RB-47H Stratojet - Valparaiso, FL
N 30° 27.945 W 086° 33.645
16R E 542165 N 3370478
RB-47H 53-4296 was the last USAF B-47 in active service. Its last assignment was to the 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing.
Waymark Code: WMH0D9
Location: Florida, United States
Date Posted: 05/01/2013
Views: 4
RB-47H 53-4296 was retired to storage 29 December 1967. It was returned to duty from MASDC, Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona,16 July 1968, being sent to North American Aviation, Inglewood, California for tests of the F-111 radar system by the Air Force Avionics Laboratory. Upon completion of this program it was flown to Eglin AFB circa 1976. It has had both the F-111 radome and stubby RB-47H nose replaced with a standard bomber nose, making it a bastardized configuration. It is painted in typical Strategic Air Command markings.
The B-47 was the world's first swept wing bomber and the first to use a bicycle arrangement landing gear, which was necessary becaause of the thin wings. It was also the first plane built for the delivery of nuclear weapons. The first B-47 flew on Deember 17, 1947 and the first B-47A was delivered to the USAF in 1951. The RB-47H was an electronic reconnaissance and countermeasures version of the B-47E. It was built to provide a capability of countering enemy air defense systems.
Type of Aircraft: (make/model): RB-47H Stratojet
Tail Number: (S/N): 53-4296
Construction:: original aircraft
Location (park, airport, museum, etc.): USAF Armament Museum
inside / outside: outside
Access restrictions:
The plane is one of 25 located outside the USAF Armament Museum just off Eglin AFB. There is no fence around the museum so the outdoor planes are accessible every day.
Other Information:: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
Photo of aircraft (required - will be interesting to see if the aircraft is ever repainted or progress if being restored)
Photo of serial number (required unless there is not one or it is a replica)
Photo(s) of any artwork on the aircraft (optional but interesting)
Tell why you are visiting this waymark along with any other interesting facts or personal experiences about the aircraft not already mentioned.