|
Description
| Manufacturer: | Convair | |
| Base model: | B-36 | |
| Designation: | RB-36 | |
| Version: | H | |
| Nickname: | Peacemaker | |
| Designation System: | U.S. Air Force | |
| Designation Period: | 1924-Present | |
| Basic role: | Bomber | |
| Modified Mission: | Reconnaissance | |
| See Also: | ||
Specifications
| Not Yet Available |
Known serial numbers
Examples of this type may be found at
| Museum | City | State |
| Castle Air Museum | Atwater | California |
RB-36H on display
Castle Air Museum |
Recent comments by our visitors
| Erin Bang-Knudsen Seattle, WA | Hi, My grandfather was Clarence H. Lamping. He died in 2009 of natural causes, and had many, many amazing stories of his career as a U.S. Air Force pilot. Including this one...... :-) 06/13/2015 @ 16:35 [ref: 69123] |
| Charles D. Morris Roth Salt Lake, UT | I served as a flight electrician on 2 different lead flight crews at Travis AFB 1952/1955 on the RB 36 D an H models. Crew #1 Major Oscar E. Milam aircraft commander. On the SAC Recon and Bombing computation in 1953 we were # 1 and the crew was disbanded sending the pilots and engineers to Texas as evaluators. I was then assigned to Major Tom Huddlesons crew and this crew Was # 1in 1954 making me the only one to be on 2 winning crews at that time.
For trivia, the RB36 photo I downloaded prior to this message had just returned from a endurance flight to see how long it could fly without refueling. If I recall it was 53 hours. It was done with all of the 20mm guns and amo removed. Notice on the photo no nose guns showing. This data collected probable had some influence on only having tail guns on the J model. Enjoy the photo and the trivia and email me if you have a question. Sincerely, Charles D. Morris 04/05/2015 @ 08:41 [ref: 69016] |
| John Mazzo Springwater, NY | As a member of an Air Police Sqdn. at Rapid City AFB in 1950 we were assigned to guard the RB 36--during some of the most brutaly cold weather you can imagine--20--30 below zero was a common occurance and these shifts were 8 long hours-any exposed skin was sure to become frost bitten.
on the rare occassions when hot coffee was brought out most of us just held the paper cups to try and warm our numb hands and then threw the coffee away----as was stated in another comment we also went to the 3-3-3- schedule which resulted in working 9 straight days on and then 4 days off the days on were (3)-8 to 4 shifts (3) (4)-to 12 shifts and (3) midnight to 8 shifts (these were always the coldest) Rapid City AFB was a favorite base for General, Curtis E.LeMay to try and breach security, and he was a master at it--if he was successful you had better hope that was your day off, he accepted no exscuses The B-36 its self was a majestic bird, to watch it take off and land was a special sight,you could watch it coming in for miles, it appeared it would never land and seemed to be floating, when it finaly touched down there would be at least one feathered engine and an oil covered wing A high point was when the 36 returned from a long flight and it was assigned to us for security, the first thing --we did was climb aboard and raid they galley--roast beef and ham sandwiches, along with other edible treats left over by the flight crew, were always first rate -- and always appreciated SAC always had a gung ho attitude,Gen LeMay saw to that but it was first rate outfit and I was proud to serve in it 02/04/2013 @ 07:58 [ref: 67547] |
| Raymond J. Crawley , AZ | I had the unique opportunity of flying as an aircrew gunner AFSC 42351E, a/c sn 50-1109, crew L21F, Travis ,AFB, 31st Recon Bomb Sqdn From March 1955 to Dec 1957. I have just under 500 hrs total time Do not remember a single flight that we did not return without at least 1 engine shutdown, from oil loss from the rockerbox covers. My gun/scanner position bubble was always covered with oil from #3.
I wouldn't trade that experience for the world. I do miss it. R J Crawley a/k/a Cold War Gunner 07/08/2012 @ 07:47 [ref: 63097] |
| Kevin Kearney , NJ | Did any of you folks out there in B-36 land know Capt. Harold G. Smith? He was aboard RB-36H 51-13721 which crashed in Newfoundland on March 18, 1953. He was based at Rapid City. (Same flight that killed General Ellsworth, hence the naming of Rapid City AFB after him.)
Harold was my Mother's cousin. Would like to know more... 06/02/2011 @ 08:47 [ref: 39175] |
| Robert Burch Wichita, KS | I was a camera repairman in the 5th Recon Wing at Travis AFB, CA, from May, 1952 to May, 1955. During that time I was TDY to Rapid City AFB, SD, Eielson AFB, AK and Anderson AFB, Guam. I retired from the AF at Beale AFB, CA, on December 31, 1972 after 25 years of service. This last duty was as the Optical Sensor Branch Supt in the 9th Strat Recon Wing, supporting the SR-71 aircraft program.
This was a superlative aircraft, but the RB-36 was also a fine recon aircraft. I enjoyed working on both systems. 02/18/2011 @ 17:56 [ref: 36074] |
| Zacharias P.Rouvelas Cranston, RI | I was stationed at Ellsworth AFB from 1950 to 1954. Our pilot was Major Clarence Lamping, and we crashed 51-13719 in Roswell,New Mexico on Feb 18th,1953. Miracuously, all of us survived the crash. I really miss those days of flying 25-30 hrs in the monster. Jack 10/03/2010 @ 12:25 [ref: 31095] |
| LARRY LEGRRIS LAGUNA WOODS, CA | WHEN I WAS ON OKNAWA IN 1953 AFTER THE WAR WITH KOREA WAS ENDED IN AUGUST, I WAS ABLE TO SEE 45 B-36 COME TO OKINAWA AND LAND THERE, ALSO 45 WENT TO JAPAN.WAS AN AWSUME SIGHT TO SEE THEM, ALSO GOT TO GO INTO ONE AND SEE WHAT IT WAS LIKE INSIDE THE AIRCRAFT.WAS IN THE 1632 SUPPLY SQUADRON. 08/06/2010 @ 09:55 [ref: 28689] |
| John Lutz Atwater, CA | My first flight in any aircraft as a young 18 year old, was in a B-36 in 1955, as a Bombing Navigation System technician. This was one of the most awesome and memorable events of my life, one I'll never forget. I also went on to become a proud member of the B-36 Hundred hour club... flight personnel who accumulated more than 100 flying hours in B-36's. Later, B-52's replaced the B-36 at Loring AFB, and I went on to fly as a Bomb Nav technician on B-52's before going on to other things in the Air Force. I ultimately made a career in the Air Force before retiring at Castle AFB, in November 1978. 07/19/2010 @ 20:58 [ref: 28278] |
| Dean Body Kettle Falls, WA | I was radio/ecm operator on RB-36 #4492022 and #4492015 at Ramey AFB from 1952 to 1954. I got just about 1000 hrs in RB-36's and about 100 in B-29's. I didn't know there were any nukes in Puerto Rico as we were in recon. We had quite a bit of trouble keeping the big birds engines running wirh out having to shut at least one down per mission. I thought it was a great airplane but was glad it never went to combat as it was pretty slow and big. Puerto Rico was a great place to be stationed back then. Lots of fond memories. 04/02/2009 @ 12:31 [ref: 24062] |
Recent photos uploaded by our visitors
