List of B-47 units of the United States Air Force

Boeing B-47B-20-BW Stratojet 50-062, Redesignated NTB-47B in August 1961. Currently on static display at the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum, Pooler, Georgia

The Boeing B-47 Stratojet was operational with the United States Air Force Strategic Air Command beginning in May 1951 with the first operational B-47As to the 306th Bombardment Wing, Medium, based at MacDill AFB, Florida.

In March 1961, President John F. Kennedy directed the phaseout of the B-47. However this was delayed in July by the onset of the Berlin crisis of 1961-62. In the following years, B-47s were gradually delivered to the Military Aircraft Storage and Disposition Center (MASDC) at Davis-Monthan AFB.

Strategic Air Command B-47 Bombardment Wings were divided among the Second, Eighth and Fifteenth Air Forces. This list is of the units B-47s were assigned to, and the bases at which they were stationed .

B-47 Medium Bombardment units

The first operational B-47B Medium bombers were delivered to SAC in July 1951 to the 306th Bombardment Wing, MacDill AFB, Florida. SAC's last two B-47E bombers went to storage on 11 February 1966 from the 98th Bombardment Wing, Lincoln AFB, Nebraska.^[1]

Operational medium bomber versions of the Stratojet were B-47B (1951–1953) and B-47E (1953–1957). B-47Bs were modified to B-47E specifications beginning in 1953 to 1957. By 1957, the B-47Bs had effectively ceased to exist, having been brought up to the B-47E standard. These modified B-47Bs are sometimes known as B-47B-II, although this was not an official Air Force designation. Outwardly, they could be distinguished from B-47Es only by their serial numbers.^[1]

