worked on these at Upper Hayford England. ECM from Lockborne bombers from Pease. We had only alert birds. They were a fuel leak waiting to happen.

I was an engine maint. supervisor # 3 -J-33 at Hunter air force base in savannah ga.in the 50's 60. I was asiged to the 2nd and 308th wing. the b-47 was my main A/C I also worked on the KC-97, t-37 tweety bird,etc. and of course there was TDY....

I CREWED ONE OF THESE BIG BABIES,I THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT AIRCRAFT.THIS ONLY LASTED ABOUT SIX MONTHS BECAUSE THE A.F. COME OUT WITH AN ORDER ONLY STAFF SGT COULD CREW.REALLY A SLICK LOOK'IN JET.STATIONED IN LITTLE ROCK ARKANSAS 70th OMS.
LOVED IT WHEN THE WHOLE SQUADRON TOOK OFF IN ONE MINUTE INTERVALS IN AN ALERT SYSTEM .THERE GREAT,SLICK ,PLANE IN IT'S TIME

I CREWED ONE OF THESE BIG BABIES,I THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT AIRCRAFT.THIS ONLY LASTED ABOUT SIX MONTHS BECAUSE THE A.F. COME OUT WITH AN ORDER ONLY STAFF SGT COULD CREW.REALLY A SLICK LOOK'IN JET.STATIONED IN LITTLE ROCK ARKANSAS.LOVED IT WHEN THE WHOLE SQUADRON TOOK OFF IN ONE MINUTE INTERVALS IN AN ALERT SYSTEM .THERE GREAT,SLICK ,PLANE IN IT'S TIME

I was a Crew Chief on them with the 441st at March AFB and the 339th? at Altus AFB 1953-1957

I remember seeing a squadron of B-47's at Macdill in 1963. Does anyone know which outfit and base they were TDY from?
Thanks.
AL

From Jan. 1952 to Jan. 1955 I was at Lockbourne AFB, OH with the 91st SRW, first RB-45C and KB-29P tankers, replaced by RB-47E and KC-97 tankers. I was in A&E Radar and K-Systems. Our first big operation was Fox Peter One on July 4, 1952 when our KB-29s refueled 31st SFW F-48Gs on the first transPacific flight to Japan. My next was to Westover AFB with our brand new KC-97s in September to air refuel the first enmass transAtlantic flight of B-47Es by the 306th BW from RAF Fairford to MacDill. My last deployment was with eight of our brand new RB-47Es to RAF Fairford in April 1954. On May 8, 1954 one of our RB-47Es crewed by Sgt. Phil Van Deusen and piloted by Capt. Harold Austin made a photographic reconnaissance over-flight of the Soviet Union Kola Peninsula, got intercepted five times and came out over Finland with MiG17s on their tail. In Sept. 2009 we published a book with the rest of the story titled, "We Served With Honor." I thank all of you for your service in SAC. God Bless America, Frank Hayes

I noticed noone from Lockbourne afb in ohio,I started on RB47Es as an asst then a year later I was a C/C. I remember we where changing over from The RB 47Es To ECM47Ks I think Iremember on the last 2 planes to land a Lockbourne they ran into a flock of birds and damaged 3 Wing leading edges, $100000 each .Plus many man hours, The crew they started with spent 8 hours and was grtting no where and the Brass wanted them gone by the next day,I dont know what the rush was they waste300000 dollars to go get cut up for scrap ans saved all the good spare parts they could. A crew of 6 of us took the job and I WENT TO SUPPLY AND GOT THE TOOLS WE NEEDED Air guns and hex head for the bolts, one guy started removing the screws and we would usehex wrenches to break the bolts loose 4 in each hole and the next guy would come behind him with the air guns, # hours later the line chief came over with food and couldnt beleive we had them off wait for the guys from field maint. to check the elinement of the bolt holes so we could get them back on , By midnight we had both planes being refuled. The next year I went to open a new wing of B52s and KC135s

I noticed noone from Lockbourne afb in ohio,I started on RB47Es as an asst then a year later I was a C/C. I remember we where changing over from The RB 47Es To ECM47Ks I think Iremember on the last 2 planes to land a Lockbourne they ran into a flock of birds and damaged 3 Wing leading edges, $100000 each .Plus many man hours, The crew they started with spent 8 hours and was grtting no where and the Brass wanted them gone by the next day,I dont know what the rush was they waste300000 dollars to go get cut up for scrap ans saved all the good spare parts they could. A crew of 6 of us took the job and I WENT TO SUPPLY AND GOT THE TOOLS WE NEEDED Air guns and hex head for the bolts, one guy started removing the screws and we would usehex wrenches to break the bolts loose 4 in each hole and the next guy would come behind him with the air guns, # hours later the line chief came over with food and couldnt beleive we had them off wait for the guys from field maint. to check the elinement of the bolt holes so we could get them back on , By midnight we had both planes being refuled. The next year I went to open a new wing of B52s and KC135s

Another old vet checking in.

