A look in history: Trip heard ‘round the world

TORREJON AIR BASE, Spain -- Fifty years ago on Jan. 11, 1962, this crew of eight Airmen embarked on a historic feat that would take them half way across the globe and reaffirm to the world America’s dominance in long-range aircraft strike capabilities. Piloting the newest model of long-range bombers, the B-52H Stratofortress, these crewmembers broke 11 non-stop distance and course-speed records, for its aircraft class and time, when they successfully completed a more than 21 hour non-refueled flight-- flying approximately 12,500 miles across the globe. Operation Persian Rug was the name given to the pivotal flight. (Courtesy photo)

A look in history: Trip heard 'round the world

Published Jan. 12, 2012
By Senior Airman Jose L. Hernandez
Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs

MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- Fifty years ago on Jan. 11, 1962, a crew of eight Airmen embarked on a historic feat taking them halfway across the globe - reaffirming America's dominance in long-range aircraft strike capabilities to the world.

Piloting the newest model of long-range bombers, the B-52H Stratofortress, crewmembers broke 11 non-stop distance and course-speed records, for its aircraft class and time, when they successfully completed a more than 21-hour non-refueled flight -- flying approximately 12,500 miles across the globe. Operation Persian Rug was the name given to this pivotal flight.

Although the record-breaking journey began at Kadena Air Base, Japan, the plane and crew were from Minot Air Force Base's 4136th Strategic Wing at the time.

The B-52's course took the crew across key landmarks around the globe including Tokyo, Japan; Fort Worth, Texas; and Washington, D.C., among others, with a final destination of Torrejon Air Base, Spain.

The previous record for the longest non-refueled flight (class C - Powered Aeroplanes) was held by an air refueling plane, the KC-135 Stratotanker.

Unveiled as the new and improved edition of B-52s, the H model proved its worth with the historic mission within one year after the first of its kind took to the air.

According to reports at the time, commanding officials at Strategic Air Command, the B-52H's commanding authority, were eager to demonstrate its new found capabilities.

The H model differed in many ways from its predecessor, the G model.

First off was a complete renovation of the aircraft's engine, which provided better fuel efficiency. In combination with newly designed turbofans, it allowed an increase in flying distance of approximately 2,500 miles, unrefueled. Its defensive armament was also changed to a single rapid-fire Gatling gun system that had an adjustable rate of fire between 3,000 and 6,000 rounds per minute.

Gen. Thomas S. Power, the SAC commander-in-chief at the time, praised the completion of the flight, saying the more than 12,000-mile unrefueled flight demonstrated the intercontinental capabilities of the B-52H Stratofortress.

"The flight proved that SAC aircraft have the capability of reaching target destinations in any area of the globe," said Power.

President John F. Kennedy also commended the crew for their work in successfully completing the mission and personally congratulated them on their accomplishments when he invited them to Washington, D.C.

The execution of Operation Persian Rug is one of several powerful exhibitions the B-52 family has demonstrated to the world. To this day, the B-52H exerts its power -- standing at the forefront of the nuclear deterrence mission under the leadership of Air Force Global Strike Command. Of the original 102 B-52Hs manufactured, approximately 80 are still in active use today.

With this year marking 50 years since the last delivery of the B-52H Stratofortress to Minot AFB and its halt in production, AFGSC is paying homage to the airframe by proclaiming 2012 as the "Year of the B-52."