Aviation Week Lifts Veil On Boeing B-52 Bomber (1952)

In August, 1952, Aviation Week provided the first details on the new Boeing B-52 bomber. But the access came with a price: the magazine agreed not to publish any data that was not cleared in advance by the U.S. Defense Department. In return, writer Alexander McSurely received an Air Force clearance to go to Seattle for an up close inspection of the exterior of two B-52s, though he was not allowed inside the airplanes.

McSurely’s article still contained plenty of details about the B-52 and its eight Pratt & Whitney J57 engines. He  also wrote about the debate over whether the bomber would quickly be replaced by guided missiles.

Today there are 77 B-52H bombers still in service with the U.S. Air Force, according to the Aviation Week Intelligence Network.

Read a scan of the full August 18, 1952 article.

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