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MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- The first B-52H Stratofortress reaches retirement after more than 45 years of dedicated service to the United States July 24 here on its final flight to Tinker Air Force Base, Okla.

"It is a truly sad time when we decommission a plane," said Lt. Col. Bill Stahl, 5th Maintenance Group deputy commander. "But, the aircraft has served her country well."

The B-52H with tail number LA1023 was built in 1961 and assigned to the 2nd Bomb Wing at Barksdale AFB, La., but was here due to parking shortages at Barksdale AFB. It is the first of 18 B-52Hs selected by Air Combat Command to retire. Every two weeks a B-52H will be retired, alternating between here and the 2nd BW in an effort to maximize funding for the aging assets...

I have a big spot in the heart for the BUFF and KC-135 aircraft so reading/hearing about them being retired always kind of bites... but at the same time it's nice to know they've served with distinction and that the crews will be flying the "better" aircraft in the fleet.

"But, the aircraft has served her country well."
indeed

From AF Daily Report 1 Aug 08

First B-52H Heads to Barn: The Air Force has sent the first of 18 B-52 bombers that it intends to "retire" to Tinker AFB, Okla., where it is to be stored in a hangar in case it's needed again, according to a July 30 release, which noted it was the first H model the service has decommissioned. It entered service in 1961 with the 2nd Bomb Wing at Barksdale AFB, La., but because Barksdale had "parking shortages," the 2nd BW had shunted the venerable bomber off to Minot AFB, N.D., which had more space available. Air Combat Command plans to take the B-52 force down to 76 aircraft, so 17 more H models will join #LA1023 at Tinker over the next few months. According to the Minot release, ACC will take an equal number from Barksdale and Minot, sending one every two weeks into recallable storage. "The decision to pick the selected aircraft was based on a number of criteria that looked at the aircraft as a whole," said Lt. Col. Bill Stahl, deputy commander of the 5th Bomb Wing at Minot, and added, "It's not like the aircraft are all rusted or corroded; it's just that the selected 18 are not as airworthy as the first 76." Under its current strategy, ACC plans to activate a second operational B-52 bomber squadron at Minot. (Minot report by A1C Benjamin Stratton)

When I was at Dyess, we had an "active" storage for E models. They flew about once a month-after we cleaned out the birds nests and got all the leaks stopped. I wonder how this 'storage' ties into activating a second squadron at Minot? Also see the following item.

Still Vital: A B-52 bomber for the first time released a laser joint direct attack munition during a 17.3-hour roundtrip mission July 14 from Barksdale AFB, La., according to a July 24 release. The 76 B-52 bombers Air Combat Command intends to maintain (see above "First B-52H Heads to Barn") are considered still vital for current operations and into the future, so have been receiving advanced targeting and precision weapons modifications. For the July 14 test, led by the 49th Test and Evaluation Squadron at Barksdale, the B-52 demonstrated its ability to intercept a moving target in the Pacific Ocean; a second test slated for the fall is to pit a LJDAM-carrying B-52 against a ground moving target. Maj. Steve Walden, 49th TES aircraft commander, said the "weapon released and performed as advertised." (Barksdale report by Capt. Carrie Kessler)