1,558
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Line 1:
Line 1: − + Line 7:
Line 7: − + + + − + + + + + − The bombers were phased out in 1958-1959 in favor of the smaller, less expensive [[B-52]] (each B-36 cost over 3 million dollars.) Only a few still survive.+ +
Refs, incidents
The '''B-36 Peacemaker''' was an [[United States|American]] strategic nuclear bomber. Until the debut of the [[B-52 Stratofortress]] and [[ICBM]]s, it was the [[United States Air Force|Air Force]]s primary deterrent.
The '''B-36 Peacemaker''' was an [[United States|American]] strategic nuclear bomber. Until the debut of the [[B-52 Stratofortress]] and [[ICBM]]s, it was the [[United States Air Force|Air Force]]'s primary deterrent.
==Development==
==Development==
The B-36 was massive. Its wingspan was 230 feet, and it was 46 feet high. It had a range of 10,000 [[mile]]s and could carry 43 tons of conventional or nuclear bombs. The maximum takeoff weight was 410,000 pounds.
The B-36 was massive. Its wingspan was 230 feet, and it was 46 feet high. It had a range of 10,000 [[mile]]s and could carry 43 tons of conventional or nuclear bombs. The maximum takeoff weight was 410,000 pounds.
The aircraft went into service in 1951.
The bomber was controversial. To get the funds to develop and build it, the US Navy’s new planned supercarrier, the ''United States'', was cancelled. This led to the “Revolt of the Admirals” in 1949, in which several senior naval officers publicly criticized the B-36 program, calling it a “billion-dollar blunder.”<ref>''Historical Atlas of the U.S. Navy'', by Craig L. Symonds, Naval Institute Press, 1995</ref>
The aircraft went into service in 1949.
==Service==
==Service==
388 B-36 bombers were built altogether, but they were never used in combat (hence the name "Peacemaker."
388 B-36 bombers were built altogether, but they were never used in combat (living up to the name "Peacemaker.")
The B-36 had an excellent safety record, but there were a few crashes. On February 3, 1950, a B-36 flying a simulated combat mission crashed off western Canada. The crew bailed out, but five of the crewmen were never recovered, and presumed dead. The plane's wreckage was later recovered 200 miles away from the bailout point.<ref>http://www.mysteriesofcanada.com/BC/broken_arrow.htm</ref> It was carrying a simulated nuclear bomb for the mission, but the weapon's payload had been replaced with a lead core.
The bombers were phased out in 1958-1959 in favor of the smaller, less expensive [[B-52]] (each B-36 cost over 3 million dollars). Only a few still survive, one of which is an exhibit at the National Museum of the USAF.<ref>http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=360</ref>
==References==
<references/>
[[Category: Aircraft]]
[[Category: Aircraft]]
[[Category:Cold War]]
[[Category:Cold War]]
[[Category:United States Air Force]]
[[Category:United States Air Force]]