Return to Gallery > 11 - Korean War Era 1946 to 1964
11 - Korean War Era 1946 to 1964
Cold War Warriors by John Young
Over the more than four long decades of the Cold War, weapons were many, but perhaps none is better known or played a more important role than Boeing's beautiful sweptwing bomber, the B-47 "Stratojet".
The B-47 became the first true modern bomber to fill the ranks of General Curtis Lemay's new Strategic Air Command. With long range, high altitude capabilities, the "Stratojet" became the backbone of SAC in the early 1950's. As fast as many early jet fighters, with sophisticated defenses and operational altitudes of up to 40,000 feet, the B-47 was a strong deterrent in the early days of the nuclear standoff.
The Strategic Air Command kept the Stratojet in the record books during its early years of service with numerous speed and distance records established. In 1949 the B-47 crossed the continent in 3 hours and 46 minutes; in 1951 it made the first jet flight over the North Pole; in 1953 it crossed the Atlantic in 4 hours and 45 minutes, and in 1954 a B-47 flew 21,000 miles non-stop with the aid of mid-air refueling. It was indeed an impressive aircraft.
Personally autographed by B-47 test pilot A. M. "Tex" Johnston.
Print size: 29"w X 22 1/2"h
Limited edition of: 850 signed and numbered
