Boeing Donates B-52 Model to Airmen at Barksdale AFB
ST. LOUIS, Aug. 18, 2004 -- When the B-52 Stratofortress first flew in the 1950s, it was America 's newest protector. The massive, eight-engine bomber could deliver weapons against any enemy and served as one-third of the nation's nuclear triad. The bomber, affectionately known as "the Buff," transitioned from its Cold War role and became a lethal weapon in today's global war against terrorism.
The pilots, maintainers and support staff who made the Stratofortress so successful were saluted Monday, August 16, when Boeing [NYSE:BA] donated a 1/8-scale model of the B-52 to Barksdale Air Force Base, in Louisiana.
"The B-52 is one of the most relevant aircraft ever," said Ron Marcotte, vice president and deputy general manager, Boeing Air Force Systems. Marcotte, a former Eighth Air Force commander and retired three-star general, presented the model to Air Combat Command commander General Hal M. Hornburg in a morning ceremony.
"Whether serving as a deterrent force during the Cold War, a policy-changing weapon in Vietnam , or fighting terrorists in Operation Iraqi Freedom, this incredible bomber continues to serve America ," Marcotte said.
Named "Lucky Lady 4" and wearing the number 8 for Eighth Air Force, the model is 20 ft. long, weighs approximately 800 pounds and has a wing span of 23 ft. The reinforced fiberglass aircraft bears the name of the first man to command a B-52 unit, retired Air Force Major General William Eubank, Jr.
A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is one of the world's largest space and defense businesses. Headquartered in St. Louis , Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $27 billion business. It provides systems solutions to its global military, government and commercial customers. It is a leading provider of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; the world's largest military aircraft manufacturer; the world's largest satellite manufacturer and a leading provider of space-based communications; the primary systems integrator for U.S. missile defense; NASA's largest contractor; and a global leader in launch services.
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Contact Info:
Bill Barksdale
office: (314) 232-0860
mobile: (314) 707-3294
william.a.barksdale@boeing.com
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