The story of
The Impact of U.S. Aerial
Reconnaissance
during the Early Cold War
(1947-1962):
Service & Sacrifice of the
Cold Warriors
Appendix B
U.S. Cold War Aerial Reconnaissance Aircraft Capabilities

Page 1 of 1 Page
Yr Ent
Service
______

1946


1946


1948


1950


1950

1955

1956



1950



1951




1952


1953

1953

1955


1957



1956

1960


1964
Acft
Type
____

P2V


F-13


RB-29
(151)

P4M-1


RB-50B
(152)
-50E

-50G



RB-45C



RB-36D




RC-97


RB-47B

-47E

-47H


RB-57D



U-2B

U-2F


SR-71
(157)
Mission &
Function
___________

PHOTINT
OBSERV

PHOTINT


PHOTINT
SIGINT

ELINT


PHOTINT

PHOTINT

SIGINT



PHOTINT
SIGINT


PHOTINT




PHOTINT


PHOTINT

PHOTINT

SIGINT
(155)

PHOTINT
SIGINT


PHOTINT

ELINT


PHOTINT
ELINT/COMINT
Top
Speed
_____

400


375


380


540


385







500



411




375


606






530



460
(156)



2,000
Maximum
Alt / Range
_________

21,000/2,800


31,850/3,200


31,850/4,200


17,000/2,000


37,000/5,270







45,000/1,200
UNL(153)


40,000/8,000




/4,300


47,000/4,600
UNL





65,000/3,000



72,000/2,950
UNL



+80,000/3,000
UNL
Crew and
Equipment
_________

8-6 Cameras


11-6 Cameras
(150)

11-6 Cameras


9-8 Cameras


11-9 Cameras

-11 Cameras

-ELINT Suite



3-12/24 Cam.
-COMINT
Suite

20-14 Cam.
(154)
-ECM Suite
Extra Fuel

12-Cameras


3-8 Cameras

-11 Cameras

6-ECM Suite


1-Camera &
ELINT Suite


1-Camera
ELINT Suite



2 Cameras &
SIGINT Suite

Attributions

(150) Complement of machine guns removed except for tail guns on those missions requiring more speed and altitude.
(151) RB-29 was same as F-13 execpt for designation (which chaanged in 1948) and minor modifications of equipment.
(152) RB-50 used same B-29 Superfortress airframe as the RB-29/F-13 but was modified with improved more-powerful engines, an extended body and hightened tail stabalizer which improved speed and increased altitude.
(153) With newly-developed air-to-air refueling, the RB-45 (and its successor reconnaissance aircraft) had unlimited range – only dependent on crew fatigue.
(154) Guns retained on aircraft.
(155) The RB-47 H-model was equipped with electronics equipment and three electronic warfare (EW) offficers, called Ravens.
(156) Top speed was 528 but usually cruised at about 460 during its mission profile.
(157) Though this aircraft was not operational until after early Cold War period, the OXCART program was initiated under President Eisenhower’s administration (as was the U-2 and satellite programs). Its also listed to illustrate the performance enhancement from the U-2 to this newer follow-on generation of aerial reconnaissance aircraft.

End of Page 1 of 1 Page, Appendix B — Go to Appendix C

or you may go to

Cover Page — Editor’s Introduction — Overview

Acknowledgments — Table of Contents

Chapter — 1 — 2 — 3 — 4 — 5

Appendixes — A — B — C — D

Bibliography — Maps & Figures Listing

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