Boeing B-47 Stratojet - bomber (2024)

The B-47's production was spurred in 1944 by the War Department's demand for jet bombers. In contrast to the B-45, and other concurrent proposals, the B-47 design, as finally approved, included radically new features. Foremost were the aircraft's thin swept wings which, coupled with 6 externally mounted jet engines, promised a startling, high-speed bomber, probably capable of carrying out effective operations for the foreseeable future despite an enemy's fighter air defense. Undoubtedly, the B-47 lived up to expectations. More than 2,000 production models were bought, and some B-47 versions, true production models or post-production reconfigurations, remained in the operational inventory for nearly 2 decades. Yet few aircraft programs witnessed as much development, production, and post-production turbulence as the B-47 did. To begin with, there were arguments about cost and plant location and after 1947, complaints by Boeing that the newly independent Air Force had laid additional requirements that changed the concept of the overall program. Also, the secrecy which shrouded the development of atomic weapons, long after the atomic attacks on Japan, increased the difficulty of preparing the B-47 to handle every new type of special weapon-a problem shared by the B-36 and B-45. Ensuing events only compounded the initial disarray.

As it had for the B-36, the Truman Administration's stringent financial restrictions worked in favor of the B-47. Pressed for money, the Air Force decided to buy more B-47s instead of purchasing additional B-50s or future B-54s, since neither one of those rather expensive bombers had any growth potential. Hence, even though the B-47 was yet to fly, the initial production order of 1948 was increased in mid-1949. The subsequent Korean War, rising world tensions, and mounting urgency to build an atomic deterrent force raised the tempo of the B-47 program. In December 1950, the Air Force foresaw a monthly production of 150 B-47s, but still recommended changes, making it almost impossible to settle on an acceptable type. Other factors made matters worse.

The B-47 was the first USAF bomber to receive a weapon system designation, a move prompted by the Air Force recognition that the rising complexity of weapons no longer permitted the isolated and compartmented development of equipment and components which, when put together in a structural shell, formed an aircraft or missile. However, this was as far as the B-47 benefited from the new developmental philosophy. The Boeing air-frame was built without adequate consideration for its many crucial components. In turn, the components, subcontracted or furnished by the government, were behind schedule and when provided, did not match the sophistication of the high-performance B-47.

In 1951 alone, the Air Force took delivery of 204 B-47Bs, none of which were suitable for combat. The aircraft's canopy was unsafe; the B-47B had no ejection seats (a deficiency shared by 200 successive B-47s); the bombing and navigation system was unreliable; a new tail defense system was needed; and the jet engines were creating unique development problems such as fuel boil-off at high altitudes, which reduced the aircraft's range-already shorter than anticipated. In sum, the hasty production of an aircraft as revolutionary as the B-47 proved to be costly, generating extensive, unavoidable modification projects like Baby Grand, Turn Around, High Noon, and Ebb Tide. Yet once accomplished, the B-47 modifications worked.

Finally deployed overseas in mid-1953, the B-47s totally replaced the obsolete, atomic-carrier B-50s by the end of 1955, when new B-47 production models were delivered that could carry larger fuel loads and thus had greater range. After the B-47 demonstrated that it was rugged enough for low-altitude bombing, some of the aircraft were again modified to satisfy a new set of requirements levied in 1955. These modifications also worked, and in 1957, the Air Force publicly demonstrated its new low-altitude, strategic bombing tactics, an achievement marking the beginning of an era in aeronautics.

Despite its convoluted start, the B-47 program proved successful. The aircraft served in various roles and was involved in many experimental projects, some connected to the development of more sophisticated atomic weapons, like Brass Ring, or with the development of air refueling or other endeavors of great significance to the Air Force. Strategic Air Command's last B-47s went into storage in early 1966, while a few converted B-47 bombers and reconnaissance models kept on paying their way for several more years, remaining on the Air Force rolls until the end of the 1960s.

