RB-47H Stratojet

RB-47H Stratojet
Name	RB-47H Stratojet
Caption	An RB-47H in flight.
Type	Electronic intelligence aircraft
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Boeing
First flight	1955
Introduction	1955
Retired	1967
Primary user	United States Air Force
Number built	32
Developed from	B-47 Stratojet

RB-47H Stratojet was a specialized electronic intelligence (ELINT) variant of the Boeing B-47 Stratojet jet bomber, developed for the United States Air Force during the Cold War. Designed to penetrate hostile airspace and collect critical signals intelligence, it played a vital role in monitoring the Soviet Union's air defense networks and early warning radars. Operated primarily by the Strategic Air Command, the aircraft's missions were highly classified and often conducted at great risk along the borders of the Eastern Bloc.

Development and Design

The development of the RB-47H was driven by the urgent need for dedicated airborne electronic reconnaissance platforms in the early 1950s. The program was managed by the United States Air Force with Boeing as the prime contractor, modifying the standard B-47 Stratojet airframe. Key design changes included the removal of the tail gunner's position to house a pressurized compartment for three Electronic Warfare Officers who operated an extensive suite of AN/APD-4 side-looking radar and other sensitive collection gear. The aircraft was powered by six General Electric J47 turbojet engines, providing the high-speed performance necessary for penetration missions. Its design emphasized extended range and the ability to carry a heavy payload of specialized equipment for detecting and analyzing Soviet radar emissions and communications.

Operational History

Entering service with the 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing in 1955, the RB-47H immediately began conducting perilous reconnaissance missions, known as "ferret" flights, along the periphery of the Soviet Union and other communist nations. These operations, often flown from bases like Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska and RAF Brize Norton in the United Kingdom, were critical for mapping Soviet Air Defence Forces radar coverage and gathering technical intelligence. The aircraft saw extensive use during periods of heightened tension, including the Cuban Missile Crisis, where it monitored Cuba for signs of Soviet missile deployments. The type was gradually phased out in the mid-1960s as more capable platforms like the Lockheed U-2 and Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird entered service, with the last RB-47H retiring from active duty in 1967.

Technical Specifications

The RB-47H Stratojet was a swept-wing, multi-engine jet aircraft with a crew of six: a pilot, co-pilot, navigator, and three electronic warfare officers. It was powered by six General Electric J47-GE-25 turbojets, each producing 7,200 pounds of thrust, enabling a maximum speed of over 600 miles per hour. Its operational range was approximately 3,500 nautical miles, which could be extended with in-flight refueling from KC-97 Stratofreighter or KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft. The primary armament was defensive, consisting of two remotely controlled 20 mm M24A1 cannons in a tail turret directed by an AN/APG-39 radar, though its main payload was an array of AN/ALQ-28 and AN/APD-4 electronic intelligence systems housed in bomb bay pods and fuselage compartments.

Variants

The primary variant was the RB-47H, with 32 aircraft built specifically for electronic intelligence. A closely related model was the ERB-47H, which featured additional equipment for more advanced signals intelligence missions. Earlier reconnaissance versions of the B-47 Stratojet included the RB-47E, configured for photographic reconnaissance, and the RB-47K, which was used for weather reconnaissance. These variants shared the same basic airframe but were equipped with different sensor suites tailored for specific intelligence-gathering roles within the Strategic Air Command.

Incidents and Accidents

The hazardous nature of RB-47H missions led to several notable incidents. On July 1, 1960, an RB-47H (serial number 53-4281) was shot down by a Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-19 over the Barents Sea; four crew members were killed and two were captured by the Soviet Navy. Another significant loss occurred on April 18, 1965, when an RB-47H from the 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing crashed near Thule Air Base in Greenland during a training flight, resulting in the deaths of all crew members. These losses underscored the extreme risks associated with Cold War reconnaissance flights and the intense opposition from Soviet Air Forces interceptor units.

Operators

The sole operator of the RB-47H Stratojet was the United States Air Force. Within the USAF, the aircraft was exclusively assigned to the Strategic Air Command's 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, which was based at various times at Forbes Air Force Base in Kansas and Rickenbacker Air Force Base in Ohio. The wing's squadrons, including the 338th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, conducted the vast majority of the type's global intelligence collection missions throughout its service life.

Category:United States reconnaissance aircraft 1950–1959 Category:Boeing aircraft Category:Cold War reconnaissance aircraft of the United States