#U.S.Air_Force

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Convair B-36D Peacemaker 44-92095 by Wing attack Plan R Via Flickr: B-36D-1-CF (Convair-Fort Worth). C.N. 92. Originally a B-36B. Last Unit: 6515 Maintenance Aircraft group, Edwards AFB. Withdrawn from Service to MASDC 1 June 1956. To reclamation 10 September, 1956. Photo Credit's: USAF photo? (Reprint). The B-36 was the largest American bomber every produced. Its 230 foot wingspan was almost fifty percent longer than that of the huge B-52 that replaced it. During its eight years of service, it one of one of America's major deterrents to aggression by a potential enemy. It was "keeping the peace." Its is famous for "never having fired a shot in anger." Development of the huge plane began in 1941 when it appear that Great Britain would soon fall to Nazi Germany. The Army Air Force wanted a bomber that could fly from the United States to Europe, drop bombs, then return (combat radius) The prototype first flew on August 8, 1946. The first operational models were delivered to the Strategic Air Command 1948. There were many problems with them and the fleet was not fully operational until 1951. The Peacemaker achieved its design objective. Its combat radius with a 10,000-pound payload (one small nuclear bomb) was 3,740 nautical miles. With its maximum of bomb load of 86,000 pounds, (conventional bombs), its combat radius decreased to 1,757 nautical miles. Each B-36 cost $3.6 million. A total of 388 aircraft were produced. The last one was built in August of 1954. On 29 June 1955 the first B-52 was delivered to SAC. All of the B-36s were delivered as or converted to "J" models, which had two jet engines added to each wing. (This was essentially the inboard engine nacelle from the B-47). The all-jet bomber soon took over the Peacemaker's duties. The last B-36 was retired in 1959.

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t-bird 3 by Wing attack Plan R

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1370th PMW Boeing RB-50F Superfortress 47-0162 by Wing attack Plan R Via Flickr: B-50B-60-BO. C.N. 15846. 1370th Photo Mapping Wing (assigned to MATS), based at Turner AFB. Modified as RB-50F with navigational radar. Withdrawn from service to MADC 29 July, 1965. Declared excess 30 October, 1967. Scrapped at MASDC. Fourteen RB-50Bs were modified at Boeing-Wichita with SHORAN navigation radar for special missions. These planes were redesignated RB-50F. The SHORAN radar navigation system was used to conduct mapping, charting, and geodetic surveys. However, it was found in practice that the SHORAN system interfered with the RB-50F's defensive armament, so the SHORAN radar and its associated equipment were housed in removable kits. Photo Credit's: Unknown to me (poor quality reprint). Photo marked 1964. Location: unknown.

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Lockheed YF-104A Starfighter 55-2964 (10) by Wing attack Plan R Via Flickr: Written off 2 November 1957. Photo Credit's: Lockheed photo.

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165th TRS McDonnell RF-101H Voodoo 54-1486 by Wing attack Plan R Via Flickr: F-101C-40-MC. C.N. 116. 1968-72: 165th TRS / 123rd TRG, Standiford Field, Kentucky ANG. Converted to RF-101H Voodoo. Withdrawn from service to MASDC 14 August, 1972 as AA FF0278. Declared excess 30 March, 1973. Departed MASDC 16 May, 1975 to Naval Weapons Center, China Lake. Photo Credit's: Unknown to me (Damaged / poor quality reprint. Photo had a white line across it). Date: unknown. Location: Possibly it's Kentucky home base.

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1370th PMW Boeing RB-50F Superfortress 47-0162 by Wing attack Plan R Via Flickr: B-50B-60-BO. C.N. 15846. 1370th Photo Mapping Wing (assigned to MATS), based at Turner AFB. Modified as RB-50F with navigational radar. Withdrawn from service to MADC 29 July, 1965. Declared excess 30 October, 1967. Scrapped at MASDC. Fourteen RB-50Bs were modified at Boeing-Wichita with SHORAN navigation radar for special missions. These planes were redesignated RB-50F. The SHORAN radar navigation system was used to conduct mapping, charting, and geodetic surveys. However, it was found in practice that the SHORAN system interfered with the RB-50F's defensive armament, so the SHORAN radar and its associated equipment were housed in removable kits. Photo Credit's: Unknown to me (poor quality reprint). Photo marked 1964. Location: unknown.