Boeing B-47 Stratojet on YOUTUBE

Boeing B-47 Stratojet - bomber (1)
Specification&nbsp
CREW3
ENGINE6 x turbo-jet GE J-47-GE-25A, 26.7kN
WEIGHTS
Take-off weight93760-99790 kg206706 - 220000 lb
Empty weight63630 kg140281 lb
DIMENSIONS
Wingspan35.4 m116 ft 2 in
Length32.6 m107 ft 11 in
Height8.5 m28 ft 11 in
Wing area132.7 m21428.37 sq ft
PERFORMANCE
Max. speed1010 km/h628 mph
Cruise speed790 km/h491 mph
Ceiling12340 m40500 ft
Range w/max payload6400 km3977 miles
ARMAMENT2 x 20mm machine-guns, 9080kg of bombs
Comments1-20 21-40 41-60 61-80 81-100 101-120 121-140 141-160 161-180
lxbfYeaa, e-mail, 14.03.2024 07:00

20

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Cesar Ivan Delgado, e-mail, 20.12.2022 22:39

My father, Domingo Delgado Garcia, was stationed at Lincoln between 1956-1960. He was a B-47 Flightline Mechanic, who worked on the tail side radar /gun system of the B-47. He has some nice pictures of his tour of duty there. He is 85 years old today.

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Joe Nunez, e-mail, 30.08.2022 01:46

Greetings.
My name is Joe B. Nunez and was a Crew Chief on the B-47 stationed at Davis Monthan. I served from 1956 -1960. Would love to hear from others that were stationed there at the time.

15th
303rd Bombardment
359th Bomber Squadron
#521337, #51167

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glynn pikens, e-mail, 12.02.2023 Boeing B-47 Stratojet - bomber (2) Joe Nunez

Good morning Joe;
I was in the 43 rd and then 303 rd A & E squadron in camera section from Feb 1956 to July 1959.
I very likely met you at some point as I worked on the planes.
Hot days and cold nights on that flight line.
Did two rotations to Guam.
I married a girl in Tucson and stayed here after discharge.
My wife has Nunez on one side of the family, could they be related to you.
Do you remember the night that the JATO bottles fired on one of the planes? I was working on the plane just behind it and the Captain told everybody to run.
Take care and best of luck.

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Don Nardone, e-mail, 22.07.2022 17:07

Was stationed at Greenham Common UK 9 /51 to 9 /53. The base
was resurrected from WW II, 1946 closing. The runways were reconstructed for the B47 which showed up, end of 53 or 54.
We were all shipped out as SAC took over in 9 /53. I went to Berton Wood & later to Moleworth. Finally got home in Oct.1954. I found
out later Greenham Common had Nukes on it, evidently that's what the bunkers were for with AC. The prime minister, Thather had to close the base in 1980 due to protests. Quite history for such a miserable place.

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Lyle Curtis, e-mail, 30.10.2021 02:07

I was a jet engine mechanic on the B-47s at Mt. Home Air Force base from 1962 to 1966. I would like to hear from anyone who also served there during this time period.

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Jeri White Shlemon, e-mail, 08.03.2022 Boeing B-47 Stratojet - bomber (3) Lyle Curtis

Lyle Curtis sir,

Unbelievable but I just received your email from a year ago. My father was Jerry Don White...assigned to Lockbourne AFB in 1957, 1958 - did you serve with him?

Looking forward to your favorable reply.

Regards,

Jeri Ann White Shlemon

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Joe DuBois, e-mail, 27.08.2017 06:19

I was a copilot at Forbes from 1961 t0 1964. I went commercial in 1967. I used the design problems of the B-47 to teach new commercial pilots the "why" of many systems which evolved from the B-47. I taught Mostly Boeings: 707, 727, 737, 757 and the DC-9. I enjoyed flying the B-47, but most of our time was spent standing alert!

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Arthur L. Benson, e-mail, 08.03.2017 23:57

just rememberd that the movie STATEGIC AIR COMMAND WAS FILLMED PARTLEY AT MACDILL WHEN I WAS THERE IN 52 .IT FETURED JIMMY STUWART AND JUNE ALLISON,BUT I NEVER GOT TO MEET THEM.YOU CAN STILL FIND IT IN VIDEO RENTAL STORES ON VCR TAPE.