2d Bombardment Wing, Hunter AFB, Georgia Second Air Force, 25 Nov 1953-1 Apr 1963, B-47E 20th Bombardment Squadron 49th Bombardment Squadron 96th Bombardment Squadron 429th Bombardment Squadron (1958-1962)* Wing transferred to Barksdale AFB, Louisiana in 1963; 20th BS converted to B-52F Stratofortress 9th Bombardment Wing, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho Fifteenth Air Force, 1 Nov 1952-15 Mar 1963, B-47B/E; EB-47E** 1st Bombardment Squadron 5th Bombardment Squadron 99th Bombardment Squadron 658th Bombardment Squadron (1958-1962)* Wing transferred to Beale AFB, California in 1966; 1st and 99th BS converted to Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird 19th Bombardment Wing Pinecastle AFB, Florida, Jun 1954-Jul 1956 Homestead AFB, Florida, Jul 1956-Jan 1961 Second Air Force, 11 Jun 1954-1 Jan 1961, B-47E 28th Bombardment Squadron 30th Bombardment Squadron (to 4133d SW, B-52H in 1961) 93d Bombardment Squadron (to 4239th SW, B-52H in 1961) 659th Bombardment Squadron (1958-1961)* Converted to B-52F Stratofortress in 1962 22d Bombardment Wing, March AFB, California Fifteenth Air Force, 1 Nov 1952-15 Mar 1963, B-47B/E 2d Bombardment Squadron 19th Bombardment Squadron 33d Bombardment Squadron 408th Bombardment Squadron (1959-1962)* Converted to B-52B Stratofortress in 1963 40th Bombardment Wing Smoky Hill (later Schilling) AFB, Kansas, 28 May 1952-20 Jun 1960 Forbes AFB, Kansas, 20 Jun 1960-1 Sep 1965 Fifteenth Air Force (1952-1960), Second Air Force, 1960-1964, B-47E 25th Bombardment Squadron 44th Bombardment Squadron 45th Bombardment Squadron 660th Bombardment Squadron (1959-1960) Inactivated 1 September 1964 43d Bombardment Wing, Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona Fifteenth Air Force, 25 Sep 1953-15 Mar 1960, B-47E 63d Bombardment Squadron 64th Bombardment Squadron 65th Bombardment Squadron 403d Bombardment Squadron (1958-1960)* Converted to B-58 Hustler at Carswell AFB, Texas in 1960 44th Bombardment Wing Lake Charles (later Chennault) AFB, Louisiana Second Air Force, 25 Apr 1953-15 Jun 1960, B-47B/E 66th Bombardment Squadron 67th Bombardment Squadron 68th Bombardment Squadron 506th Bombardment Squadron (1958-1960)* Inactivated 15 June 1960; became 44th Strategic Missile Wing at Ellsworth 68th Bombardment Wing Lake Charles (later Chennault) AFB, Louisiana Second Air Force, 25 Oct 1953-15 Apr 1963, B-47E 51st Bombardment Squadron 52d Bombardment Squadron 656th Bombardment Squadron 657th Bombardment Squadron (1958-1963)* Wing transferred to Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina in 1963; 51st BS converted to B-52G Stratofortress 93d Bombardment Wing, Castle AFB, California Fifteenth Air Force, 15 Apr 1954-1 Feb 1955, B-47E 328th Bombardment Squadron 329th Bombardment Squadron 330th Bombardment Squadron Functioned as a SAC Training Wing - Not Operational; Wing converted to B-52B Stratofortress in 1956 96th Bombardment Wing Second Air Force, Altus AFB, Oklahoma, 18 Nov 1953-3 Sep 1957, B-47E Fifteenth Air Force, Dyess AFB, Texas, 4 Sep 1957-18 Mar 1963, B-47E 337th Bombardment Squadron 338th Bombardment Squadron 339th Bombardment Squadron 413th Bombardment Squadron (1958-1961)* Converted to B-52E Stratofortress in 1962 97th Bombardment Wing, Biggs AFB, Texas Fifteenth Air Force, 1 Apr 1955-1 Oct 1959, B-47E 340th Bombardment Squadron 341st Bombardment Squadron (to 4038th SW, B-52G in 1960) 342d Bombardment Squadron (to 4137th SW, B-52G in 1960) Wing transferred to Blytheville AFB, Arkansas in 1959; 340th BS converted to B-52G Stratofortress 98th Bombardment (later Strategic Aerospace) Wing Lincoln AFB, Nebraska, B-47E Fifteenth Air Force, 15 Oct 1954-31 Dec 1958 (98th BMW) Second Air Force, 1 Jan 1959-25 Jun 1966 (98th SAW after 1 Feb 1964) 343d Bombardment Squadron 344th Bombardment Squadron 345th Bombardment Squadron 415th Bombardment Squadron (1958-1962)* Inactivated 24 June 1966 100th Bombardment Wing Portsmouth (later, Pease) AFB, New Hampshire Eighth Air Force, 1 Jan 1956-25 Jun 1966, B-47E 349th Bombardment Squadron 350th Bombardment Squadron 351st Bombardment Squadron 418th Bombardment Squadron (1959-1962)* Wing transferred to Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona in 1966; converted to Lockheed U-2 301st Bombardment Wing, Lockbourne AFB, Ohio Second Air Force, 20 Jun 1953-15 Apr 1958 Eighth Air Force, 16 Apr 1958-15 Jun 1964 B-47B/E, 1953-1958, 1958-1961; RB-47, 1958; EB-47E**, 1961-1964 32d Bombardment Squadron 352d Bombardment Squadron 353d Bombardment Squadron 419th Bombardment Squadron (1958-1961)* Became KC-135 Air Refueling Wing in 1964 303d Bombardment Wing, Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona Fifteenth Air Force, 20 Jan 1953-15 Jun 1964, B-47B/E 358th Bombardment Squadron 359th Bombardment Squadron 360th Bombardment Squadron 427th Bombardment Squadron (1958-1961)* Inactivated 15 June 1964

