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    This page documents a history of a specific aircraft. The details provided vary from aircraft to aircraft and are dependent on the research and amount of data uploaded to the Aerial Visuals database.

    Airframe Family: Boeing B464 / B-52 Stratofortress
    Latest Model:NB-52A Stratofortress
    Last Military Serial:52-0003 USAF
    Construction Number:16493
    Compressed ID:Boeing NB-52A sn 52-0003 USAF cn 16...
    Latest Owner or Location:Pima Air and Space Museum, Davis-Monthan AFB (South Side), Tucson, Arizona

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    Dates

    Event

    Constructed as a B-52A-1-BO by Boeing at Seattle, Washington, USA.
    This is the third of only three A model B-52s built.

    30 September 1954

    Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Air Force with s/n 52-0003.

    December 1955

    Converted to a JB-52A.

    10 February 1956


    Photographer: USAF Unknown photographer
    Notes: MAJ C. R. Anderson and CAPT E. P. Deatrick stand in front of B-52A number 52-0003 prior to takeoff from Patterson AFB for Seattle, Washington after icing tests on 10 February 1956. I believe the black X indicates transfer of the aircraft from USAF back to Boeing. Photo from the Eugene Deatrick Collection.

    Charles Schumacher comments (26 December 2022): I was in college working for Boeing Flight Test Center as an Engineering Aide on Acft 003, Guy Townsend was the AF Test Pilot.

    October 1957

    Converted to a NB-52A.
    Modified for launching X-15s.

    Markings Applied: 0003, U.S. AIR FORCE

    15 October 1969

    Transferred to the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center (AMARC) with inventory number BC108.

    To National Museum of the United States Air Force Loan Program, Wright Field, Dayton, OH.
    View the Location Dossier

    August 1981

    Loaned to Pima Air and Space Museum, Tucson, AZ.

    August 1981

    Placed on display with Pima Air and Space Museum, Davis-Monthan AFB (South Side), Tucson, AZ.
    This is the oldest B-52 remaining in existence.
    View the Location Dossier

    11 August 1991


    Photographer: Robert Nichols

    11 August 1991


    Photographer: Robert Nichols

    Circa 1996


    Photographer: Ken Videan
    Notes: At the Pima Air and Space Museum, Arizona.

    16 October 2000


    Photographer: Tom Tessier
    Notes: At Pima Air and Space Museum, Tucson, AZ.

    April 2007


    Photographer: Nate Wilburn

    April 2007


    Photographer: Nate Wilburn

    13 March 2017


    Photographer: Robert Nichols
    Notes: in Pima Air Museum Restoration Facility

    7 March 2020


    Photographer: Richard Talley
    Notes: Under Restoration in March 2020

    27 April 2024


    Photographer: Richard Talley
    Notes: Fresh out of multi-year restoration in April 2024
    This dossier is waiting for review by an editor.This airframe dossier is based on
    unreviewed imported data.
    If you can verify the documented history or add to it with additional text and/or photos please feel free to do so by using the upload tool and the history editor.
    Credits
     Data for airframe dossiers come from various sources. The following were used to compile this dossier...
    Internet Sources
     National Museum of the United States Air Force
    Pima Air and Space Museum
    The AMARC Experience
    United States Military Services Serial Number Lists by Joe Baugher
    Individual Contributors
     Johnny Comstedt
    Mike Henniger
    Charles Schumacher
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