Today was a great day! I was just playing around on the computer this morning and on a whim I typed in my great-grandfather's company and regiment during the Civil War, and man, I hit a mini-jackpot! I learned a lot about his outfit that I had never known.

Then, still on a whim, I typed in "43rd Periodic Maintenance Squadron" and hit the jackpot again! I found this site and I'm still trying to digest all I've just read. That's going to take some time, so I think I'll throw out my few crumbs and see if anyone shares memories with me.

I entered the Air Force from Iowa, in March of '53, went to basic training at Lackland AFB, then to tech school at several places but primarily at Amarillo, Tx. From tech school I was assigned to Davis Monthan.

I and several others got there when the 3 bomb squadrons of our wing were still running B-29s. I got to turn a wrench a few times on those old beasts, but mostly we just waited for the B-47s to arrive. That's the one and only "down" time I remember from my service days.

We were a periodic inspection squadron, so that's what we did. I think we actually had some folks assigned to work on the KC-97 tankers, but I'm not sure. (And I ought to say, before you figure it out for yourself, that I was never had a great memory and being 76 doesn't help. But I'll do the best I can.)

Most of my time was under dock chief Tech Sgt. M.S. Collier, as fine a man as I ever worked for. At the time of my discharge I was the APG chief and a Staff Sargent. I got out at the end of my 4 year enlistment, thinking - accurately - that I could make more than $164 and change a month in the civilian world. I did, too, but I failed to take proper account of the many fringe benefits the USAF offered. Many times I've regretted getting out when I did.

For some reason I was only on one TDY and that was to Fairford, England. I can remember that I had my 21st birthday while we were there, so that means it had to be in the fall of '54. I could have gone on the next TDY to Okinawa, but I would have had to extend to do it. Of course, I was in a big toot to get out, so I didn't do that.

I never got to fly in a B-47 either. I was jealous of the crew chiefs who occasionally could, but that's life. Basically I enjoyed being a B-47 mechanic.

I remember(?) one incident involving the bird. Again, as I recall it, we were on that TDY to England when this happened. Some bird colonel named David O. Burchinal - I'm really fuzzy on the spelling of his name - took one of our birds, fresh out of our docks, and started flying back and forth from England to Africa. I recall hearing that he and his crew flew for 47 hours and some minutes before landing again, and had no troubles whatsoever. I also heard via scuttlebutt that he got a star out of it. Supposedly, it was a new endurance record. Coulda happened. And another time some real BIG biggie flew a 47 in from California, and we drew the task of post-flighting it. I was told "Check it all over, but DON'T CHANGE ANYTHING." I damn sure didn't.

The only notable world event I remember during my enlistment was the Suez Canal War - remember that? Our base gates slammed shut and no one got out for the duration. I know that I had to share my bed with some poor married guy. We worked something like 16-on-8-off for DAYS until time just got to be a blur. And we worked almost to exhaustion before we came back to Arizona from England. The birds needed a lot of care before the long trip.

One more story. This is strictly scuttlebut. The word went out, once we were back, that one of the officers bought a little sports car in England, hung it from his 47's bomb davits, and it came home that way. Probably just one of the many stories that floated around.

I'll close with this. A few years ago I got a letter and then some phone calls from some old 43rd PMS guys, who were planning a reunion. One thing followed another and we did have that reunion. I went to it and several others before deciding I didn't have the enthusiasm to keep on doing it. But I think it's still going on. I might be able to put someone in touch with some of those guys, if you want.

It's been fun to write this. Anyone who'd like to communicate, well, I've listed my email address,and I'd love to hear from you.

jim avey

I was assigned to Hunter AFB Georgia after tech school. I was the assistant crew chief on B-47E 53-1955. SSgt Gerald Lambniak,(spelling?) was my CC. Of my twenty years in the AF. This was the best. The Air Force was good to me, most of the time. I retired a Master Sergeant in 1979. The B-47 is the most beautiful aircraft ever!!!
I live in Sumter SC now. Anybody who remembers contact me.

Hi. My partner and I are doing a history project for my high school on the B-47 Stratojet bomber and we would love to do an interview with any pilots, copilots, or anyone involved in the production of the plane. If you are interested please send me an email!

I was in the 43red Periodic Maintenance
squadron at Davis Monthan AFB.My job was to disassemble various engine components of the B-47, inspect and reassemble.
Master Sgt. Boss was the dock chief and Staff Sgt. Jim Lane was the assistant.I used to love to watch those mass take-offs, after the third plane the runway was a cloud of black smoke from the jato bottles. Later we were transferred to the 303rd bomb wing where I was an assistant crew chief. Sgt Willie Caroll was the chief and sgt Blodgett and myself were assistants. Our A/C tail number was 037 and we never missed an on-time flight schedule.Later I was stationed in Morocco,North Africa. I enjoyed every minute of my 9 years in the Strategic Air Command.

