Operational medium bomber versions of the Stratojet were B-47B (1951–1953) and B-47E (1953–1957). B-47Bs were modified to B-47E specifications beginning in 1953 to 1957. By 1957, the B-47Bs had effectively ceased to exist, having been brought up to the B-47E standard. These modified B-47Bs are sometimes known as B-47B-II, although this was not an official Air Force designation. Outwardly, they could be distinguished from B-47Es only by their serial numbers.[1]
3 Aircraft formation of B-47Es of the 306th Bombardment Wing. Boeing B-47E-95-BW Stratojet 52-545 identifiable. That aircraft was retired to MASDC on 19 November 1965.
.* Activated as a result of the SAC phaseout and consolidated of B-47 units as the Stratojet began being replaced by B-52.
.** Three modified 55th SRW B-47Es (53-2315, 53-2316 and 53-2320) from Forbes AFB were modified and redesignated as EB-47E Tell Twos. Deployed to a SAC Detachment (TUSLOG Det-50) at Incirlik AB, Turkey to monitor the telemetry broadcast during Soviet space launches from the IRBM facility at Kapustin Yar and the space center at Tyuratam. In service from 1958 until about 1967. In addition, the 301st BW and 380th BW also operated EB-47Es which were electronics countermeasure conversions of the standard B-47E. Not much is known about the USAF EB-47E program.[1][2]
.*** The B-47As of the 306th BW were primarily training aircraft and were not considered as being combat ready. None of the B-47As ever saw any operational duty, and were withdrawn from active service by 1953, being replaced by B-47Bs.[1]
.+ Equipped with the YRB-47B conversion of the B-47B, specifically intended for the training of crews for RB-47Es. Later converted to B-47E Bomber Configuration by March 1955[1]
.++ 376th BW EB-47Ls were modified B-47Es used as an electronics communications aircraft which served as relay stations between other aircraft (such as the USAF "Looking Glass" EC-135) or between aircraft and ground stations during and after a nuclear attack.[1]
RB-47Ks of the SAC 338th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron.
The RB-47 was designed to replace the RB-29 and RB-50 Superfortress aircraft which were serving in the long-range photo-reconnaissance role but which were rapidly approaching obsolescence. The RB-47 carried out many ferret missions around the periphery of Soviet territory, and sometimes inside on penetration flights to map planned routes for B-52s if combat missions over the Soviet Union ever became necessary. The reconnaissance production model was the RB-47E, with USAF deliveries beginning in 1953. The last of 255 RB-47Es were delivered in August 1955.[1]
The YRB-47B was a prototype conversion of the B-47B specifically intended for the training of crews for RB-47Es. Delays in delivering the RB-47E, led to 90 B-47's being converted to an interim reconnaissance fit with an 8 camera bomb-bay pod. The 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Wing received its first YRB-47B in April 1953, the 26th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing three months later, using them until they were swapped for the new RB-47E in 1954.[1]
The RB-47H was an electronic reconnaissance and countermeasures version, with 35 aircraft being manufactured and delivered to the 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at Forbes AFB, Kansas in August 1955. A specialized version, the ERB-47H was a dedicated electronic ferret modification of three aircraft.[1]
Fifteen RB-47Ks (53-426 to 53-4279) were also operated by the 55th SRW, 338th SRS. The RB-47K differed from the RB-47E by the addition of high-resolution, side-looking radars (SLAR) and air sampling equipment. It was used as an airborne weather information gathering system which would fly near the Soviet Border and sampling the radioactive fallout from nuclear tests. These were among the last Stratojets built.[1]
Phaseout of the RB-47E began in October 1957, but the aircraft remained in service for another decade, with the last SAC B-47, a RB-47H (53-4296) of the 55th SRW was flown to Davis Monthan AFB for storage on 29 December 1967. These models were replaced with the Lockheed U-2 and SR-71 strategic reconnaissance aircraft.[1]
Boeing WB-47E-60-BW Stratojet tail number 51-2417 of the 55th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron flying an operational mission from McClellan AFB, California. Retired on 12 Sep 1969.B-47 Pilot training at Wichita AFB, Kansas – Air Training Command, 1951
WB-47E was the designation assigned to converted SAC B-47E medium bombers used for weather reconnaissance by the Air Weather Service (AWS). They had nose-mounted cameras that recorded cloud formations, and they carried air-sampling and data recording equipment inside a sensor pod in the bomb bay.[1]
57th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron Hickam AFB Hawaii xxxx–1969
The first of 34 WB-47Es was delivered to the AWS on 20 March 1963. The last operational USAF B-47 to fly was WB-47E-75-BW (51-7066) of the 57th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron on 30 October 1969. It was flown from Hickam AFB, Hawaii to Boeing Field, Washington, where subsequently it was restored to its SAC configuration and put on display at the Seattle Museum of Flight where it resides today.[1]
The aircraft was flown from Hickam AFB by Lt. Col Bill Payton and Major Ray Hamilton.
