#rb-36h peacemaker

[usafphantom2]

USAF Convair RB-36H Peacemaker 51-13730 displayed at Castle AFB (2000)

aviationphotocompany.com/p882451834/e60…

More B-36 images: aviationphotocompany.com/p38214307

AviationPhotoCo via X

[airmanisr]

Convair RB-36H Peacemaker ‘S’ [113730] by Alan Wilson Via Flickr: c/n 275. Full US military serial 51-13730. The RB-36H was a strategic reconnaissance variant, this being the sole survivor of the 73 built. In fact, only five B-36 airframes of any model survive, despite 384 being produced. On display at the Castle Air Museum, Atwater, CA. 4th March 2016

[skyfire85]

The RB-36D was outwardly identical to the B-36D, but had a larger crew of 22, the additional crew members being needed to operate and maintain the photo-recon equipment. The forward bomb bay was replaced by a pressurized, manned compartment that was filled with 14-23 cameras, comprised of various combinations of K-17C, K-22A, K-38, and K-40 cameras. This compartment included a small darkroom where photo technicians would develop the film. The second bomb bay contained up to 80 T-86 photoflash bombs, while the third bay could carry an extra droppable fuel tank of three thousand gallons. The fourth bomb bay carried electronic countermeasure equipment. The extra fuel tanks increased the flight endurance to up to 50 hours, and the RB-36D had an initial ceiling of 50,000 feet. One RB-36, s/n 44-92088, was further modified to carry a K-42 Camera, nicknamed “Pie Face”, or the “Boston Camera”, which featured a 6,096mm (240in) focal length. The K-42 produced an 18 x 36 inch negative, and could resolve a golf ball from 45,000 feet up.

Pie Face, on display at the USAF Museum in Dayton. | Photo: McChizzle

At the time of their construction, the B-36 was the only aircraft that could carry the giant Mk. XVII or Mk. XXIV Hydrogen bombs, though they could also carry conventional bombs as well, and were specially designed to accommodate the T-12 Cloudmaker “earthquake” bombs, with each B-36 able to carry two of the 43,600lb bombs.

Mark 17 nuclear bomb next to a Convair RB-36H Peacemaker at the Castle Air Museum in Atwater, California. | Photo: Nehrams2020

With the rapid development and proliferation of high-speed, high-altitude jet fighters like the MiG-15, as well as Soviet advancements in surface-to-air missiles, making overflight of targets by propeller-driven aircraft suicidal at best, along with the US’ own work on ICBMs, the B-36s days at the point of the nuclear spear were limited, and they were withdrawn from service beginning in 1956. Delays with procurement of the B-52 slowed the B-36's draw-down, but by 1959 the last B-36Js had been retired. Only three aircraft survive as museum pieces, with the remainder having been recycled at AMARC by 1961.

B-36s await their undoing under the Tuscon sun. | Photo: USAF

“Six turning, four burning”, Ellsworth AFB, Rapid City, SD, the early 1950s | Photo: USAF (Fair Use)

Flightline: 44 - Convair B-36 Peacemaker

The Consolidated Vultee (later Convair) B-36 “Peacemaker” was the largest mass-produced piston-engined aircraft, had the longest wingspan of any mass-produced airplane, and (on the prototype at least) had the largest wheels ever fitted to an aircraft.

All the way back in 1941, the USAAC began to look for alternatives should the UK fall to the German Blitz. On 11 April 1941, the Air Corps set initial requirements for a new bomber, capable of flying from bases in Newfoundland to Berlin and back, with a top speed of 450mph and a ceiling of 45,000 feet. No manufacturer was able to meet these specs, so in August the Army revised the requirements to a max range of 12,000 miles, a combat range of 4,000 miles with a 10,000lb bombload, with a cruising speed between 240 and 300mph and a ceiling of 40,000, still well beyond the reach of German AAA.

Consolidated’s design, initially designated the Model B-35, was the victim of continual delays, with the company being told to sacrifice work on the larger bomber to concentrate on building B-24s. A mockup was finally inspected on 30 July 1942, however, a change was requested from a twin-tail arrangement to a single large stabilizer and rudder, saving weight but pushing back delivery by 120 days. Further delays were encountered when the project was moved from San Diego to Fort Worth.

Artists’ impression of the initial B-36 design... | Illustration: Consolidated Vultee

...the influence of Consolidated’s B-24 is visible, but the eventual B-36's lines are clear. | Illustration: Consolidated Vultee

Despite USAAF pressure to have the plane in service in the Pacific Theater, the first YB-36 didn’t fly until 8 August 1946. The prototype still featured a single-wheel main landing gear, with each 9 foot tall tire weighing 1,320lb. This arraignment put so much pressure on the runway and taxiways that the B-36 would be limited to only three airbases, Convair’s plant in Ft Worth, Eglin AFB in Florida and Travis AFB in California.

