Never-ending Stratofortress

摘要

After nearly 50 years of ser-vice-the last one was delivered in 1962-the Air Force's B-52H Stratofortresses continue to serve as a critical element of the nation's long-range strike force. Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota is one of two homes for the B-52s. The other is Barksdale AFB, La. The only USAF bomber still capable of carrying nuclear cruise missiles, the B-52's size allows it to haul a massive ordnance load. l1l At Minot (l-r), TSgt. Kyle Bergstedt, TSgt. Jamie Mikus, TSgt. Shane Martin, and SrA. Ethan Payne download an octet of AGM-86B Air Launched Cruise Missiles from a B-52's bomb bay. With retirement of the stealthy AGM-129, the 1980s-vintage AGM-86 is the only nuclear cruise missile in USAF service.