B-47 training was originally planned to have been performed at Wichita AFB, Kansas, with Boeing manufacturing the aircraft on one side of the base as a joint tenant beginning in 1951. However a variety of problems converting the Wichita Municipal Airport to an Air Force Base kept training from being performed there until 1954. To accommodate B-47 training, Air Training Command activated Pinecastle AFB, Florida, on 10 September 1951 for B-47 training, however the training did not begin until early 1952 with the activation of the 3540th Combat Crew Training Wing.[1]
3540th Combat Crew Training Wing (ATC) (10 Jan 1952 – 1 Jan 1954)
TB-47B, B-47B, 1952–1954
3542d Combat Crew (later Flying Training) Training Squadron
3544th Combat Crew (later Flying Training) Training Squadron
Replaced by : 4240th Flying Training Wing (SAC) (1 Jan – 30 May 1954), Pinecastle AFB, Florida
B-47 crew training was moved from Pinecastle AFB to McConnell AFB in 1954; conducted under Air Training Command until 30 Dec 1958 when was reassigned to SAC. With the reassignment of the crew training wing, operational transition training on the B-47 began at Pinecastle with the 321st Bombardment Wing.[1]
3520th Combat Crew Training Wing (ATC) (7 Jun 1951 – 1 Jan 1959)
3520th Combat Crew Training Squadron, 26 Oct 1954 – 1 Jul 1958
3521st Combat Crew Training Squadron, 26 Oct 1954 – 8 Sep 1955
3522d (later 4347th) Combat Crew Training Squadron, 26 Oct 1954 – 31 Dec 1958
3523d (later 4348th) Combat Crew Training Squadron, 26 Oct 1954 – 31 Dec 1958
3525th Combat Crew Training Squadron, 26 Oct 1954 – 8 Sep 1955
3526th Combat Crew Training Squadron, 26 Oct 1954 – 31 Dec 1958
Replaced by: 4347th Combat Crew Training Wing (SAC), (1 Jan 1959 – 15 Jun 1963) McConnell AFB, Kansas
TB-47B, B-47B, 1954–1963
4347th Combat Crew Training Squadron, 1 Jan 1959 – 15 Jun 1963
4348th Combat Crew Training Squadron, 1 Jan 1959 – 15 Jun 1963
4349th Combat Crew Training Squadron, 1 Jan 1959 – 15 Jun 1963
4350th Combat Crew Training Squadron, 1 Sep 1959 – 15 Jun 1962
Crew training on the B-47 ended in June 1963 as part of the planned aircraft phaseout and retirement.
Manning, Thomas A. (2005), History of Air Education and Training Command, 1942–2002. Office of History and Research, Headquarters, AETC, Randolph AFB, Texas OCLC71006954, 29991467 (Training Units)
Mueller, Robert, Air Force Bases Volume I, Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982, Office of Air Force History, 1989 (McConnell AFB section)
Ravenstein, Charles A. Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories, 1947–1977. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History, 1984. ISBN0-912799-12-9. (Wing Lookups)
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