305th Bombardment Wing Fifteenth Air Force, MacDill AFB, Florida, 15 Apr 1952-15 Feb 1961, B-47B/E Second Air Force, Bunker Hill AFB, Indiana, 16 Feb 1961-1 Apr 1963, B-47E 364th Bombardment Squadron 365th Bombardment Squadron 366th Bombardment Squadron 422d Bombardment Squadron (1960-1961) Converted to B-58 Hustler in 1961 306th Bombardment (later Strategic Aerospace) Wing, MacDill AFB, Florida Second Air Force, 306th BMW, 2 Apr 1951-1 Jan 1959, B-47A/B/E*** Second Air Force, 306th SAW, 1 Jan 1959-1 Apr 1963, B-47E 367th Bombardment Squadron 368th Bombardment Squadron 369th Bombardment Squadron 423d Bombardment Squadron (1959-1962)* Wing transferred to McCoy AFB, Florida in 1963; 367th BS converted to B-52D Stratofortress 307th Bombardment Wing, Lincoln AFB, Nebraska Fifteenth Air Force, 8 Nov 1954-30 Dec 1958, B-47E Second Air Force, 31 Dec 1958-25 Jun 1965, B-47E 370th Bombardment Squadron 371st Bombardment Squadron 372d Bombardment Squadron 424th Bombardment Squadron (1958-1961)* Inactivated 25 March 1965 308th Bombardment Wing, Hunter AFB, Georgia Second Air Force, 25 Sep 1952-25 Jun 1961, B-47B/E 373d Bombardment Squadron 374th Bombardment Squadron 375th Bombardment Squadron 425th Bombardment Squadron (1958-1961)* Became non-operational 15 Jul 1959; Wing transferred to Plattsburgh AFB, New York and converted to LGM-25C Titan II ICBMs (373d 374th SMS) in 1963. 310th Bombardment Wing, Smoky Hill (later Schilling) AFB, Kansas Second Air Force, 10 May 1954-30 Dec 1958, B-47E Fifteenth Air Force, 31 Dec 1958-25 Feb 1965, B-47E 379th Bombardment Squadron 380th Bombardment Squadron 381st Bombardment Squadron 428th Bombardment Squadron (1959-1962)* Inactivated 25 June 1965 320th Bombardment Wing, March AFB, California Fifteenth Air Force, 23 Jul 1953-15 Sep 1960 YRB-47B, 1953+; B-47E, 1953-1960 441st Bombardment Squadron 442d Bombardment Squadron 443d Bombardment Squadron 444th Bombardment Squadron (1959-1960)* Converted to B-52F Stratofortress (441st BS) in 1963 321st Bombardment Wing, Pinecastle (later McCoy) AFB, Florida Second Air Force, 15 Dec 1953-1 Jan 1959, B-47B/E Eighth Air Force, 1 Jan 1959-25 Oct 1961, B-47E 445th Bombardment Squadron 446th Bombardment Squadron 447th Bombardment Squadron 448th Bombardment Squadron Inactivated 25 October 1961 340th Bombardment Wing, Sedalia (later Whiteman) AFB, Missouri Fifteenth Air Force, 8 Aug 1953-30 Dec 1958 Second Air Force, 31 Dec 1958-1 Sep 1963 YRB-47B, 1954-1955+; B-47E, 1955-1963 486th Bombardment Squadron 487th Bombardment Squadron 488th Bombardment Squadron 489th Bombardment Squadron (1958-1962)* Inactivated 1 September 1963 341st Bombardment Wing, Abiline (Later Dyess AFB), Texas Fifteenth Air Force, 1 Sep 1955-25 Jun 1961, B-47E 10th Bombardment Squadron 12th Bombardment Squadron 490th Bombardment Squadron 491st Bombardment Squadron (1958-1961)* Inactivated 25 Jun 1961 376th Bombardment Wing, Second Air Force, Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, 23 Feb 1954-14 Nov 1957, B-47E Eighth Air Force, Lockbourne AFB, Ohio, 15 Nov 1957-15 Mar 1955, B-47E, 1957-1961; EB-47L++, 1961-1965 512th Bombardment Squadron 513th Bombardment Squadron 514th Bombardment Squadron 515th Bombardment Squadron (1958-1961)* Inactivated 15 March 1965 379th Bombardment Wing, Homestead AFB, Florida Second Air Force, 1 Nov 1955-1 Jan 1959, B-47E 524th Bombardment Squadron 525th Bombardment Squadron (to 4136th SW, B-52H in 1961) 526th Bombardment Squadron (to 4042d SW, B-52H in 1961) 527th Bombardment Squadron (1958-1959)* Transferred to Wurtsmith AFB, Michigan; converted to B-52H Stratofortress (524 BS) in 1961 380th Bombardment Wing, Plattsburgh AFB, New York Second Air Force, 1 Jul 1955-25 Jun 1965 B-47E, 1955-195; EB-47E** 1962-1964 528th Bombardment Squadron 529th Bombardment Squadron 530th Bombardment Squadron 531st Bombardment Squadron (1959-1961)* Converted to B-52G Stratofortress (528th BS) in 1966 384th Bombardment Wing, Little Rock AFB, Arkansas Second Air Force, 1 Aug 1955-2 Apr 1966, B-47E 544th Bombardment Squadron 545th Bombardment Squadron 546th Bombardment Squadron 547th Bombardment Squadron (1958-1961)* Inactivated 1 September 1964 509th Bombardment Wing Fifteenth Air Force, Walker AFB, New Mexico, 1 Jul 1955-30 Jun 1958, B-47E Eighth Air Force, Pease AFB, New Hampshire, 1 Jul 1958-2 Apr 1966, B-47E 393d Bombardment Squadron 715th Bombardment Squadron 830th Bombardment Squadron 661st Bombardment Squadron (1959-1962)* Converted to B-52D Stratofortress (393d BS) in 1966

