East in Denver in Denver County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Boeing RB-52B Stratofortress

USAF Serial Number 52-0005

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 28, 2018

1. Boeing RB-52B Stratofortress Marker

Inscription.

Boeing RB-52B Stratofortress. USAF Serial Number 52-0005. , The B-52 program had its roots in 1945, when the United States Army Air Forces sought to expand its capabilities with a long-range heavy bomber and jet powered flight. This resulted in the development of the Boeing YP-52 prototype that made its first flight on April 15, 1952. , The RB-52B displayed here was constructed as the second model of the B-52 design, and was delivered to the United States Air Force on March 3, 1955. , A total of 744 B-52 aircraft were built between 1954 and the end of production in 1962. Of this number, 27 were the RB-52B model. The RB designation was given to planes fitted for reconnaissance duties. , In October 1955, this aircraft was transferred to the 330th Bombardment Squadron, 93rd Bomb Wing (BW), based at Castle Air Force Base, California. Once the 93rd BW became combat ready in March 1956, 53-0005 likely served as a flight training aircraft. This plane remained with the 93rd BW until February 10, 1966 when it was retired from service. By June 1966, all B-52B and RB-52B models were phased out of active service. , On April 28, 1966 this plane was delivered to the Lowry Technical Training Center at Lowry Air Force Base for use as a trainer. In October 1975, the aircraft was removed from active training and used as a static display. With the closure of Lowry Air Force Base in 1994, 52-0005 was transferred to Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum. , RB-52B/52-0005 provides a strong symbol for aviation history and military service, both past and present. Given the long history of the B-52, its current service and projected operation into the future, it reflects the ingenuity and innovation that the aviation industry and U.S. military can offer. Its role as a test and training aircraft represents the history and mission of Lowry Air Force Base. , Specifications , Crew: Six (pilot, copilot, electronic warfare officer, navigator, bombardier and tail gunner) , Length: 156 ft. 7 in. , Wingspan: 185 ft. 0 in. , Height: 48 ft. 4 in. , Empty Weight: 185,000 lbs. , Max. Takeoff Weight: 420,000 lbs. , Max. Speed: 630 mph , Range: 3,600 miles at combat weight of 272,000 lbs. , Service Ceiling: 47,000 ft. , Engines: Eight Pratt and Whitney J57-P-1W turbojets, 10,000 lbs. thrust each

The B-52 program had its roots in 1945, when the United States Army Air Forces sought to expand its capabilities with a long-range heavy bomber and jet powered flight. This resulted in the development of the Boeing YP-52 prototype that made its first flight on April 15, 1952.

The RB-52B displayed here was constructed as the second model of the B-52 design, and was delivered to the United States Air Force on March 3, 1955.

A total of 744 B-52 aircraft were built between 1954 and the end of production in 1962. Of this number, 27 were the RB-52B model. The RB designation was given to planes fitted for reconnaissance duties.

In October 1955, this aircraft was transferred to the 330th Bombardment Squadron, 93rd Bomb Wing (BW), based at Castle Air Force Base, California. Once the 93rd BW became combat ready in March 1956, 53-0005 likely served as a flight training aircraft. This plane remained with the 93rd BW until February 10, 1966 when it was retired from service. By June 1966, all B-52B and RB-52B models were phased out of active service.

On April 28, 1966 this plane was delivered to the Lowry Technical Training Center at Lowry Air Force Base for use as a trainer. In October 1975, the aircraft was removed from active training and used as a static display. With the closure of Lowry Air Force Base

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

in 1994, 52-0005 was transferred to Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum.

RB-52B/52-0005 provides a strong symbol for aviation history and military service, both past and present. Given the long history of the B-52, its current service and projected operation into the future, it reflects the ingenuity and innovation that the aviation industry and U.S. military can offer. Its role as a test and training aircraft represents the history and mission of Lowry Air Force Base.

Specifications
Crew: Six (pilot, copilot, electronic warfare officer, navigator, bombardier and tail gunner)
Length: 156 ft. 7 in.
Wingspan: 185 ft. 0 in.
Height: 48 ft. 4 in.
Empty Weight: 185,000 lbs.
Max. Takeoff Weight: 420,000 lbs.
Max. Speed: 630 mph
Range: 3,600 miles at combat weight of 272,000 lbs.
Service Ceiling: 47,000 ft.
Engines: Eight Pratt & Whitney J57-P-1W turbojets, 10,000 lbs. thrust each

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Military. A significant historical date for this entry is March 3, 1955.

Location. 39° 43.205′ N, 104° 53.733′ W. Marker is in Denver, Colorado, in Denver County. It is in East. Marker can be reached from East Academy Boulevard, 0.1 miles north of Rampart Way, on the left when traveling north. Marker is part

Marker detail: Boeing RB-52B Stratofortress photograph image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 28, 2018

2. Marker detail: Boeing RB-52B Stratofortress photograph

of the Boeing RB-52B Stratofortress exhibit, located in front of the entrance to Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum at this address. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 7711 East Academy Boulevard, Denver CO 80230, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Colorado Volunteers (approx. 0.8 miles away); Charles Kelly Boulevard (approx. 3½ miles away); WWI Medical Staff Memorial (approx. 3.6 miles away); Civil War Artillery (approx. 3.6 miles away); Sharon A. Lane Drive (approx. 3.7 miles away); The Molly Brown House (approx. 4.7 miles away); Votes for Women (approx. 4.7 miles away); USS Colorado BB-45 (approx. 4.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Denver.

More about this marker. Marker is a large composite plaque, mounted on a concrete supporting pedestal, underneath the subject B-52 aircraft.

Also see . . .
1. Boeing RB-52B/B-52B Stratofortress. The B-52B was outwardly identical to the B-52A, but featured an enhanced reconnaissance capability and was fitted with a bombing/navigation system. A total of 50 were built, with 23 being pure bomber B-52Bs and 27 being dual-capable reconnaissance/bomber RB-52Bs. The RB-52B had been the result of an earlier disagreement among Air Force officers about what the true role of the B-52

Boeing RB-52B Stratofortress Marker (<i>wide view; marker is mounted on aircraft support base</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 28, 2018

3. Boeing RB-52B Stratofortress Marker (wide view; marker is mounted on aircraft support base)

should be - a pure bomber or a pure reconnaissance aircraft. Although bearing an R prefix, the RB-52B could be reconfigured in a matter of hours for either a reconnaissance or a bombardment mission. The RB-52Bs carried out its reconnaissance mission via a two-man pressurized capsule installed in the bomb bay which could perform electronic countermeasures or photographic reconnaissance work. (Submitted on June 28, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. 21 May 1956: The second test of the OPERATION REDWING series was REDWING CHEROKEE. A B-52 Stratofortress assigned to the 4925th Test Group (Atomic), Kirtland Air Force Base, Albuquerque, New Mexico, took off from Eniwetok Island (“Fred Island”), the main island of Eniwetok Atoll in the Marshall Islands. The bomber, named Barbara Grace, was a Boeing RB-52B-10-BO Stratofortress, serial number 52-013. In its bomb bay was a TX-15-X1 two-stage radiation implosion thermonuclear bomb, weighing 6,867 pounds. The target was a point on Namu Island, Bikini Atoll, also in the Marshall Islands. (Submitted on June 28, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Boeing RB-52B Stratofortress image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 28, 2018

4. Boeing RB-52B Stratofortress

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 28, 2018

5. Boeing RB-52B Stratofortress

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 28, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 706 times since then and 88 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on June 28, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.