The longest military flight distance

www.defencetalk.com/record-long-range-b-52h-bomber-flight-turns-50-39548/


Fifty years ago on Jan. 11, 1962, a 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, 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.

The record-breaking journey began at Kadena Air Base, Japan, with the plane and crew were on assignment from Minot AFB’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.