|
Description
| Manufacturer: | North American | |
| Base model: | B-45 | |
| Designation: | B-45 | |
| Version: | A | |
| Nickname: | Tornado | |
| Designation System: | U.S. Air Force | |
| Designation Period: | 1924-Present | |
| Basic role: | Bomber | |
Specifications
| Not Yet Available |
Known serial numbers
Examples of this type may be found at
| Museum | City | State |
| Castle Air Museum | Atwater | California |
B-45A on display
Castle Air Museum |
Recent comments by our visitors
| Ken Leland Ketchikan, AK | I was a A/2c with the 84th B.S. "A" flight 1955-1957,crewed 47-091 and 47-059. Sgt Gay head crew chief. We lost both in crashes. 091 at Lakenheath, 059 near Sculthorpe. Believe this was one of the planes Mr. Owens referred to as one that was rebuilt. The only damage was to the nose section which plowed into a hedge row when it landed in a field and the nose gear collapsed.I remember seeing repairs being performed when I drove along the perimeter strip past the site. As for tipping the plane on to its skid to load the "Bomb", it was a very big improvement over the previous procedure of removing the bomb bay doors and then jockeying the Bomb cart back and forth trying to get it lined up, saved a lot of time (which was the whole reason for doing it that way)The only downside was the fuel leakage from the vent on the port side tail section. 01/11/2008 @ 14:31 [ref: 19255] |
| Jim Sharpe Jacksonville, FL | I was at Biggs Field, Texas, when the first B-45 landed for testing. I was with a group of Ordinance men. We were to load practice bombs to test the load and to see if the run way was long enough (not close), so it took off back to March Field California. Because of short run ways we had to move to Barksdale Field Louisiana. At that time we had B-26's in three squadrons. The flight crews flew into Barksdale and the enlisted men went by troop trains.
On June 9, 1949, number 8033 crashed while on training flight, killing 2 pilots with one survivor. Captain Ralph Smith - 27 years old and Captain Milton Costello - 31 years old, were killed and Captian Big Jim Lowden - 28 years old, survived, with severe injuries. Captain Big Jim was in the hospital for over 2 years but recovered for flight duty and retired as Lt. Col. The Airforce Museum in Ohio has the number 8010 B-45 on display and I have alot of the pictures and memorbilloia of the entire 1947 and 1948 47th Bomb Wing. I would be glad to share. 11/30/2007 @ 10:52 [ref: 18733] |
| Richard Lilley Gig Harbor, WA | I worked on the J-47 engines on the B-45s at Alconbury in the 86th BS from 1955 to 58. Also worked on the T-33s and L-20. I was there when Morgan, a mechanic on 046, took the B-45 off one night by hisself and crashed it into the English countryside. I have a few picture of what is left of the plane after it hit with the throttles wide open. 10/05/2007 @ 16:39 [ref: 18112] |
| Allan Owens , DE | As an Airman Second Class (A2C) at Sculthorpe from mid 1955 into 1959 I was involved in rebuilding crash damaged B-45 aircraft i.e. "079" & "042." The strangest sight I ever saw in my AF career were all those 84th and 85th BS "Tornadoes" flipped back onto their tail skid to allow loading of a bomb. I actually helped tilt one once and it was not hard to do oweing to the plane's centre of gravity. I've seen no photo of this unique procedure and won't since during "Alerts" we would not be taking pictures. Pilot's considered the B-45 a "Hot Rod" to fly. It did its job and did it very well. I was sad to see it go and never had any affection for the plane that replaced it. 08/08/2007 @ 05:51 [ref: 17517] |
| Kevin Brewer Washington, DC | My father, Marvin Brewer was also stationed at Sculthorp during the same time period. He was a Staff Sgt and an atomic weapons guy (loader or munitions). He loved it. Never stopped talking about his time there. Unfortunately he passed away about 4 years ago but I joined the AF because he had so much fun in it. That was 21 years ago, and I'm still having fun. If you have any scanned pictures of the base planes or anything from around that time I would appreciate seeing them.
Not positive about what squadron etc...mom has some pictures of him standing next to a bomb mounted over a sign but for the life of me I can't remember what the number was. He left there sometime in '55. 01/17/2007 @ 12:07 [ref: 15209] |
| Don Kinsey Lakeview, MI | I was stationed at Sculthorpe England from 4/52 to 4/55 and flew in the B-45 as a tail gunner. I was in the 84th squadron as well as the 86th. I must have had 400-500 flying hours in that aircraft. Enjoyed every minute of it and have a lot of fond recollections of the overseas tour. I have written an article on the tail gunners position as well as some of my experiences. 01/06/2007 @ 16:13 [ref: 15122] |
| robert amtower , WV |
worked on the flight line at RAF station Alconbury from 1955 thru 1958 on RB 013 and RB 014...was at the Smithsonian in DC a couple years ago and inquired about it and was told they never heard of it....worse part was the attendant pulled out his so called bible of aircraft and it wasnt even listed...told him his book was bogus. r b 09/28/2006 @ 12:50 [ref: 14318] |
| Ron Dietrich Carson City, NV | There is one plastic model available for the B-45. It is made by MACH 2, a French company. They have a web site that contains photo's of built-up models. These kits are available from some mail order shops, such as Squadron and Roll Models. The price is rather high, at $75 to $80, but it's the only game in town. I have an un-built copy and it doesn't look too bad, although I have read on web postings that it is not easy to build. 03/26/2006 @ 13:21 [ref: 12930] |
| Phil Hatzfeld Monett, MO | I was a nuclear weapons maintenance officer in the 47th Bomb Wing at RAF Sculthorp. Then transfered to the 86th Bomb Sdn. at RAF Alconbury. My primary duties were on the ground but got in my flight time as an AOB on the B-45. It was quite a sturdy aircraft but nearly unknown by most people. As the first all jet powered bomber in the USAF I wonder why there no models made by the "plastic aircraft industry" in every hoby shops I've been in only a couple of salesmen have even known what I was asking about. I would like to hear from anyone from the 47th who was there from 1955 through 1958. 03/08/2006 @ 01:48 [ref: 12727] |
| John C. Fredriksen, Ph. D. Narragansett, RI | I am writing the first book about the North American B-45 Tornado, America's first jet bomber. Anyone with fond recollections of the craft--or cool photographs--is encouraged to contact me.
The first draft of the manuscripts--250 pages--is already finished. I hope to submit a polished draft to a publishers sometime this summer (2006) and have it available sometime in the spring of 2007. What an ordeal, but worth it. May it bring the accomplishments and sacrifices of a generation of unknown airmen to the attention of posterity. They were there first. JCF, Ph. D. 01/19/2006 @ 11:52 [ref: 12197] |
Recent photos uploaded by our visitors