My dad was stationed at pease air force base in NH and he worked in maintenance for the B 47 from 1960 to 1965 and his name is HARVEY L. WRAY and i was wondering if any body out there knew him and could you send some photos ? I have always wanted to see the in side of the B 47.

No comment I was with 815th Recon Tech Sq at Forbes 1953 to 1955. We had one good softball team.--Willie

I was an engine run up spec for th 43 A&E FM Sq. Jul 1953
July 1955 at old D.M.Never got to fly in one always in a KC-97 or a C-124 full of Engines. The Bomb Suadron I was in for a while at D.M. set a record for the most Hours in the air with a Nuke on board.I sure miss the guys I served with down there. I dont recall very many of thier names.

...and I thought I was the only guy in love with that big beautiful bird! Mid 50's, just a kid, but a S/Sgt in the 43rd A&E at DM performing A-5 Fire Control System Periodic Maintenance. What memories--on the flight line after a periodic inspection, watching takeoffs with JATO's a'blazing! I tried to picture myself pulling back on the yoke to rotate. Nope. Just a poor fix-it guy. Back to work.

Hey Joseph--Glenn Miller at the club? Kinda rings a bell. BTW, is your father a Cardiologist in Cottonwood AZ?

I WAS CREW-CHIEF ON A B-47E AT FORBES AFB 55TH B/W 343RD SRS TOPEKA KS. FROM 1954 TO 1958. MY BIRD DID SOMETHING THAT NO OTHER B-47 IN ALL OF S.A.C.NEVER ACCOMPLISHED. I HAD 113 ON TIME TAKE-OFFS WITH NO CANX FOR WEATHER, SUPPLY, OR MAINT.I RECEIVED A LETTER OF APPRECIATION FROM GEN. LEMAY PLUS A PROMOTION TO T/SGT.WITHOUT A DOUBT, THE BEST AIRCRAFT (BOMBER) THE A.F.EVER ACCEPTED!!!!

I was an ecm tech at smokey hill afb,1955-56.
I assisted bomb nav. tech in checking bomb nav system wich included making sure the bomb hooks released properly.
I did this because there was no ecm geatr to work on at that time.
but it waS a great aircraft
my best memory was watching from the flight line as the squadron took off for a tdy mission with full jato assist,wow

Crew chief RB47E 53777 & 778, 343rd Sq. 55th wing Forbes A.F.B. Topeka Kansas. My engineering Officer. Capt Palm The book is INVISIBLE FORCE
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/wgpalm.htm
http://www.55srwa.org/
HISTORY UNDERCOVER TOP SECRET SPY PLANES OF THE COLD WAR HISTORY CHANNEL #AAE-42591

Hello, whoever: I was a crew chief on 53-2377. I know of no more beautiful aircraft. Flew to Goose Bay a couple of times, as no requirement for a CC to be a part of the flight crew was in existence, it was an honorary ride. Essentially I passed coffee! I remember passing over the Canadian border when the PIC asked me to slide into the canopy area. There were two (I hope I am correct...it's a lot of years!) Scorpions on the wing tips...The clear air...the contrails...It's a sight that, this side of my mind shutting down, I shall never forget. I have since received a military retirement as, at end, an E-7 Chinook, Cal. Nat. Guard, Flight Platoon Sgt. I have more than a thousand hours of flight time in this reliable bird!
I hope others have had some good memories of the Beautiful, B-47!

Gerald Ascencio (1953-1957 Mechanic and Crew-chief, (SSgt), on B-47s.

I was a Radar/Nav assigned to first B-47 Wing, 306th at MacDill AFB, Fl from 1953-56. The work load for the Radar/Navs was extremely high with this airplane. My next assignment was in B-52s in the 99BW, Westover AFB, Mass. The B-47 was a great airplane that was instrumental in the development of all swept wing modern jet liners.
Lt/Col Alex Brewer, Jr USAF (Ret)

Served 4 years with the B-47 and KC -97's at Hunter Field in Savannah Ga. 1957-1961. Great Memories of a GREAT Machine.
Most time Spent TDY with 208th Field Maintenance Sq.
North Africa Azores among others.
We had one come back with 16 feet of its right wing gone.
AWESOME AIRCRAFT>

I worked these birds at Homestead Fl.526 th Bomb Sqdn. With rotation T.D.Y. to North Africa for Alert duty.I have a lot of great memories associated with this jet.

I was a crew chief on B-47E 53-1905 at Pease AFB N.H. from 1955 to 1959. The acft was the first one to arrive at the new base and was named "THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE" assigned to the 349th bomb squadron, 100th bomb wing.They sent her to the bone yard with only 1700 hours on her. A pretty sad day for me!

