See main article: B-47 Stratojet. The Boeing B-47 Stratojet was operational with the United States Air Force Strategic Air Command beginning in May 1951 with the first operational B-47Bs to the 306th Bombardment Wing, Medium, based at MacDill AFB, Florida.
In March 1961, President John F. Kennedy directed the phaseout of the B-47. However this was delayed in July by the onset of the Berlin crisis of 1961–62. In the following years, B-47s were gradually delivered to the Military Aircraft Storage and Disposition Center (MASDC) at Davis-Monthan AFB.
Strategic Air Command B-47 Bombardment Wings were divided among the Second, Eighth and Fifteenth Air Forces. This list is of the units B-47s were assigned to, and the bases at which they were stationed .
The first operational B-47B Medium bombers were delivered to SAC in July 1951 to the 306th Bombardment Wing, MacDill AFB, Florida. SAC's last two B-47E bombers went to storage on 11 February 1966 from the 98th Bombardment Wing, Lincoln AFB, Nebraska.[1]
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]
Second Air Force, 25 Nov 19531 Apr 1963, B-47E
429th Bombardment Squadron (1958–1962)*
Wing transferred to Barksdale AFB, Louisiana in 1963; 20th BS converted to B-52F Stratofortress
Fifteenth Air Force, 1 Nov 195215 Mar 1963, B-47B/E; EB-47E**
658th Bombardment Squadron (1958–1962)*
Wing transferred to Beale AFB, California in 1966; 1st and 99th BS converted to Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird
Pinecastle AFB, Florida, Jun 1954 – Jul 1956
Homestead AFB, Florida, Jul 1956 – Jan 1961
Second Air Force, 11 Jun 19541 Jan 1961, B-47E
30th Bombardment Squadron (to 4133d SW, B-52H in 1961)
93d Bombardment Squadron (to 4239th SW, B-52H in 1961)
659th Bombardment Squadron (1958–1961)*
Converted to B-52F Stratofortress in 1962
Fifteenth Air Force, 1 Nov 195215 Mar 1963, B-47B/E
408th Bombardment Squadron (1959–1962)*
Converted to B-52B Stratofortress in 1963
Smoky Hill (later Schilling) AFB, Kansas, 28 May 195220 Jun 1960
Forbes AFB, Kansas, 20 Jun 19601 Sep 1965
Fifteenth Air Force (1952–1960), Second Air Force, 1960–1964, B-47E
660th Bombardment Squadron (1959–1960)
Inactivated 1 September 1964
Fifteenth Air Force, 25 Sep 195315 Mar 1960, B-47E
403d Bombardment Squadron (1958–1960)*
Converted to B-58 Hustler at Carswell AFB, Texas in 1960
Lake Charles (later Chennault) AFB, Louisiana
Second Air Force, 25 Apr 195315 Jun 1960, B-47B/E
506th Bombardment Squadron (1958–1960)*
Inactivated 15 June 1960; became 44th Strategic Missile Wing at Ellsworth
Lake Charles (later Chennault) AFB, Louisiana
Second Air Force, 25 Oct 195315 Apr 1963, B-47E
657th Bombardment Squadron (1958–1963)*
Wing transferred to Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina in 1963; 51st BS converted to B-52G Stratofortress
Fifteenth Air Force, 15 Apr 19541 Feb 1955, B-47E
Functioned as a SAC Training Wing – Not Operational; Wing converted to B-52B Stratofortress in 1956
Second Air Force, Altus AFB, Oklahoma, 18 Nov 19533 Sep 1957, B-47E
Fifteenth Air Force, Dyess AFB, Texas, 4 Sep 195718 Mar 1963, B-47E
413th Bombardment Squadron (1958–1961)*
Converted to B-52E Stratofortress in 1962
Fifteenth Air Force, 1 Apr 19551 Oct 1959, B-47E
341st Bombardment Squadron (to 4038th SW, B-52G in 1960)