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Arthur L. Benson, e-mail, 08.03.2017 23:44

I was stationed at MacDill in 1951 when we got the first 47's assigned to the AF.at first I was a ramp rat in the AP's guarding them and then I went to tech school in Amarillo AFB for airframe repair.i WAS THEN BACK TO MacDill ASSIGHNED TO THE 306TH FLD MAINT SQDN AND WORKED ON 47 'S we had a lot of problems with trailing edge ribs and flaperons.we also had trouble replacing the belly radomes ,they never seemed to fit when we reinstalled the new ones ,kind of a "if it don't fit, force it'.I was transferred to SEDALIA AFB '(now Whitman)340th bm.wing the last 9 months of my tour of duty in 1954.and married my wife from Tampa FLA. while stationed at Sedalia AFB AND WAS DICHARGED DEC. 7 1954. Many times I have wished I would have re-upped but at the time we were living at the poverty level as an a /2c,I got my 1 /1c rank a few days before mustering out.TOO LATE!

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GUNNAR NELSON, e-mail, 04.03.2017 16:37

PEASE AFB 509TH OMS 59-63 JOCK MCVICKERS OR SAM BELL YOU STILL WITH US ?

reply

lxbfYeaa, e-mail, 14.03.2024 Boeing B-47 Stratojet - bomber (4) GUNNAR NELSON

20

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Ron Curtis, e-mail, 24.02.2017 21:07

Hi to Tom Poston and Royal Melcher i was stationed at Hunter AFB from July 1956 until October 1959. I remember when that accidentall firing of the 20mm tail cannon fired into a parked B47 behind it on the ramp. I was an Airframe Repairman in the 2nd Field Maintenance. I was a tug driver that hauled the JATO bottles to the Planes on the loading area. I also remember the midair collision of a B47 from McDill and a F86 in Feb 1958 the B47 crew got permission to jettison a Mark 15 7600 lb Nuke into Tybee island sound. The F86 pilot bailed out and the B47 landed at Hunter. I would like to hear from anyone in the 2nd Field Maint. sguadron especially George Gorski from Winter WI or Ron Heck from WV

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Elden "Duke" Denning, e-mail, 01.02.2017 00:08

I read all the comments....very interesting. I was a crew chief in the 93rd Bomb Sqdn, 19th Bomb Wing at Homestead and Pinecastle AFB's 1955-1958 on 51-1338 and 51-2221. I was with 221 on.a special flight from Homestead at Nouasseur AB in Morocco when I was severely injured in an auto accident and never recovered enough to return to my squadron and was medically discharged in Sept. 1958. My airplane was one each good one, but did suffer chronic landing gear problems after being severely damaged landing short of the runway during a rainstorm at Abilene (later Dyess) AFB during a hurricane evacuation........terrible conditions, no fault of the pilots, Major V.L.. Pfantz and Capt. M. K. Walker. AOB was Capt. R. K. Reynolds....Terrific Crew!

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Don Twomey, e-mail, 16.10.2016 21:38

Flew back seat RB-47E, 90th SRW at Forbes AFB, Topeka and Ben Guerir in Marrakesh FR Morroco 1954-1955. Loved this forgotten airplane. Flew B-29s during the forgotten war in Korea. I will not forget, however, the fond memories I have for the great maintenance crews and pilots I served with.

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Charles R. WILSON, e-mail, 28.08.2016 20:39

I was stationed at Channault AFB in 1958 when a B-47 jumped the chaulks, caught fire and caused leakage from the nuclear weapon on board. Does anyone have any information about this incident?
Appreciate your help.

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Bill Arehart, e-mail, 06.08.2016 22:47

I always look at this website hoping to see someone I know I was at Walker,PeaseLincoln and tdy to spain and England.Illnever forget being at Upper Heyford when JFK was going to blow up the world over Cuba.Good times and bad times.

w

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jim193725@gmail.com, e-mail, 07.06.2016 03:12

A /2c rank frozen never progressed.1957-1960 Pease AFB 100th BW arrived as a Bomb Nav mech was transferred to ECM.I remember the flight line as a very dangerous place to be and I was on that flight line for 3 1 /2 years. TDY to Brize Norton and northern Africa. Served with a great bunch of guys Would like to hear from anyone that served at Pease including the 509th.

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SMSGT Clarence E. Greenawalt, e-mail, 19.05.2016 04:25

I began maintining the B-47 aircraft in 1953 at Lockbourne AFB,Ohio.(376th Bomb Wing). In 1957 I became a crew chief and qualified for "hazard duty pay" (Flight Pay)of $55 per month.I flew for the next 8 years til transferring to Lincoln Nebraska(98th Bomb Wing).I was sent tdy to Davis Monathan Air Base,Az. to assist the civilians in moth balling 42 of our B-47's.Then in 1965 while at Lincoln Mac needed maintenance men as the C-141 was coming into being so we all got orders and I ended up in Kadena , Okinawa.I'll never forget the love I had for the B-47 aircraft.So many great memories !

