A Brief History
On November 1, 1944, the first of what would end up to be thousands of missions by the famous Boeing B-29 Superfortress flew over Tokyo, Japan on a reconnaissance mission, the first allied aircraft over Tokyo since the 1942 Doolittle Raid. The aircraft was a special photo-reconnaissance version of the big bomber, equipped with 3 powerful cameras. Unlike many other warplanes fitted for reconnaissance, the F-13 and F-13A versions of the B-29 retained their defensive guns and bombing equipment. The 118 F-13 and F-13A Superfortresses were later re-designated RB-29 and RB-29A in 1948.
Digging Deeper
Although military aircraft designed from the start to perform reconnaissance have been built, notably the Lockheed U-2 and Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, fighter and bomber aircraft have often been adapted for this role by virtually all air forces through history.
The British used unarmed Mosquito light bombers and Supermarine Spitfire fighters without guns to take photos of enemy positions in World War II, with the stripping off of armaments allowing the planes extra speed to avoid interception. The Germans flew perhaps the best recon aircraft of World War II, the Arado 234 jet powered bomber equipped with cameras instead of bombs, which flew so high and so fast the Allies often did not know they had been overflown! The US fielded the F-3 recon version of the Douglas A-20 Havoc attack plane in all theaters during World War II.
America’s first jet bomber, the B-45 Tornado was converted to the RB-45C for recon duty during the Korean War. The United States Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps used recon versions of the remarkably versatile McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II equipped with side looking imaging radar and FLIR as well as standard photographic equipment for many years, the speed of an F-4 in a “clean” configuration” without rockets, bombs, and guns allowing great speed. These RF-4B, C and D’s served from the 1960’s until 1996 with the US military. The US Navy also used recon versions of the A-5 Vigilante extensively in the 1960’s and 1970’s. In fact, this plane designed as a supersonic nuclear bomber, carrier borne, was so much better in the recon role that of the 156 Vigilantes built, 140 were RA-5C reconnaissance configured.
The Boeing RB-47 recon variant of the first US nuclear strategic jet bomber served from the early 1950’s until 1969. The beautiful swept wing 6 jet engine powered bomber made a dandy recon platform, with daylight and nighttime cameras, radars, and electronic data gathering devices. These (240 of the RB-47E models along with other RB-47 types) were the only B-47 jets to see combat, often overflying Soviet territory resulting in a total of 3 of them being shot down by the Soviets. (From 1951 to 1959 when the B-52 became fully operational, the B-47 was the strategic nuclear bomber of the USAF.) Other notable American ‘warplane to recon’ converted jet aircraft of the Cold War included the Martin RB-57 Canberra, the Douglas RB-66B Destroyer (the Navy version was the A-3 Sky Warrior), and the McDonnel RF-101A Voodoo. Many other fighter and bomber aircraft have also been used in the recon role by the US.
With the retirement of the RF-4 and SR-71 in the US inventory, speculation about what dedicated reconnaissance aircraft have been secretly fielded to replace them is rampant. (We still use versions of the venerable U-2.) What we do know is that our current bomber and fighter aircraft have the performance and stealthiness to carry camera equipment in the recon role if needed, and probably do (although recon versions of the F-15 and F-16 were shelved). No doubt the B-2 stealth bomber and F-22 Raptor stealth fighter would make great recon planes, and perhaps the F-35 family of multi-role fighters will be used this way at some point. Additionally, satellites have taken over some of the missions formerly allotted to manned airplanes.
Question for students (and subscribers): Do you have a favorite warplane turned recon plane? If so, tell us your reasons in the comments section below this article.
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Historical Evidence
For more information, please see…
Simons, Graham M. B-29 Superfortress: Giant Bomber of World War Two and Korea. Pen and Sword Aviation, 2012.
The featured image in this article, a photograph of Twentieth Air Force B-29s over Japan, 1945, is a work of a U.S. Air Force Airman or employee, taken or made as part of that person’s official duties. As a work of the U.S. federal government, the image or file is in the public domain in the United States.
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="14853 https://www.historyandheadlines.com/?p=14853">52 Comments
I do not know much about airplanes–war planes or recon planes, but the article was interesting.
I have always had a fascination with the history of the evolution of planes and war technology. This article was very interesting.
It is amazing to see how much of an effect the technology changes from World War I to World War II made! Planes really development during WWII and made such a difference.
The Arado 234 jet powered bomber must have traveled at an extremely high speed if it was able to fly over enemies so fast that they would not be able to see it. I never knew there was such a vast amount of plane types used during the war.
Ther German recon plane Arado 234 was so advanced that it flew so high and fast that the Allies did not know that they were being monitored. The British and the Americans had their own recon planes, but they were not nearly as advanced.
I like how all of the planes from previous wars probably helped us to establish a more reliable aircraft that we use today. The technology advances help to make this possible.
