B-52 Stratofortress : the complete history of the world's longest serving and best known bomber / Bill Yenne.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 186-188) and index.

Introduction: the most formidable expression -- The origins of strategic air power doctrine -- Boeing bombers before the Stratofortress -- The Strategic Air Command and a jet bomber fleet -- What we've been waiting for -- Production and model evolution -- The Strategic Air Command and other Stratofortress missions -- War in Southeast Asia -- Back to the Cold War -- A storm in the desert -- A decade of changes -- Twenty-first-century warrior -- Back to the future -- Appendix 1: Specifications by Stratofortress model -- Appendix 2: Stratofortress production by model and block number -- Appendix 3: Stratofortress combat wings and assigned squadrons --Bibliography -- Index -- Tables -- 5-1. Stratofortress production by model number -- 6-1. B-52s in the SAC inventory: build-up and peak strength era -- 7-1. Linebacker II: sorties day by day -- 8-1. B-52s in the SAC inventory: draw-down and early model retirement era -- 8-2. B-52s in the U.S. Air Force inventory: Reagan era through the end of the Cold War -- 12-1. B-52s in the U.S. Air Force inventory: post Cold War era -- 12-2. B-52h selected weapons systems options -- 12-3. B-52h selected electronics systems.

"A comprehensive history of the B-52's development, manufacture, and combat service. The longest-serving U.S. Air Force combat aircraft, the B-52 debuted in 1955 and is slated to continue to 2040. It flew in the Cold War, Vietnam, the Gulf Wars, and Afghanistan"--Provided by publisher.