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Jeri White Shlemon, e-mail, 18.09.2021 Boeing B-47 Stratojet - bomber (5) SMSGT Clarence E. Greenawalt

Dear Mr. Greenwalt,

I hope I am not too tardy in responding to your post of 2016...I am the daughter of Jerry Don White, an airman assigned to Lockbourne AFB I am certain (at least) in the year 1958 (the year I was born and my BC and all other facts confirm this truth).

Fast forward to today 9 /18 /2021.

SMSGT Clarence Greenawalt it would be an honor to hear from you.

PS: My father, Jerry D White died at 30 years of age of a very strange autospy finding - massive coronary attack and had the insides of a 90 year old man...1969...I was so young and no one in our family understood the real truths.

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Jeri White Shlemon, e-mail, 11.09.2021 Boeing B-47 Stratojet - bomber (6) SMSGT Clarence E. Greenawalt

Perhaps, Mr. Greenwalt, you are still living...my father was Jerry Don White, and was A1 Airman in 1957-1959 Lockbourne AFB...My father died at age 30 of very unusual circumstances. After leaving AF in 1959, he went on to work for a DoD contractor...LRMS...Geotech...interesting, I (his daughter) work for Raytheon Technologies (for past decade), formerly Hughes Aircraft, E-Systems and truckload of contractors...all roads lead to me, my father and SAC - a very peculiar set of circumstances.

It would so please me if you were still living on this plane...would be extremely interesting to speak with you Sir.

Kindly,

Jeri White Shlemon

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Dick Weigman, 17.05.2016 23:16

Dick Weigman, 5 /17 /16. I flew RB -47's and EB-47's at Lockcourne AFB, Columbus Ohio Aug 1954 to May 1964. Accruded about 2,500 hrs in the beauty and was one among a few 1stLt Instructor Pilots. I loved flying this beauty, but had nothing but respect for the classy lady or she'd bite you real hard in the behind in an instant of disrepect. The swept back wings were nothing to joke about especially on this aircraft. The only swept back bomber of it's kind, if I'm not mistaken. She's one of the classic aircraft on the clasic postage stamps.

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Jeri White Shlemon, e-mail, 11.09.2021 Boeing B-47 Stratojet - bomber (7) Dick Weigman

Dear Sir,

I am the daughter of a Veteran USAF, AF1 Jerry Don White, stationed out of Lockbourne AFB in 1956-1959. He was assigned to SAC. My father died at age of 30 years of age of an extremely strange disease. He left 4 children and a wife (my mother). In 1960, he worked for DoD Contractor GEOTECHNICAL (LRMS) and prior to his sudden death, worked for Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith (that's a whole different rabbit trail)...I, his firstborn daughter, am employed by Raytheon Tech, formerly Intelligence Information & Systems (formerly Hughes Aircraft, E-Systems and incredible list of DoD contractors - endless)...as fate would have it...I have been privy to an extreme amount of information for which I would never compromise my position within my company. I possess information and truths for which I cannot turn back...my entire life's mission is to get the truth out...help people (descendants, survivors...or whatever)...I'll never stop....perhaps I'll be blessed in hearing from you.

Kindest regards,

Jeri White Shlemon

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Richard Borger, 19.12.2015 19:06

I was A /1c asst crew chief on A /C 0060 at Wichita AFB {Mc Connel) 1952-53.3520 Maint Sqd.It was a great experience. We trained the first pilots who then went to the SAC bases. It was great time in my life.

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Kelly Kitchens, e-mail, 15.12.2015 17:46

My father, James E. Kitchens (Kit) passed away a couple days ago. I heard a story from my brother about him riding in the "suicide seat" and having to climb down with a rope around his chest to stomp on the landing gear so it would move enough for the hand-crank to engage, all during final approach. Dad served from '47 to '67. If anyone knew my dad, and has any stories about him, please feel free to contact me at kekitchens at Hotmail dot com. Thanks.

