The RB-45C was the final production variant of the B-45. The bombardier 's canopy was faired over and replaced with an oblique camera system. The RB-45C carried two 214 gal (810 L) external fuel tanks, or two JATO rockets.

North American built 142 B-45s, including 10 long-range B-45Cs with wingtip fuel tanks and 33 RB-45Cs configured for high-altitude photo reconnaissance and aerial refueling. Based at RAF Sculthorpe, England, from 1952-1958, B-45s of the 47th Bomb Wing (Light) were a key nuclear deterrent against a Soviet ground attack in Europe.

Aircraft Type: B-45C (NRB), S/N 48-0017, Tornado, North American. Mission: Tactical reconnaissance. Number Built: The Air Force accepted a grand total of 142 B-45s. The B-45 program counted 3 experimental airplanes, 96 B-45As, 10 B-45Cs, and 33 RB-45Cs.

As the Korean War heated up in late 1950, the Air Force decided to send a trio of jet-propelled North American RB-45C Tornado reconnaissance planes into combat. They were developed from the B-45, which was the first operational American jet bomber and made its maiden flight in 1947. RB-45C — Photo ctsy. Robert F. Dorr

2024年1月22日 · Unfortunately, in the process, the Tornado made history in an unenviable category on 4 December 1950 when Soviet MiG-15 “Fagot” pilot Aleksandr F. Andrianov shot down an RB-45C over Red China,...

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 9hrs 50mins, winning …

2021年3月30日 · North American built 142 B-45 bombers including 10 long-range B-45Cs, which featured wingtip fuel tanks, and 33 RB-45Cs that were configured for high-altitude photo-reconnaissance and aerial...

2017年11月7日 · One of the most significant milestones held by the RB-45C Tornado was when it conducted the first jet powered aerial refueling using a “flying boom” from a KB-29P aerial tanker, according to Tinker history documents.

2021年9月22日 · On 29 July 1952, Major Lou Carrington and his crew from the 91st Reconnaissance Wing flew an RB-45C nonstop from Alaska to Japan in 9 hours and 50 minutes. Carrington and crew won the 1952 Mackay Trophy for this accomplishment. Their RB-45C was refueled by KB-29 tankers twice during their trans-Pacific flight.

3 天之前 · The RB-45C could carry four different types of cameras. It proved to be an excellent photo recon aircraft. Recently declassified documents show that the RB-45C was used for deep penetration missions into the Soviet Union by both USAF and RAF crews during the mid-1950s.