The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress entered service in 1955 and remains one of the US Air Force's principal long-range bombers. Capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear weapons, it has been used in multiple conflicts involving the United States, from Vietnam to the recent confrontation with Iran. The base is also known for its role in aviation history. In 1947, test pilot Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier there, reaching a speed of Mach 1.05.