342d Bombardment Squadron (to 4137th SW, B-52G in 1960)
Wing transferred to Blytheville AFB, Arkansas in 1959; 340th BS converted to B-52G Stratofortress
Lincoln AFB, Nebraska, B-47E
Fifteenth Air Force, 15 Oct 195431 Dec 1958 (98th BMW)
Second Air Force, 1 Jan 195925 Jun 1966 (98th SAW after 1 Feb 1964)
415th Bombardment Squadron (1958–1962)*
Inactivated 25 June 1966
Portsmouth (later, Pease) AFB, New Hampshire
Eighth Air Force, 1 Jan 195625 Jun 1966, B-47E
418th Bombardment Squadron (1959–1962)*
Wing transferred to Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona in 1966; converted to Lockheed U-2
Second Air Force, 20 Jun 195315 Apr 1958
Eighth Air Force, 16 Apr 195815 Jun 1964
B-47B/E, 1953–1958, 1958–1961; RB-47, 1958; EB-47E**, 1961–1964
419th Bombardment Squadron (1958–1961)*
Became KC-135 Air Refueling Wing in 1964
Fifteenth Air Force, 20 Jan 195315 Jun 1964, B-47B/E
427th Bombardment Squadron (1958–1961)*
Inactivated 15 June 1964
Fifteenth Air Force, MacDill AFB, Florida, 15 Apr 195215 Feb 1961, B-47B/E
Second Air Force, Bunker Hill AFB, Indiana, 16 Feb 19611 Apr 1963, B-47E
422d Bombardment Squadron (1960–1961)
Converted to B-58 Hustler in 1961
Second Air Force, 306th BMW, 2 Apr 19511 Jan 1959, B-47A/B/E***
Second Air Force, 306th SAW, 1 Jan 19591 Apr 1963, B-47E
423d Bombardment Squadron (1959–1962)*
Wing transferred to McCoy AFB, Florida in 1963; 367th BS converted to B-52D Stratofortress
Fifteenth Air Force, 8 Nov 195430 Dec 1958, B-47E
Second Air Force, 31 Dec 195825 Jun 1965, B-47E; EB-47L (1962-1964)
424th Bombardment Squadron (1958–1961)*
Inactivated 25 March 1965
Second Air Force, 25 Sep 195225 Jun 1961, B-47B/E
425th Bombardment Squadron (1958–1961)*
Became non-operational 15 Jul 1959; Wing transferred to Little Rock AFB, Arkansas and converted to LGM-25C Titan II ICBMs (373d 374th SMS) in 1963.
Second Air Force, 10 May 195430 Dec 1958, B-47E
Fifteenth Air Force, 31 Dec 195825 Feb 1965, B-47E
428th Bombardment Squadron (1959–1962)*
Inactivated 25 June 1965
Fifteenth Air Force, 23 Jul 195315 Sep 1960
YRB-47B, 1953+; B-47E, 1953–1960
444th Bombardment Squadron (1959–1960)*
Converted to B-52F Stratofortress (441st BS) in 1963
Second Air Force, 15 Dec 19531 Jan 1959, B-47B/E
Eighth Air Force, 1 Jan 195925 Oct 1961, B-47E
Inactivated 25 October 1961
Fifteenth Air Force, 8 Aug 195330 Dec 1958
Second Air Force, 31 Dec 19581 Sep 1963
YRB-47B, 1954-1955+; B-47E, 1955–1963
489th Bombardment Squadron (1958–1962)*
Inactivated 1 September 1963
Fifteenth Air Force, 1 Sep 195525 Jun 1961, B-47E
491st Bombardment Squadron (1958–1961)*
Inactivated 25 Jun 1961
Second Air Force, Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, 23 Feb 195414 Nov 1957, B-47E
Eighth Air Force, Lockbourne AFB, Ohio, 15 Nov 195715 Mar 1955, B-47E, 1957–1961; EB-47L++, 1961–1965
515th Bombardment Squadron (1958–1961)*
Inactivated 15 March 1965
Second Air Force, 1 Nov 19551 Jan 1959, B-47E
525th Bombardment Squadron (to 4136th SW, B-52H in 1961)
526th Bombardment Squadron (to 4042d SW, B-52H in 1961)
527th Bombardment Squadron (1958–1959)*
Transferred to Wurtsmith AFB, Michigan; converted to B-52H Stratofortress (524 BS) in 1961
Second Air Force, 1 Jul 195525 Jun 1965
B-47E, 1955–; EB-47E** 1962–1964
531st Bombardment Squadron (1959–1961)*
Converted to B-52G Stratofortress (528th BS) in 1966
