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Aviation History
1955
1955 - 0664.PDF
Boeing RB-47E and B-47E Stratojets (U.S. Air Force). Convair GRB-36 and FICON F-84F (U.S. Air Force). Boeing RB-52B Stratofortress (U.S. Air force) Martin RB-57A Canberra! (U.S. Air Force). Douglas RB-66A (U.S. Air Force). Lockheed RC-121C (US. Air Force). Republic F-84F Thunderstreaks (U.S. Air Force). THE WORLD'S AIR FORCES ... being eased by a careful examination of requirements on a com-mercial basis (in some cases making use of business-efficiency experts) and by what is termed "Project Native Son"—a pro-gramme which aims at replacing as many as possible of the U.S.A.F. personnel serving outside America with nationals of thecountry concerned. This has already reached an advanced stage in England; even in the U.S.A. itself, civilian employees are beingbrought in to replace airmen. The total U.S.A.F. vote this year is $15.5b—almost exactlyhalf the $32.9b allocation to all "defense services" and twice as much as the Army or Navy allocation. Most of the money tobuild up the 137-Wing Air Force was allocated earlier, and the 1956 budget figure is largely for bringing Wings up to date andin maintaining them operationally. This "New Look" Air Force is now steadily taking shape. Intoit are being woven new techniques—such as those associated with handling complex weapons systems—which are putting theservice technologically ahead of any other in the world. At the same time, a global network of Air Force Bases is being builtup, upon which the might of the U.S.A.F. can be most effectively disposed to meet the fluctuating requirements of the political scene. The Command of the U.S.A.F. which is chiefly responsiblefor this "peace-keeping" function is the renowned Strategic Air Command (Gen. Curtis E. LeMay, Offutt A.F.B., Nebraska; 1957strength: 55 wings). The primary job of S.A.C. is to carry thermo-nuclear weapons to any enemy target worthy of such treat-ment; and until called upon to do this, the Command's importance is vested in the fact that it can do it. More than that, it enjoysa higher state of training and availability than any other military force in the world; it operates continuously on a war-time basis,and can strike at any target (with devastating weapons) widiin a matter of hours. It has evolved a special programme of main-tenance which ensures that, at any time, all but a tiny fraction of its operational strength is combat-ready. The very-long-range backbone of S.A.C. is still the giant Con-vair B-36, the largest military machine ever built. It is considered a debatable point whether or not the 300+ B-36s in S.A.C. couldeffectively be used against well-defended targets. New techniques, however, are keeping the potency of the big bomber at a formidablelevel. One such technique is the FICON system of "parasite" aircraft carried under the B-36 to within about 100 miles of targetand there released. The parasite—generally an RF-84F—then drops a nuclear weapon or takes photographs, and then returnsto a rendezvous with the B-36 on its homeward trip (picture, column 1). Other new devices are being incorporated in bothbomber and reconnaissance B-36s. The solid backbone of S.A.C. consists of the numerous wingsof medium bombers, now almost wholly equipped with Boeing B-47Es (the few B-50 units left are used for met. recce.). Whilethese Medium Bomb Wings were converting from piston-engined equipment to B-47s, their effectiveness was completely eliminatedfor from three to six months, and it required the best part of a year for full combat-readiness to be regained; but over 1,500 B-47shave now been absorbed by these Wings, and nearly all are combat-ready. Each Wing is rotated around a circuit of bases, principally inAmerica, England, North Africa, Spain or Turkey, the Far East, and the Arctic. Ninety days is a typical period of occupation ofany one base, and everything to do with the Wing is air-lifted with it when it moves out. Flight refuelling is widely employedto provide the B-47s with global mobility, and an FR contact is made by S.A.C. roughly every 3| minutes. It may be added that,during training missions, the 47s carry blocks of concrete equal in weight to the stores they would carry in the event of war. The B-47s are now being supplemented by the long-rangeBoeing B-52, which is destined to replace the B-36 during the next two years. Already one Wing—the 36th—has equipped withthe B-52B at Castle A.F.B., and others are forming. The eight- jet heavy bomber is being built at both Seattle and Wichita, andsome hundreds are expected to be in service in a year's time. In service, they will be partnered by the 140-ton Boeing KC-135tanker, which will refuel the B-52 at operational height and speed. S.A.C. may also operate the McDonnell F-101A Voodoo, abig, single-seat, twin-jet machine with a higher operational speed
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