I think that it is pretty cool that the Arado 34 contained cameras rather than bombs. This just goes to show all of the advancements of technology of the day.
It’s interesting to hear how many different fighter jets were used and how each had their own specific uses. Each of these aircrafts provided their countries with huge advantages of their enemies.
This was an informative read and it was interesting to learn about the many air crafts and their utilization throughout history. I live by the Air Force Museum in Dayton and I love seeing all the old air crafts.
It is interesting to see how all of the different makes and models of aircrafts helped to contribute to the astonishing ones that we have today! I enjoyed seeing how all of them had different uses and specialties. Technology sure has changed a lot since that time period.
It was interesting to read about the progression of the types of planes and different uses. Advancements affecting the size, weight, speed and technological capabilities of planes have made them an invaluable war resource.
So interesting that the Arado 234 carried powerful cameras but not bombs.
That was so important at that time to gather information.
To be honest, I do not know much about the air force. I believe that air force is a great power in the war. The technology decide that the war could be successful or not.
The Air Force is a needed force in war just like all other military groups. Advancements don’t just happen with technology that regular people use, but it also happens in war.
Along with Lori, I think its great to see the progression of planes and how their are so many different ones.
It’s cool to see how many different planes there are today and their different uses.
This was interesting. I never knew we had that much technology back then, we sure have advanced over the years.
I found this article interesting because I do not know much about planes or the air force.
It’a fun to see how quickly technology increased in planes based on necessity basically. Every time we have a war we advance so quickly in technology again.
It’s interesting to see how quickly technology increased on the planes. It is intersting to see that with each war we gain more technology.
B-29 not exactly the kind of plane I’d want to be doing recon in. big slow and not intended for speed. The British had the right idea with the spitfires, and the mosquito (the Mosquito was already fast as heck)
soo many bombs and gadgets and ideas in this article makes my brain hurt, but that just goes to show you how technology advanced fast for us, and planes became over other countries heads, we were the best.
This was hard to read because a lot of the information was about the names of the different airplanes used for recon. What would have helped would be some information about how fast some of these different planes can go and how high they can get.
It’s interesting to see how fast technology can advance and how much it can help.
So many different names for these bombs and technology it was hard to follow as I read. We advance out weapons and amour so fast.
Technology changes daily! It is awesome to see where we are today compared to the 1940’s.
technology has advanced so much since the 40’s, its cool to see what started it all.
We still use examples and ideas from items such as these planes today to create a better version.
My grandfather is huge in to old fashion, war airplanes. He has photos all over his basement of types of planes. I would not be surprised if I have seen a model type or photo of one of these airplanes.
Technology is awesome, especially in aviation. It is exciting because the next Air Force One will be of another design.
It will be interesting to see where technology is in just one hundred years. Hopefully not being used for war though!
Growing up near Akron, we used to take a trip to the airshow every year in my youth. I remember watching B2 stealth bombers fly overhead, and they are such an incredible sight. Very cool design!
The B series bombers were always my favorite!
Seems to me the planes they retrofit as spy planes are used more than the actual planes they designed for that purpose.
These large aircraft are amazing to see. They were relied upon more and more as the war progressed.
I find the use of converted bombers for recon missions interesting, but stripping them bare of weaponry to attain speed would be scary.
Great ingenuity of our military minds of the time. The equipment we have today owes it success to what it was evolved from.
America’s first jet bomber was towards the Korean War.
It’s amazing how airplanes have come along way with some advancements. It makes me wonder what jets will be like in the future.
It is so neat to the see the planes through time and how they have advanced. I look forward to see the continuation of the growth of technology for planes.
Looking at photos of planes from years ago and photos of the planes that are in use today it is crazy how much they have changed. My cousin is in the Air Force and can fly the largest plane the military has. For this very reason I am grateful that they are making the planes much better now.
Interesting to see how far our military technology has come since WWII. It makes you wonder where will be in another 70 years.
Admittedly, it’s fascinating to read information about planes. I am always interested how the technology has evolved over the years from the early days of aviation
This was alot of letters and numbers about planes that I know nothing about. Kind of confusing.
I would totally have to agree with you on this one, I guess you have to be into planes to understand this article. I was so lost but it was interesting to see how planes have come.
Okay, there is no easy way to decipher all of these aircrafts. I was already confused enough between guns and bombs with their own variations.
I not have a favorite war plane turned recon plane. I do not have enough knowledge about this subject.
I did have the opportunity to witness a B-2 bomber take off and land. What a sight!
It’s interesting to see how our aircraft have improved over the years, how they were back then to how they are now is interesting.
I love seeing the advancement of technology and our aircraft.
technology development was really fast in the history, because they want to win. as one can see, if you want to win, it will have some trouble to push you.
In the past, nuclear strategic jet bomber was great invention, it was advanced war weapon made by US military.