Second Air Force, 1 Aug 19552 Apr 1966, B-47E
547th Bombardment Squadron (1958–1961)*
Inactivated 1 September 1964
Fifteenth Air Force, Walker AFB, New Mexico, 1 Jul 195530 Jun 1958, B-47E
Eighth Air Force, Pease AFB, New Hampshire, 1 Jul 19582 Apr 1966, B-47E
661st Bombardment Squadron (1959–1962)*
Converted to B-52D Stratofortress (393d BS) in 1966
.* 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]
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]
2d Air Force, 9 May 195230 Jun 1955
8th Air Force, 1 Jul 19551 Jul 1958
YRB-47 (1953–1954); RB-47B* (1953–1954); RB-47E (1954–1958), B-47E (1958)
3d Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron
4th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron
10th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron
Wing inactivated 1 July 1958
15th Air Force, Ramey AFB, Puerto Rico (1950–1954)
Wing converted to Boeing RB-47's in 1954 upon Txfer from Ramey
15th Air Force, Forbes AFB, Kansas, (1954–1967)
ERB-47H, RB-47H (1954–1967), RB-47K (1955–1962)
38th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron
338th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron
343d Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron
Wing converted to Boeing RC-135s in 1968
2d Air Force, 24 Jan 195525 Jun 1962
RB-47E (1955–1961), B-47E (1961–1962)
6th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron
26th Strategic Reconnaissance (later 681st Bombardment) Squadron
Converted to B-47E medium bombers in late 1961; inactivated in 1962.
15th Air Force, Forbes AFB, Kansas (1954–1960)
RB-47E, 1954–1960
319th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron
320th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron
321st Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron
Wing inactivated 20 June 1960
2d Air Force, Lockbourne AFB, Ohio
YRB-47, RB-47E (1953–1957)
322d Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron
323d Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron
324th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron
Wing inactivated 8 November 1957
.* RB-47Bs were operated during 1953–54 by the 26th SRW. Unlike the later RB-47E, the RB-47B could only provide daylight photographic coverage[1]
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]
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]
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 Jan30 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 Squadron, 26 Oct 19541 Jul 1958
3521st Combat Crew Training Squadron, 26 Oct 19548 Sep 1955
3522d (later 4347th) Combat Crew Training Squadron, 26 Oct 195431 Dec 1958
3523d (later 4348th) Combat Crew Training Squadron, 26 Oct 195431 Dec 1958
3525th Combat Crew Training Squadron, 26 Oct 19548 Sep 1955
3526th Combat Crew Training Squadron, 26 Oct 195431 Dec 1958
Replaced by: 4347th Combat Crew Training Wing (SAC), (1 Jan 195915 Jun 1963) McConnell AFB, Kansas
TB-47B, B-47B, 1954–1963
4347th Combat Crew Training Squadron, 1 Jan 195915 Jun 1963
4348th Combat Crew Training Squadron, 1 Jan 195915 Jun 1963
4349th Combat Crew Training Squadron, 1 Jan 195915 Jun 1963
4350th Combat Crew Training Squadron, 1 Sep 195915 Jun 1962
Crew training on the B-47 ended in June 1963 as part of the planned aircraft phaseout and retirement.