3 Aircraft formation of B-47Es of the 306th Bombardment Wing. Boeing B-47E-95-BW Stratojet 52-545 identifiable. That aircraft was retired to MASDC on 19 November 1965.

.* Activated as a result of the SAC phaseout and consolidated of B-47 units as the Stratojet began being replaced by B-52.

.** Three modified 55th SRW B-47Es (53-2315, 53-2316 and 53-2320) from Forbes AFB were modified and redesignated as EB-47E Tell Twos. Deployed to a SAC Detachment (TUSLOG Det-50) at Incirlik AB, Turkey to monitoring the telemetry that was broadcast during Soviet space launches from the IRBM facility at Kasputin Yar and the space center at Tyuratam. In service from 1958 until about 1967. In addition, the 301st BW and 380th BW also operated EB-47Es which were electronics countermeasure conversions of the standard B-47E. Not much is known about the USAF EB-47E program.^[1][2]

.*** The B-47As of the 306th BW were primarily training aircraft and were not considered as being combat ready. None of the B-47As ever saw any operational duty, and were withdrawn from active service by 1953, being replaced by B-47Bs.^[1]

.+ Equipped with the YRB-47B conversion of the B-47B, specifically intended for the training of crews for RB-47Es. Later converted to B-47E Bomber Configuration by March 1955^[1]

.++ 376th BW EB-47Ls were modified B-47Es used as an electronics communications aircraft which served as relay stations between other aircraft (such as the USAF "Looking Glass" EC-135) or between aircraft and ground stations during and after a nuclear attack.^[1]

RB-47 Strategic Reconnaissance units

RB-47Ks of the SAC 338th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron.

