This was taken at the USS Alabama in Mobile, Alabama. It is probably a US Navy aircraft.
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2It's a B-52, not sure what variant. – Ron Beyer May 18 '17 at 01:34
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2Was type aircraft NOT on the information plaque you can see on the left side of the photo?! – Michael Hall Feb 10 '23 at 18:53
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@Michael Hall-He may not have been at the museum but looking at a picture taken there. – RetiredATC Feb 13 '23 at 00:28
3 Answers
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(Source)
B-52D Stratofortress "Calamity Jane".
It is a long-range, subsonic, strategic bomber operated by the US Air Force (not the Navy) since 1955.
The aircraft you see here was amoung 170 B-52Ds manufactured by Boeing Airplane Company, and was equipped exclusively for long-range bombing missions. "Calamity Jane", as she is called, has been demilitarized, but remains in the high camouflage used during Vietnam operations. (Source)
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4To answer the OP's other question (or assumption), the aircraft was operated by the US Air Force, not the US Navy. – Ron Beyer May 18 '17 at 03:14
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3The most important question: Why is the skin so wrinkled? The answer: If you were born in 1955, your skin would be wrinkly by now, too. – FreeMan Nov 16 '21 at 18:24
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That is a USAF B-52D. These were used extensively in Vietnam, and were retired after. The 2 models that remained in operation after 1983, when the last D-model was retired, were the G and H models. The G models were retired in 1991, leaving only H models still in active service. They are expected to last into the 2050s. The last B-52 built was in 1962, which means that the aircraft will have nearly a century of service. I am honored that I was assigned as a B-52G Crew Chief, 1989-1995
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It is a B-52 called "Calamity Jane". Not a navy aircraft because there is no way they could fit that behemoth of a plane on an aircraft carrier.
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2Welcome to [aviation.se]! Does this post really add any value beyond the accepted answer? – Glorfindel Feb 10 '23 at 19:17