Eighth Air Force Museum restores B-52D bomber

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. John Gordinier
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  Barksdale has a flightline full of Air Force Global Strike Command, 2nd Bomb Wing B-52H bombers and the Eighth Air Force Museum has a B-52 Model D on display, which is going through restoration; and although the models look similar, this particular aircraft has some significant historical meaning.

"This B-52D with serial number 56-629 was used by Boeing for testing the big-belly modification for the D model fleet," said Master Sgt. Keith Baron, 8th Air Force museum operations superintendent. "It can hold 84 bombs in its bomb bay and the B-52H can hold 27.

"The aircraft performed more than 400 missions during the Vietnam War and was also used in Operation Linebacker II; it was the last aircraft damaged during the operation by a surface-to-air missile," he added.

Barksdale has had the aircraft since 1982, and it has been restored multiple times since.

"The last time we restored it was in 2004," Sergeant Baron said. "With the harsh Louisiana sun and weather, a paint job can only last about five or six years."

At some point in the next couple of years, the East Gate is scheduled to be moved out toward Highway 20, which would open up land for a potential new museum complex.

"If the community joins the Air Force in such an undertaking, the new museum would locate aircraft, such as this B-52D Model, undercover, which would take it out of the Louisiana weather and better preserve this part of Air Force history for future generations," said Mr. Gary Miller, 8th Air Force Museum director.

"It is up to us to make sure these aircraft here at the museum do not deteriorate, so we can educate and teach people on aircraft and Air Force history," Sergeant Baron concluded.

Until then, contractors from the local community are scraping off the old paint, performing sheet-metal replacement and giving the B-52D a restored paint job.

"I really enjoy working on this (B-52D) aircraft," said contractor Greg George, while doing sheet-metal replacement. "I love aircraft and I come out to Barksdale's air show every year; working on this plane is a special job for me."

For more information on Operation Linebacker II, go to http://www.airforcehistory.hq.af.mil/PopTopics/linebacker2.htm.

For more information on the 8th Air Force Museum, call (318) 456-2840.