The RB-47 was designed to replace the RB-29 and RB-50 Superfortress aircraft which were serving in the long-range photo-reconnaissance role but which were rapidly approaching obsolescence. The RB-47 carried out many ferret missions around the periphery of Soviet territory, and sometimes inside on penetration flights to map planned routes for B-52s if combat missions over the Soviet Union ever became necessary. The reconnaissance production model was the RB-47E, with USAF deliveries beginning in 1953. The last of 255 RB-47Es were delivered in August 1955.^[1]

The YRB-47B was a prototype conversion of the B-47B specifically intended for the training of crews for RB-47Es. Delays in delivering the RB-47E, led to 90 B-47’s being converted to an interim reconnaissance fit with an 8 camera bomb-bay pod. The 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Wing received its first YRB-47B in April 1953, the 26th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing three months later, using them until they were swapped for the new RB-47E in 1954.^[1]

The RB-47H was an electronic reconnaissance and countermeasures version, with 35 aircraft being manufactured and delivered to the 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at Forbes AFB, Kansas in August 1955. A specialized version, the ERB-47H was a dedicated electronic ferret modification of three aircraft.^[1]

Fifteen RB-47Ks (53-426 to 53-4279) were also operated by the 55th SRW, 338th SRS. The RB-47K differed from the RB-47E by the addition of high-resolution, side-looking radars (SLAR) and air sampling equipment. It was used as an airborne weather information gathering system which would fly near the Soviet Border and sampling the radioactive fallout from nuclear tests. These were among the last Stratojets built.^[1]

Phaseout of the RB-47E began in October 1957, but the aircraft remained in service for another decade, with the last SAC B-47, a RB-47H (53-4296) of the 55th SRW was flown to Davis Monthan AFB for storage on 29 December 1967. These models were replaced with the Lockheed U-2 and SR-71 strategic reconnaissance aircraft.^[1]

26th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing Lockbourne AFB, Ohio 2d Air Force, 9 May 1952-30 Jun 1955 8th Air Force, 1 Jul 1955-1 Jul 1958 YRB-47 (1953-1954); RB-47B* (1953-1954); RB-47E (1954-1958), B-47E (1958) 3d Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron 4th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron 10th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron Wing inactivated 1 July 1958 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing 15th Air Force, Ramey AFB, Puerto Rico (1950-1954) Wing converted to Boeing RB-47's in 1954 upon Txfer from Ramey 15th Air Force, Forbes AFB, Kansas, (1954-1967) ERB-47H, RB-47H (1954-1967), RB-47K (1955-1962) 38th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron 338th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron 343d Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron Wing converted to Boeing RC-135s in 1968 70th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, Little Rock AFB, Arkansas 2d Air Force, 24 Jan 1955-25 Jun 1962 RB-47E (1955-1961), B-47E (1961-1962) 6th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron 26th Strategic Reconnaissance (later 681st Bombardment) Squadron Converted to B-47E medium bombers in late 1961; inactivated in 1962.

90th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing 15th Air Force, Forbes AFB, Kansas (1954-1960) RB-47E, 1954-1960 319th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron 320th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron 321st Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron Wing inactivated 20 June 1960 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Wing 2d Air Force, Lockbourne AFB, Ohio YRB-47, RB-47E (1953-1957) 322d Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron 323d Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron 324th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron Wing inactivated 8 November 1957

.* RB-47Bs were operated during 1953-54 by the 26th SRW. Unlike the later RB-47E, the RB-47B could only provide daylight photographic coverage^[1]

WB-47E Weather Reconnaissance units

Boeing WB-47E-60-BW Stratojet tail number 51-2417 of the 55th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron flying an operational mission from McClellan AFB, California. Retired on 12 Sep 1969.

