Originally designed as a medium bomber, the B-47 also had a lesser known and more secretive role in the Cold War, serving in a reconnaissance role as the RB-47 to monitor the Soviet military and its Warsaw Pact allies. Shot down just two months after the famous U-2 incident, the RB-47 also made overflights behind the Iron Curtain, some experiencing combat their bomber stablemates never did.
A New Class of Bombers
Influenced by the research and application of swept-wing design by the Germans in World War Two, the first Boeing XB-47 took flight on Dec. 17, 1947, the 44-year anniversary of the first flight at Kitty Hawk by the Wright Brothers. Featuring wings swept back at a 35-degree angle with six jet engines providing power in four underwing nacelles mounted on pylons, two engines in the inboard pods, and a single engine in the outer pod of each wing, the B-47 had a large internal bomb bay for carrying the hulking nuclear weapons of the day.
The pilot and co-pilot sat in tandem in a fighter-like cockpit with a bubble canopy, the co-pilot also having the capacity to swing his seat around to face the rear and operate the remotely controlled twin 20 mm cannons in the tail. A third crew member sat in the nose of the aircraft and performed the duties of navigator and bombardier. Tandem bicycle landing gear folded into the fuselage, with outrigger wheels retracting into the inboard engine nacelles.
The first production model, the B-47A “Stratojet” made its first flight on the day the North Koreans crossed into South Korea, Jun. 25, 1950. Production of the new bomber soon became a high priority, as the piston engine powered bombers currently in the United States inventory, mostly left over from World War Two, were finding it challenging at times operating in the dawning age of the jet fighter in the skies above Korea.
Another Purpose
Because of their long-range capabilities, large payload capacity, and the ability to fly at high altitudes, bomber aircraft often took on a second function as modified reconnaissance aircraft used for gathering strategic intelligence. During this time period, the United States Air Force (USAF) had previously modified Boeing B-29 (RB-29) and B-50 (RB-50) bombers for the role, as well as the lesser known B-45 (RB-45), the RB indicating “Reconnaissance Bomber”. Having all the capabilities of the aforementioned aircraft as well as superior speed made the B-47 an ideal reconnaissance platform.
The first reconnaissance variant of the B-47 came to be known as the RB-47B. Several B-47B aircraft were converted to a photo-reconnaissance version by adding a heated pod containing eight cameras in the forward area of the bomb bay in 1953-54. The aircraft was capable of only daylight photography.
The RB-47E was a variant of the B-47E modified for intelligence gathering, replacing the converted interim RB-47Bs, which returned to bomber duty. The aircraft was lengthened at the nose by 34 in, and had photographic and electronic reconnaissance equipment installed along with additional fuel tanks, while the bombing equipment was removed. Length of the RB-47E was 109 ft 10 in with a wingspan of 116 feet. The aircraft was 28 feet tall, and had an empty weight of 81,100 lb, while maximum take-off weight was close to 200,000 lb.
Powered by six General Electric J47-GE-25 turbojet engines, the RB-47E cruised at approximately 500 mph with a top speed of 572 mph. Ceiling was 47,800 ft and the aircraft could fly unrefueled close to 4,000 miles, carrying over 18,000 gallons of fuel in six fuselage tanks and two underwing jettisonable tanks. However, the aircraft had inflight refueling capabilities, extending the range to match the crew’s endurance.
For defensive purposes, the RB-47E retained the twin MS4A1 20 mm cannons in the tail of the aircraft with 350 rounds available per gun. Remotely controlled by the co-pilot, the tail guns required no tail gunner, allowing the crew to remain at three for this variant. Cameras, numbering up to 11, were controlled by a navigator-photographer, with some being telescopic, some panoramic, and some low-altitude cameras. Photoflash flares were available for photography in the dark.
The entirety of the RB-47E fleet of 240 total aircraft was built by Boeing in Wichita, Kansas.
Designed for a different intelligence gathering capabilities, the RB-47H was built for electronic intelligence (ELINT) missions. The first one was delivered in Aug. 1955 to the 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at Forbes Air Force Base, Topeka, Kansas. Carrying pods and antennas, this aircraft collected data by probing radar defenses and intercepting communication and radar signals, flying the close to the boundaries (and sometimes over) of Soviet territories and those of her client states on missions known as “ferret missions.” The missions were classified, flown with radio silence, usually under the cover of darkness.
A pressurized compartment was placed in the bomb bay for added crew members; three Electronic Warfare Officers, known as “Crows” or “Ravens”, sat in the cramped and uncomfortable compartment for usually twelve hours or longer, gathering radar emissions information and recording signal traffic for analysis. The Crows sat on the floor of the pilot compartment during take-offs and landing, then once reaching 10,000 feet, they crawled in Artic clothing, wearing parachutes, through an unpressurized area and make their way along a shelf-like maintenance structure to the pressurized compartment in the bomb bay.
The tail armament of the twin 20 mm cannons were retained, and transmitters and chaff dispensers for jamming enemy radar installed. The last RB-47H was delivered in Jan. of 1955. A total of 35 RB-47H models were produced; including 3 designated the more specialized ERB-47H, all built by Boeing in Wichita, KS.
Beginning In 1958, the B-47 fleet went through a refit to modify and strengthen the wing mountings and other structures after several accidents, wing structural issues, and metal fatigue failures. Known as project “Milk Bottle” after the shape of the shape of the connecting pin bolts in the wing roots, the repairs were conducted around the clock in secrecy by the USAF in Oklahoma and California, as well as Boeing, Douglas, and Lockheed. The last aircraft modified by Douglas under Milk Bottle was an RB-47E.
