Boeing’s B-47 Stratojet strategic bomber was only a couple of years in active service when Boeing produced the film “Meet Your B-47” for the Air Force in 1954. Generally speaking the Strategic Air Command (SAC) was secretive about everything they did or owned, but the B-47 was special and facets of its advanced design were already being incorporated into its successor in SAC, the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress. Movies like the 1955 Jimmy Stewart feature “Strategic Air Command” and later “Bombers B-52” with Karl Malden produced plenty of public interest in the Stratojet. “Meet Your B-47” is a unique look at the design, development, and manufacture of the B-47 not seen in the movie theaters.
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Featuring the 3250th Combat Crew Training Wing (CCTW) at McConnell Air Force Base (AFB) near Wichita in Kansas and lots of timeless air-to-air shots of the B-47 in its element, the film includes a look at a typical SAC training mission. The 2,032 B-47s built by Boeing were configured into 28 variants and sub-variants.
The jet was considered “hot” and was involved in a number of operational accidents, especially during early operational use. The final Stratojet flight took place in 1986 when a restored example was ferried from Naval Air Weapons Station (NAWS) China Lake to Castle AFB for display at the Castle Air Force Base Museum. Thanks to YouTuber ZenosWarbirds for uploading this great look at SAC’s B-47.
[…] no. This training was done when the KC-135 and B-52 were both part of Strategic Air Command or SAC. SAC pilots took intense pride in flying excellence, professionalism, and discipline. […]
They also flew a number of spy missions.
I received my technical training at Amarillo Air Force Base in 1960 and 1961. I really loved this airplane.