) • Armament: Four .50-cal. M-3 machine guns in tail and more than 50,000 lbs of bombs/missiles • Cost: $30,000,000 approx

Perfromance
Max speed: 634 mph • Cruising: 526 mph • Range: 7,300 miles max • Service ceiling: 47,000 ft • Engine: Eight Pratt and Whitney J57s of 11,200 lbs thrust

Erected by Barksdale Global Power Museum.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Military. A significant historical date for this entry is April 15, 1952.

Location. 32° 30.936′ N,

Gary Todd via Flickr (Public Domain), July 14, 2017

2. Boeing B-52G “Stratofortress” Marker

Featured marker is on the right.

93° 41.103′ W. Marker is in Bossier City, Louisiana, in Bossier Parish. It is on Range Road half a mile north of Shreveport Road, on the right when traveling north. Marker is at the Barksdale Global Power Museum, north of the museum building. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 88 Shreveport Rd, Bossier City LA 71112, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Louisiana.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and in the Piney Woods.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

the Louisiana Purchase,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: North American AGM-28 “Hound Dog” (a few steps from this marker); Major General William E. Eubank, Jr. (within shouting distance of this marker); Convair B-58 “Rocket Sled” (within shouting distance

Boeing B-52G “Stratofortress” image. Click for full size.

Gary Todd via Flickr (Public Domain), July 14, 2017

3. Boeing B-52G “Stratofortress”

of this marker); 1st CEVG Combat Skyspot Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Boeing KC-135A "Stratotanker" (within shouting distance of this marker); Boeing B-52D “Stratofortress” (within shouting distance of this marker); Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 “Fishbed” (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Avro B-2 “Vulcan” (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bossier City.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 3, 2022. It was originally submitted on June 3, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 556 times since then and 51 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 3, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.