The B-52 G and H aircraft used by the Air Force today are older than the pilots who fly them. Internal fuel tanks could hold over 46,000 gallons of fuel, allowing the aircraft to reach targets half-way around the world. B-52 bombers were considered the weapon the enemy feared most in the Vietnam War. B-52D's would fly in formation too high to be seen or heard, dropping over one hundred 500 lb bombs each. B-52 tail gunners shot down two enemy aircraft in Viet Nam.
All flight controls are manual, making it a very tough aircraft to fly.
B-52's are used today as cruise missile carriers, but during the Gulf War reverted to their original design of carrying a large number of iron bombs, earning the respect and fear of those on the receiving end. The museum aircraft was declared surplus at March AFB when it developed weakness in the rear fuselage and was assigned to the museum.