The North American B-45 Tornado is an early American jet bomber designed and manufactured by aircraft company North American Aviation. It has the distinction of being the first operational jet bomber to enter service with the United States Air Force (USAF), as well as the first multiengine jet bomber to be refueled in midair .

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.

RB-45C Tornado. On August 26, 1950, SAC’s first RB-45 – a “C” model, four-engine jet reconnaissance aircraft – was delivered to the 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana. Effective November 16, 1950, the 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron moved from Barksdale, Louisiana to Yokota, Japan.

Jan 19, 2023 · The B-45 served as both a bomber and a reconnaissance aircraft – designated the RB-45 for the latter role – during the Korean War. 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, thus marking ...

Feb 13, 2021 · The RAF-crewed RB-45 aircraft flew highly classified missions deep into the Iron Curtain. The Tornado played an important role with the U.S. Air Force in the early stages of the Cold War, with ...

On August 26, 1950, SAC's first RB-45, a "C" model, four-engine jet reconnaissance aircraft was delivered to the 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana. Effective November 16, 1950, the 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron moved from Barksdale AFB, Louisiana to Yokota AB, Japan.

Apr 14, 2018 · Page details technical specifications, development, and operational history of the North American B-45 Tornado Jet-Powered Bomber Aircraft including pictures. The global defense reference actively compiled since 2003

The B-45 made the first-ever European deployment of tactical nuclear weapons from Langley Air Force Base, Va. to Sculthorpe, England, in 1954. But an early decision was taken to shift the plane's job from bombing to reconnaissance. As a result, most of the Tornados in service were RB-45C models.

The B-45 "TORNADO" Light bomber came to Sculthorpe in 1952 with the 47th Bombardment wing and was on the forefront of the Atomic deterrent until it was replaced by the B-66 in 1957. The B-45 achieved many aviation firsts, First Jet Bomber to be refueled midair, First Jet Bomber to drop an atomic device, Americas first multi Jet Bomber.

Dec 4, 1994 · Forty-four years after the Air Force gave up on McDonough and the three other Americans aboard his silvery RB-45 reconnaissance bomber, new information has come to light - evidence which points...