I grew up with the B-47. My father (same name) flew the B-47 for a good part of his career. I watched the ceremony to take the last B-47 from Pease AFB to the DM graveyard in AZ. We were with the 509th Bomb wing. The B-47 crews spent more time on reflex or in the "mole hole" than they did with their families. Family dinners were often at the officer's club with other crew members and their families as the men were often on alert! These men made tremendous sacrifices and we owe them for the many years they kept us safe! God Bless you all!

I was also at Pease, 509th OMS, 509th BW. Later ended up working in the 817th AD Alert Facility. I remember Lt Col Reynolds, a B-17 pilot from the European Theater, who was the Commander of the facility. Fail Safe at the base theater, and then back to the Alert facility. What an eye opener, particularly after the daily briefings in the morning. Can still remember crew names and faces. Retired after 25 years in the service. Regards ........Al Sac, Ca.

I flew the B-47 at Pease AFB NH from 1958 through 1965. I logged about 2400 Hours flytime on trans-oceanic routes worldwide. I can vividly remember picking up new aircraft at the Boeing Plant in Everett WA. The B-47 design paved the way for the next generation military and commercial aircraft at the Boeing Company. The USA truly had "The Big Stick" with the B-47 paving the way for a superior worldwide Nuclear Capability. Over 1000 aircraft were qualified for the mission. Perhaps the most meaningful role was the deployment I was privileged to fly from Pease AFB, Boston Logan Airport, to Europe to support the atempted Russian incursion of Missiles into Cuba. Because of the Nucear Capacity the US held firm and Russia withdrew their threat to invade Cuba--just 90 miles from the US Mainland! Our Strategic Air Command Motto was "Peace Is Our Profession" and it truly was as we persuaded enemies to withdraw without dropping a single bomb in anger for over 30 years.

I flew the B47E from 1956-1963 at March AFB in the 19th BS, 22BW. From my first flight at McConnell AFB, Ka. till the last in 1963 I just loved that aircraft. It was the most advanced bomber at the time and top speed right up with the 1950's fighters. I also flew the LABS manouvers which really made me a beliver of this magnicifient aircraft as doing acrobacits at 425kts and 200' was a real rush in the 50's to say the least. Had 1,970 hours and many hours behind the KC97's and KC135's that kept me in the air for up to 18 hours on our Polar round trips. My eternal thanks for the Aviation Cadet program of that era that allowed me to become a USAF 2nd Lt./Pilot. Have lots of B47 memoribila in my house for rememberances. Joseph J. Haas, Lt. Col. USAF Ret.

I flew the B-47E for 1250 hours as a copilot, from Davis Monthan and Mt. Home AFB's. I sat 28 days of Nuclear Alert during the Cuban Crius,plus an average of 11 days of alert per month, and took one of the last B-47E's of Alert on Dec 30, 1965. Aerodynamically it was a very efficient design, because at 45,000 feet if you flamed out you could glide at 240 KIAS, for about 250 NM. Other than the U-2 I know no other USAF aircraft that could beat than glide ratio. Electronically it was an antique, all vacum tube technolgy which was not that reliable. The whole fuselage contained fuel, a small bomb bay and pressurized crew compartment. The Fuselage would hold about 90,000 pounds of fuel plus 22,000 pounds of fuel in wing tanks. The J-47 engine had a tendecy to through red hot turbine blades into the fuselage, which was a disasterous event usually resulting in the lose of a B-47. Fully loaded for Nuclear alert , max weight was 221,000 pounds. The basic aircraft weighed a little under 85,000 pounds, add 5300 pounds of water alcohol and JATO rack (5,000 pounds?). The Co=pilot filled many functions, Flight Engineer, assistant Navigator, Radio Operator, Gunner, ECM operator, crew coordinator, assistant bomberdier,as well as co-pilot. An average mission was 8 hours and I was very busy performing all these duties. On numerous I probably didn,t fly the airplane more than a couple of minutes. I later flew the F-4, which was flying for the USAF in 1964, which had many systems that the B-47 could of used.

While other kids were slinging hash-browns or hamburgers at the new McDonalds restaurants, I was a Sr. in high school playing trumpet in a big Glenn Miller type dance orchestra Friday night at the Non Commissioned Officer's club and Saturday nigh at the Officer's Club at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, AZ. As I drove into the base, I passed along the flight line and saw the B-47s lined up with JATO units attached behind the wings along the fuselage, guards and dogs patrolling the line and starter units at the ready for immediate deployment should the need arise. They were awsome and very intimidating. Their noise was deafening. I always wore a tux and carried my trumpet so the gate police were never a problem. I did that for three years before I left for the Naval Academy in 1955. Call me. 404-325-4866