This was the final film former MGM costume designer Irene worked on. She committed suicide the fall of 1962 prior to the release of this film. Irene provided a very simple understated wardrobe for British actress Mary Peach in this film.
Robert Lansing goes on to become Brig. General Frank Savage who commands a hard luck outfit in WWII, the 918th Bombardment Group of the U.S. Eighth Air Force, in the TV series 12 O'Clock High (1964-1967).
To familiarize himself with the B-52 and its flying characteristics, Rock Hudson flew on a short mission out of Walker AFB, Roswell NM.
The scene where Mary Peach's character goes out "on the town" shows her exiting a theater into a grand lobby where she meets friends. That lobby is the actual foyer of the San Francisco Opera House, which looks virtually the same to this day.
In some ways this is a sequel to Strategic Air Command (1955) made in 1955 and starring James Stewart. Two reasons the sequel was needed were the change in SAC strategy and the switch from B36 and B47 aircraft to B-52 bombers. Somewhat surprisingly, Dr. Folamour ou : comment j'ai appris à ne plus m'en faire et à aimer la bombe (1964) did a better job of showcasing the B-52 than this movie did when it premiered about six months later in early 1964.