Flightline photo of B-45As of the 47th Light Bomb Wing, Langley Air Force Base, Va., before trans-atlantic flight to Sculthorpe, England, in July 1952. Identifiable aircraft are (nearest to farthest) 47-082, 47-089, 47-050, 47-061, 47-058, 47-011, unknown, unknown, 47-059, 47-064, unknown. (U.S. Air Force photo)
"The primary mission of the B-45A is the destruction by bombs of land or naval material objectives.
The crew of four consists of the pilot, co-pilot-radio operator, bombardier-navigator, and tail gunner.
Special features provided in the B-45A include thermal anti-icing, cabin pressurization, heating and cooling, ejection type seats for pilot and co-pilot and emergency escape hatches for bombardier-navigator and tail gunner. Communication equipment, emergency flight controls and instruments are installed at the co-pilot's station.
A type E-4 Auto Pilot, bombing-navigation radar and A-1 Fire Control System are installed as standard equipment."
The B-45A's first flight was Feb. 24, 1948 and production was completed in March 1950. The last B-45A (S/N 47-097 was used for static ground testing only).
Type
Number built/
converted
Remarks
B-45A
97
First USAF-production all-jet bomber
TECHNICAL NOTES: Armament: Two .50-cal. machine guns with 600 rounds each in the tail and up to 22,000 lbs. of bombs (loads included one 22,000-lb. "Grand Slam" or one 12,000-lb. "Tall Boy" or 14 1,000-lb. general purpose bombs) Bomb load: 10,000 lbs. Engines: Two General Electric J47-GE-7 or -13 and two General Electric J47-GE-9 or -15 axial flow turbojets of 5,820 lbs. thrust each (-7 or -13) and 6,000 lbs. thrust each (-9 or -15); Optional Assisted Take Off rockets were two Aerojet XLR13-AJ-1 of 4,000 lbs. thrust each with 60 second duration Maximum speed: 492 knots at 4,000 ft. maximum power (combat weight) Combat speed: 440 knots at combat weight Range: 1,036 nautical miles (Basic Mission I); 1,886 nautical miles maximum ferry range Service ceiling: 48,500 ft. (maximum power, combat weight of 50,305 lb., 100 fpm, ferry mission) Span: 89 ft. 0 in. Length: 75 ft. 3 in. Height: 25 ft. 2 in. Weight: 91,775 lbs. Take-off weight: 81,418 lbs. Crew: Four (pilot, copilot-radio operator, bombardier-navigator, tail gunner) Serial numbers: 47-001 to 47-097
