https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_B-45_Tornado
The North American B-45 Tornado was the United States Air Force's (USAF) first
operational jet bomber, and the first multijet engined bomber in the world to be
refueled in midair. The B-45 was an important part of the United States's
nuclear deterrent for several years in the early 1950s, but was soon superseded
by the Boeing B-47 Stratojet. B-45s and RB-45s served in the United States Air
Force's Strategic Air Command from 1950 until 1959.
The B-45 began development in 1944, when the U.S. War Department, alarmed by
German jet bombers like the Arado Ar 234, called for a new family of jet bombers
grossing between 80,000 lb (36,287 kg) and 200,000 lb (90,718 kg). The proposal
from North American Aviation (NA-130) won, and on September 8, 1944, the company
began production of three prototypes based on the NA-130.
The end of World War II resulted in the cancellation of many projects and
delayed many others. In 1946, rising tensions with the Soviet Union caused the
U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF) to assign higher priorities to jet bomber
development and production. By mid-1946, the XB-45 and Convair XB-46 neared
completion, but the Boeing XB-47 and Martin XB-48 were still two years away. The
USAAF chose to evaluate the first two designs to determine which would be
superior operationally. The B-45 proved a superior design, and on January 2,
1947, a contract for immediate production of B-45As was signed. It had been
planned to equip five light bomb groups and three light reconnaissance groups
with B-45As, but as the B-47's development and flight-testing made future
production all but certain, the future of the B-45 became increasingly
uncertain, and in mid-1948 the U.S. Air Staff began to question its value. Soon
afterwards, President Truman's budget restraints reduced Air Force expenditure
and B-45 production was reduced to a total of 142 airframes. Further budget cuts
in 1950 forced the Aircraft and Weapons Board to cancel 51 of the 190 aircraft
on order. The cancellation of the 51 was announced 7 January 1949. The B-45 was
later replaced by the supersonic Convair B-58 Hustler.
Role
Strategic bomber
Manufacturer
North American Aviation
First flight
February 24, 1947
Introduction
April 22, 1948
Retired
1959
Primary users
United States Air Force
Royal Air Force
Produced
143
Unit cost
US$1.1 million
Continuously plagued by engine problems along with numerous other minor flaws,
the B-45 regained importance when after the United States entered the Korean War
in 1950, it proved its value both as a bomber and as a reconnaissance aircraft.
The mass dedication of U.S. forces to the Korean War revealed the vulnerability
of North Atlantic Treaty Organization forces in Europe to Soviet attack, and it
was in this light that the Air Force made an important decision about the future
of the B-45. The B-45, like most post-World War II American bombers, could carry
both nuclear and conventional bombs. The progress of weapons technology had led
to a great reduction in the weight and size of nuclear weapons in the U.S.
inventory, effectively allowing smaller aircraft such as the B-45 to carry out
nuclear strikes, a mission which had initially been confined to heavy bombers.
Suddenly, the small fleet of B-45s had great value again as a nuclear deterrent.
All 33 RB-45Cs built were assigned to the 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Wing's
322nd, 323rd and 324th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadrons. The RB-45C also flew
several long-range reconnaissance missions over the Soviet Union during the
mid-1950s. On July 29, 1952, an RB-45C made the first non-stop trans-Pacific
flight, having been refueled twice by KB-29s along the way. Maj. Lou Carrington
and his crew of the 91st Reconnaissance Wing flew from Alaska to Japan in 9 hrs
50 mins, winning the MacKay Trophy for their achievement. Within the 91st SRW,
by 1954 the RB-45C had been replaced by the RB-47E. The phased-out RB-45Cs then
went to the 19th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, which operated them until
they were withdrawn from operational use in the spring of 1958.
Specifications (B-45A)
General characteristics
Crew: Four (Pilot, Co-Pilot, Bombardier-Navigator and Tail Gunner)
Length: 75 ft 4 in (22.96 m)
Wingspan: 89 ft 0 in (27.14 m)
Height: 25 ft 2 in (7.67 m)
Empty weight: 45,694 lb (20,726 kg)
Loaded weight: 81,418 lb (36,930 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 91,775 lb (41,628 kg)
Performance
Maximum speed: 566 mph (492 kn, 911 km/h)
Cruise speed: 365 mph (587 km/h)
Range: 1,192 mi (1,036 nmi, 1,919km)
Ferry range: 2,170 mi (1,886 nmi, 3,493 km)
Service ceiling: 46,000 ft (14,020 m)
Rate of climb: 5,200 ft/min (1,585 m/min)
Thrust/weight: 0.26
Armament
Bombs: Up to 22,000 lb (10,000 kg)
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