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Art Pacchetti, e-mail, 11.12.2015 21:15

I was a Bomb /Nav tech at Little Rock assigned to 70th A&E and also 384th A&E 1960 to 63. Enjoyed my time there. Cross trained to F105 Fire Control and then to Itazuke and Yokota in Japan.

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Boeing B-47 Stratojet - bomber (2024)

FAQs

What was the problem with the B-47 bomber? ›

One problem with the aircraft was that at higher altitudes, where the pure turbojet engines could produce good fuel economy, the wing was very compromised. At the top of the B-47's envelope, about 35,000 feet (11,000 m), it was in "coffin corner".

How many B-47 are still flying? ›

The Boeing B-47 Stratojet is an American jet-engine Strategic Bomber used by the United States Air Force from 1951 until 1977. Of the 2,032 aircraft built, 23 survive today, none of which are airworthy. All are located in the United States.

Did the B-47 ever see combat? ›

“The B-47 never saw combat as a bomber, but it was a mainstay of the United States Air Force's Strategic Air Command's (SAC) strength during the 1950s and early 1960s, and it remained in use as a bomber until 1965,” said Jim Walther, Museum Director.

What replaced the B-47 bomber? ›

development of jet bombers

…was the swept-wing, six-engined Boeing B-47 Stratojet, deployed in 1950 and used by the U.S. Strategic Air Command as a long-range nuclear weapons carrier. It was followed in 1955 by the eight-engined Boeing B-52 Stratofortress.

How many B-47s crashed? ›

Sadly, the B-47 also suffered losses on a scale that would be utterly intolerable today. Over its lifetime, 203 aircraft (about 10 percent of the total procured) were lost in crashes, with 464 deaths. This article focuses on the two peak years, 1957 and 1958, when 49 B-47s crashed—incurring 122 fatalities.

Did the B-47 have guns? ›

50-caliber machine guns in a remotely-operated tail turret, with 600 rounds of ammunition per gun. The co-pilot acted as the gunner using an optical sight. The machine guns were replaced by two M24A1 20 mm autocannons and radar control. The maximum bomb load of the B-47B was 18,000 pounds (8,165 kilograms).

Were B-47s used in Vietnam? ›

It even served in Vietnam as a communications relay aircraft. Still, the B-47's creation was filled with uncertainty, and, in its early years, its promise was almost overshadowed by its problems.

How many engines did the B-47 have? ›

First flown in 1947, the B-47 was the first of the big swept-wing bombers. A 35-degree sweep and six engines made the B-47 a very fast and formidable bomber.By the late 1960s, the B-47 was obsolete and was removed from operational service.

Why did the B-58 fail? ›

The B-58 was substantially more expensive to operate than other bombers, such as the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, and required more frequent aerial refueling. The B-58 also suffered from a high rate of accidental losses. These factors resulted in a relatively brief operational career of ten years.

What is the oldest bomber still in use? ›

The only variant still in US Air Force service today is the B-52H model. The progression through the variants was relatively quick, with the B-52H first delivered in 1961.

Who was the crew of the B-47 Stratojet? ›

The B-47 was operated by a crew of three: pilot, co-pilot, and bombardier/navigator. The twin . 50-caliber tail guns could be operated automatically using a dedicated radar or manually by the co-pilot.

What was the problem with the stealth bomber? ›

The United States Air Force currently operates 19 B-2 Spirits, following a mishap in December 2022. One of the Air Force's then-20 B-2s made an emergency landing and caught fire at Whiteman AFB. The air service determined it would be too costly to repair the bomber.

What was the controversy with the bomber command? ›

Bomber Command Controversies. While hailed as heroic during most of the war, Bomber Command became a subject of controversy afterwards. The three most divisive subjects are bombing accuracy, the ethics of bombing cities, and Dresden.

What was the worst bomber of World War II? ›

88 Lince or “Lynx.” The Lynx was so bad it sometimes couldn't even fly. The Italians became frustrated in World War Two, and they simply kept it on the ground to fool the allies and make it look like they had overwhelming numbers of airplanes.

Why was the B-24 Liberator a dreaded aircraft? ›

The heavy bomber Consolidated B-24 Liberator earned its nickname when crew members found it difficult to fly, thanks to its "stiff and heavy controls," Discovery News reports.

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