The XB-36 coming in for a landing. The size of the main wheels is apparent | Photo: USAF

Closeup of the main landing gear. Standard human for scale. | Photo: USAF

At the prodding of Air Force General ‘Hap’ Arnold, Convair redesigned the main landing gear with a four-wheel bogie, which better distributed the plane’s massive weight, allowing the B-36 to land at any USAF base. This change shaved 1,500 pounds off the airplane, though it also further delayed the Peacemaker, now one year behind schedule.

An RB-36H on display. Note the smaller four-wheeled main landing gear. | Photo: Brian Lockett

The Peacemaker entered service in 1948, with 21 B-36A serving as training and transition aircraft. The -A model featured a new domed canopy and the four-wheel main gear, though it lacked the six retractable defensive turrets and fore and aft barbettes. The next model, the B-36B, featured those turrets, as well as uprated R-4630-41 engines. As these models entered service, the A models were sent back to Convair and converted into RB-36E strategic reconnaissance airplanes.

Undated photo showing a B-36 with the forward turrets extended.Photo: USAF

Rare footage of a B-36's gun turrets extending, rotating, and retracting. Like the Peacemakers themselves, the turrets were never used in anger. | Video: USAF

The B-36D was the first model to add four J-47 turbojet engines in two pods, which increased power on takeoff and allowed the plane to dash over its target. This configuration led to crews saying they had “Six turning and four burning”, though issues with early jets, and continuing issues with the piston engines (owing to the pusher configuration) more often than not turned into “two turning, two burning, two smoking, two choking, and two more unaccounted for.“

7th Bombardment Wing Consolidated B-36D-1-CF Peacemaker 44-92097, showing Triangle-J tail code. 92097 crashed near Biggs AFB 8/28/54 due to loss of engine power on practice landing approach. One crew killed. | Photo: USAF

Seventeen aircraft were built as RB-36D, with the bomb-bays holding camera installations. The YB-36A and B-36As were converted to the same configuration, though they were designated RB-36Es. The B-36F featured uprated R-4360-53 piston engines, but were otherwise unchanged; 24 additional aircraft were built as RB-36Fs, which were strategic reconnaissance variants. The B-36H had the same engines as the -F, but had an improved flightdeck and changes to internal equipment; as before, the RB-36H was a recon variant. The final production variant, the B-36J, had increased fuel capacity and strengthened landing gear.

Beginning in 1954, the USAF contracted with Convair to begin a series of programs to lighten the B-36, with “Featherweight I” eliminating the retractable turrets and lessened the crew from 15 to 9, and “Featherweight II” removing the crew bunks in the aft compartment and the hardware for the XF-85 “Goblin” parasite fighter. “Featherweight III”, which combined both programs, gave the B-36 a longer range and a flight ceiling of 47,000 feet (58,000 for the RB-36D-III).

As befitting an aircraft of its size, the Peacemaker also had required an enormous crew to stay flying:

Reading from front to back, left to right, the personnel represent:

The wing commander

The ground and squadron commanders

Administrative personnel

A cook representing personnel that feed the men and prepare the food for the missions;

The line chief whose responsibility it is to see that all the planes in his squadron are properly maintained

The crew chief and his crew of fifteen men, who are responsible for the maintenance on this particular aircraft

The men who fly the plane

The gasoline and oil trucks required to keep the bomber fully loaded with fuel, 21,116 gallons of gasoline and 1,200 gallons of oil

An example of a small bomb load that is usually taken on a practice mission

An ambulance that is on hand in the event of an accident

Hospital personnel

A fire truck that is on hand when the plane starts its engines or making an emergency landing

And a load of oxygen bottles. (The B-36 is pressurized, however, in the event of an emergency when the plane is at a high altitude, oxygen may be used.)

Maintenance on the B-36 was intensive, with each plane having a 100-gallon lubricating oil tank for the Wasp Major engines, and each engine had 56 spark plugs (336 total per plane). As the airplanes were too large for most USAF hangars, maintenance had to be conducted outdoors, in temperatures ranging from -60°F to more than 100°F, depending on the base.

RB-36D aircraft under construction in the Convair plant | Photo: USAF

[aviationhistory]

A Convair RB-36H-10-CF Peacemaker, 51-5745, of the 71st Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, is destroyed by an explosion and groundfire at Ramey AFB, Puerto Rico, all crew members survive. This is the 32nd B-36 written-off in an accident of 385 built and will be the last operational loss before the type is retired.

[usafphantom2]

I really like this photo of a Convair RB-36H Peacemaker in flight with the contrails coming from the rear facing engines. Note the dual radomes on the tail turret, a characteristic of the H and J model’s with an improved AN/APG-41A fire control radar system. (Photo Source: USAF)

[usafphantom2]

51-13730 RB-36H United States Air Force (Painted as B-36B 44-92065)

Convair RB-36H-30-CF Peacemaker - A recently purchased shot showing the RB-36H that is now at Castle Air Museuem as it appeared at Chanute AFB in February, 1979, for some reason painted as a B-36B. It's possible that I flew on this aircraft when it was with the 718th Bomb Squadron at Ellsworth AFB, Rapid City, South Dakota. From my collection and not my shot.

