A Brief History
On December 17, 1947, the Boeing B-47 Stratojet made its first flight. A graceful looking six engine jet bomber, this nuclear “big stick” of the US Air Force was destined to never drop a bomb in anger, although 2,042 Stratojets served from 1951 to 1977. Other highly capable bombers that never saw combat include:
Digging Deeper
The Convair B-36 Peacemaker, which entered service in 1948 and retired in 1959, 384 of these gigantic bombers were the largest planes in service while they flew. Powered by six propeller engines and four jet engines, the B-36 was defended by 16 20mm cannons and could carry 86,000 pounds of bombs.
And the Convair B-58 Hustler, which entered service in 1960 and retired in 1970. The B-58 was a futuristic delta-winged four engine supersonic bomber designed to carry nuclear weapons. Its sonic booms rattled Americans’ windows during its practice “bombing runs” over American cities.
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Historical Evidence
For more information, please see…
Natola, Mark. Boeing B-47 Stratojet: A Photographic History. Schiffer Publishing, 2011.
Newdick, Thomas. Military Aircraft: World’s Greatest Fighters, Bombers and Transport Aircraft from World War I to the Present. Amber Books, 2021.
The featured image in this article, a photograph of the first Boeing XB-47 built (46-0065) on 1 December 1947, 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.
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