B-47 Pilot training at Wichita AFB, Kansas - Air Training Command, 1951

WB-47E was the designation assigned to converted SAC B-47E medium bombers used for weather reconnaissance by the Air Weather Service (AWS). They had nose-mounted cameras that recorded cloud formations, and they carried air-sampling and data recording equipment inside a sensor pod in the bomb bay.^[1]

• 53d Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, Hunter AFB, Georgia (1963–1966); Ramey AFB, Puerto Rico, (1966–1969)
• 55th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, McClellan AFB, California, 1963–1969

The first of 34 WB-47Es was delivered to the AWS on 20 March 1963. The last operational USAF B-47 to fly was WB-47E-75-BW (51-7066) of the 55th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron on 30 October 1969. It was flown from McClellan AFB, California to Boeing Field, Washington, where subsequently it was restored to its SAC configuration and put on display at the Seattle Museum of Flight where it resides today.^[1]

4-Digit Training Units

B-47 training was originally planned to have been performed at Wichita AFB, Kansas, with Boeing manufacturing the aircraft on one side of the base as a joint tenant beginning in 1951. However a variety of problems converting the Wichita Municipal Airport to an Air Force Base kept training from being performed there until 1954. To accommodate B-47 training, Air Training Command activated Pinecastle AFB, Florida, on 10 September 1951 for B-47 training, however the training did not begin until early 1952 with the activation of the 3540th Combat Crew Training Wing.^[1]

• 3540th Combat Crew Training Wing (ATC) (10 Jan 1952-1 Jan 1954)

TB-47B, B-47B, 1952-1954

3542d Combat Crew (later Flying Training) Training Squadron

3544th Combat Crew (later Flying Training) Training Squadron

Replaced by : 4240th Flying Training Wing (SAC) (1 Jan-30 May 1954), Pinecastle AFB, Florida

B-47 crew training was moved from Pinecastle AFB to McConnell AFB in 1954; conducted under Air Training Command until 30 Dec 1958 when was reassigned to SAC. With the reassignment of the crew training wing, operational transition training on the B-47 began at Pinecastle with the 321st Bombardment Wing.^[1]

• 3520th Combat Crew Training Wing (ATC) (7 Jun 1951-1 Jan 1959)

3520th Combat Crew Training Squadron, 26 Oct 1954-1 Jul 1958

3521st Combat Crew Training Squadron, 26 Oct 1954-8 Sep 1955

3522d (later 4347th) Combat Crew Training Squadron, 26 Oct 1954-31 Dec 1958

3523d (later 4348th) Combat Crew Training Squadron, 26 Oct 1954-31 Dec 1958

3525th Combat Crew Training Squadron, 26 Oct 1954-8 Sep 1955

3526th Combat Crew Training Squadron, 26 Oct 1954-31 Dec 1958

Replaced by: 4347th Combat Crew Training Wing (SAC), (1 Jan 1959-15 Jun 1963) McConnell AFB, Kansas

TB-47B, B-47B, 1954-1963

4347th Combat Crew Training Squadron, 1 Jan 1959-15 Jun 1963

4348th Combat Crew Training Squadron, 1 Jan 1959-15 Jun 1963

4349th Combat Crew Training Squadron, 1 Jan 1959-15 Jun 1963

4350th Combat Crew Training Squadron, 1 Sep 1959-15 Jun 1962

Crew training on the B-47 ended in June 1963 as part of the planned aircraft phaseout and retirement.

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

• Manning, Thomas A. (2005), History of Air Education and Training Command, 1942–2002. Office of History and Research, Headquarters, AETC, Randolph AFB, Texas ASIN: B000NYX3PC (Training Units)
• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556. (Squadron Lookups)
• Mueller, Robert, Air Force Bases Volume I, Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982, Office of Air Force History, 1989 (McConnell AFB section)
• Ravenstein, Charles A. Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories, 1947–1977. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History, 1984. ISBN 0-912799-12-9. (Wing Lookups)
• 55th WRS lineage and history
• Air Weather Reconnaissance Organization (WB-47E Weather Reconnaissance units)

1. Tegler, Jan (2000). B-47 Stratojet: Boeing's Brilliant Bomber, New York: McGraw-Hill Professional, ISBN 0-07-135567-7
2. The EB-47E

External links