[usafphantom2]

51-13730 RB-36H USAF SAC

Convair RB-36H-30-CF Peacemaker - When this photo was taken at the National Air Show in Philadelphia in Septermber, 1955, I was in flight training at Keesler AFB, MS to become an ECM Operator in SAC...on the RB-36H! It's possible that I later flew on this very aircraft as it was once in our squadron at Ellsworth AFB, SD. In 1957 it was put on display at Chanute AFB, IL and in 1991 was transported in pieces by rail to the Castle Air Museum, CA. Once restored it was painted in the colors of a sister squadron from Ellsworth and placed on display there, where it remains today. Of the 4 surviving B-36s, this is the only RB model.

[airmanisr]

Convair B-36 Peacemaker by fsll2 Via Flickr: Convair RB-36H Peacemaker 51-13730 at the Castle Air Museum, Atwater, Ca

[airmanisr]

Convair B-36 Peacemaker by fsll2 Via Flickr: Convair RB-36H Peacemaker 51-13730 at the Castle Air Museum, Atwater, Ca

[airmanisr]

Convair RB-36H Peacemaker at the Castle Air Museum by fsll2 Via Flickr: Convair RB-36H Peacemaker 51-13730 at the Castle Air Museum, Atwater, Ca

[airmanisr]

Convair RB-36H Peacemaker at the Castle Air Museum by fsll2 Via Flickr: Convair RB-36H Peacemaker 51-13730 at the Castle Air Museum, Atwater, Ca

[airmanisr]

Convair RB-36H Peacemaker ‘S’ [113730] by Alan Wilson Via Flickr: c/n 275. Full US military serial 51-13730. The RB-36H was a strategic reconnaissance variant, this being the sole survivor of the 73 built. In fact, only five B-36 airframes of any model survive, despite 384 being produced. On display at the Castle Air Museum, Atwater, CA. 4th March 2016

[airmanisr]

Convair RB-36H Peacemaker ‘S’ [113730] by Alan Wilson Via Flickr: c/n 275. Full US military serial 51-13730. The RB-36H was a strategic reconnaissance variant, this being the sole survivor of the 73 built. In fact, only five B-36 airframes of any model survive, despite 384 being produced. On display at the Castle Air Museum, Atwater, CA. 4th March 2016

[airmanisr]

Convair RB-36H Peacemaker ‘S’ [113730] by Alan Wilson Via Flickr: c/n 275. Full US military serial 51-13730. The RB-36H was a strategic reconnaissance variant, this being the sole survivor of the 73 built. In fact, only five B-36 airframes of any model survive, despite 384 being produced. On display at the Castle Air Museum, Atwater, CA. 4th March 2016

[aviationhistory]

Brig Gen Richard E. Ellsworth, commander of the 28th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, is killed in the crash of Convair RB-36H-25-CF Peacemaker, 51-13721, he was co-piloting on a 25-hour journey as part of a simulated combat mission flying from Lajes, Azores back to Rapid City Air Force Base, South Dakota. As part of the exercise, the bomber was observing radio silence and had switched off their radar guidance, flying via celestial navigation. They had planned to fly low over the ocean, steadily increasing to higher altitudes before reaching the mountainous countryside of Newfoundland. Late into the night, the aircraft struck bad weather and went off course, reaching Newfoundland 90 minutes earlier than planned. At 0410 hrs. at a hill near Burgoyne's Cove, inland from Nut Cove, Trinity Bay, Newfoundland, with sleet, fog, freezing drizzle, and visibility estimated at less than 1?8-mile (0.20 km), the plane struck an 896-foot (273 m) hill at 800 feet (240 m) with a ground speed of 202 knots (374 km/h). The aircraft's propellers severed the tops of pine trees while the plane's left wing hit the ground, tore off, and spilled fuel. The rest of the plane impacted some thousand feet further. The impact and subsequent fire from the plane's fuel tanks scorched an 8-foot-deep (2.4 m) trench in the countryside. Loggers on a nearby hill spotted the fireball and alerted rescuers, but all 23 on board were killed on impact. Much of the wreckage remains at the crash site. That same night, a Boeing SB-29-70-BW Superfortress, 44-69982, search and rescue plane of the 52d Air Rescue Squadron, 6th Air Rescue Group, based at Harmon Air Force Base, Newfoundland, was sent out to assist in search efforts. It disappeared shortly before landing, crashing into St. Georges Bay, a few miles from the runway, killing 11. Wreckage never found. In the aftermath of the B-36 crash, an accident investigation board recommended new procedures to scan more frequently for approaching high terrain and to climb to safer altitudes before approaching within 200 miles (320 km) of a water-land boundary. President Dwight Eisenhower personally went to the Rapid City base and renamed it Ellsworth Air Force Base, to honor the general