Not in Kansas Anymore
On July 1, 1960, exactly two months after the famous U-2 incident involving Francis Gary Powers over the Soviet Union, a Soviet MiG-19 made two firing passes on a USAF RB-47H operating near Murmansk and the Kola Peninsula in the Barents Sea, the United States claiming, with evidence, over international waters. The three 30 mm cannon of the MiG put two of the three engines on the left wing of the RB-47H out of action, and after expending around 462 rounds from the twin 20 mm cannon in the tail, the crew of the RB-47H ejected, with the aircraft reportedly righting itself and continuing on for around 200 more miles.
Soviet pilot Captain Polyakav stated he waggled the wings of his MiG-19 at the American aircraft in an effort to force them to follow him, when they didn’t respond he was ordered to open fire, firing 111 30 mm cannon rounds at the RB-47H. He also reported he did not see the aircraft actually crash nor did he spot any parachutes. The shoot down was the first aerial victory for the MiG-19 interceptor.
RB-47H 53-4281 was deployed to the Royal Air Force (RAF) base of Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, England. Assigned to the 38th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron of the 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at Forbes Air Force Base, Topeka, Kansas, RB-47 crews often were deployed around the world for reconnaissance missions. Six crewmembers were on board that day: Major Willard George Palm, aircraft commander; Captain Freeman Bruce Olmstead, co-pilot/gunner; Captain John Richard McKone, navigator/photographer; and three electronic intelligence officers: Major Eugene E. Posa, Captain Dean Bowen Phillips, and Captain Oscar Lee Goforth (the “Crows” or “Ravens”).
It is believed the entire crew was able to eject, with only Olmstead and McKone surviving, being rescued after hours in the freezing icy waters of the Barents Sea. Olmstead and McKone were taken to Lubyanka Prison and headquarters of the KGB, McKone suffering from a broken back from the ejection. Lubyanka also housed U-2 pilot Francis Gary Powers at this time.
Lubyanka and interrogations would be the norm for the two Captains until Jan. 1961. Shortly after the inauguration of John F. Kennedy as President of the United States, Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev released Olmstead and McKone as a good will gesture. Powers however remained imprisoned.
Overflights
With the fall of the Soviet Union, much more information has come to light from both sides of the Cold War regarding overflights of Soviet territory, and the RB-47 was heavily involved in these operations. One incident recorded by pilot Col. Harold “Hal” Austin details such a mission in May 1954. On May 8, he piloted an RB-47E conducting an overflight photography mission, taking pictures of nine Soviet airfields for the head of the Strategic Air Command, General Curtis LeMay. The flight was looking for the deployment of the new MiG-17 aircraft to airfields in the area.
Flying at 40,000 feet they had been told they were safe from Soviet MiG-15 interceptor aircraft, when they were joined by three Soviet MiGs. The MiGs didn’t fire but a few minutes later six more MiGs appeared. The MiGs they were encountering were the new MiG-17 capable of higher altitudes than the MiG-15, and made firing passes at the RB-47E. One MiG did score a hit on the left wing of the RB-47 and also hit the fuselage near a main fuel tank and knocked the intercom out. The UHF radio was also damaged.
Amazingly the crew of the RB-47 finished their mission, photographing all the assigned targets, and turned back towards Finland with the six trailing MiGs turning back. Three more MiGs appeared, with two making firing passes at the American aircraft, but no hits were scored. These MiGs were replaced by three more, two of which also made inept firing passes, with the RB-47 now well out of Soviet airspace. It is reported a total of 13 MiGs had been scrambled by the Soviets but all failed to bring down the RB-47 that day. Credit is given to the RB-47’s speed, range, trained crew, and the fact the rear guns, although temperamental that day, functioned enough to intimidate the fighter pilots and prevent the MiGs from a deadly attack from the rear. After an adventurous aerial refueling, the aircraft and crew made it back to RAF Fairford in England. They had found MiG-17s, just not where they had expected.
RB-47s seemed to routinely fly overflight missions into Soviet airspace, with several being fired upon and some being downed. On Apr. 17, 1955, an RB-47 was lost probing the Kamchatka Peninsula after being intercepted by MiG-15s. During 1956 the USAF overflew the length of Soviet Siberia 156 times using RB-47s. There are three known incidents of MiGs intercepting RB-47 aircraft in late 1958. In 1965 two North Korean MiG-17s hit an ERB-47H over the Sea of Japan, causing the loss of three engines, although the Americans made it back to Japan. The reconnaissance version of the B-47 had fired guns in anger and had been fired upon, the only taste of combat the type would experience, the bombers leading a much more peaceful existence.
The Waning Years
A final version of the aircraft was designated the RB-47K and fitted with new radar and sensors to detect nuclear fallout from tests. Primarily used for weather reconnaissance, they soldiered on until 1963.
The last RB-47H was retired in Dec. 1967, being replaced by the Boeing RC-135, with the last RB-47H retired, serial number 53-4296, being reactivated in the 1970s for testing of the General Dynamics F-111‘s avionics. An F-111 nose was fitted to the RB-47H. This aircraft is now on display at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. RB-47H’s flew missions early on in the Vietnam conflict.
The National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, has a Boeing RB-47H on display. This particular aircraft was delivered to the 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, in 1955. It is reported to have flown missions over Soviet territory. The aircraft was restored after being acquired from the City of Salina, Kansas, and appears today as it did in 1960. This RB-47 was retired from active service in 1966.
