das Nordamerika B-45 Tornado war der erste einsatzfähige Düsenbomber der United States Air Force (USAF) und der erste mehrstrahlgetriebene Bomber der Welt, der in der Luft betankt wurde. Die B-45 war in den frühen 1950er Jahren für mehrere Jahre ein wichtiger Teil der nuklearen Abschreckung der Vereinigten Staaten, wurde aber bald von der Boeing B-47 Stratojet abgelöst. B-45 und RB-45 dienten von 1950 bis 1959 im Strategic Air Command der United States Air Force.
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A Bridge Between Eras
das Nordamerika B-45 Tornadoholds the distinction of being the first jet-powered bomber to enter service with the U.S. Air Force and the first to carry a nuclear weapon. Developed at the tail end of WWII, it was a transition aircraft—pairing a traditional, straight-wing bomber layout with the revolutionary new power of four turbojets. While it was quickly overshadowed by the swept-wing B-47 Stratojet, the Tornado proved vital during the early Cold War as a nuclear deterrent and a high-altitude reconnaissance platform.
2 × .50 cal M3 machine guns (tail); Up to 22,000 lbs of bombs
Design Engineering: Twin Nacelles and Nuclear Adapters
Twin Engine Nacelles:To keep the wing “clean,” North American paired the four engines into two large pods. This design provided significant thrust but concentrated a massive amount of weight on the straight wing, which limited the aircraft’s top speed compared to later swept-wing designs.
The Bomb Bay:The B-45 was designed with a massive internal bomb bay. Because early nuclear weapons (like the Mark 5) were so large, the B-45 had to be retrofitted with specialized “Silverplate” style modifications to carry and release them.
Direct Vision Cockpit:Unlike the fighter-style bubble canopies of the later B-47, the B-45 featured a traditional “greenhouse” nose for the bombardier, reflecting its design heritage from WWII heavy bombers like the B-25 Mitchell.
High-Speed Stability:The B-45 was noted for its exceptionally smooth flight characteristics at high altitudes, making it an ideal platform for the precision required in aerial photography and early electronic intelligence (ELINT).
Combat History: The Secret Spy of the RAF
The Korean War:While not used for heavy bombing in Korea due to the success of the B-29, the RB-45C (reconnaissance version) flew dangerous missions over the peninsula, relying on its speed to evade North Korean MiGs—though it eventually required escort.
Operation Ju-jitsu:In one of the most secretive chapters of the Cold War, the Royal Air Force (RAF) “borrowed” B-45s from the USAF. Since US pilots were forbidden from overflying the Soviet Union, British crews in US markings flew daring deep-penetration night reconnaissance missions over Soviet territory to map radar defenses.
Nuclear Pioneer:The B-45 was the first jet capable of mid-air refueling, a capability that allowed it to reach targets deep within Eastern Europe from bases in the United Kingdom.
Rapid Obsolescence:The Tornado’s career was short. By 1959, the much faster and longer-ranged B-47 Stratojet had completely replaced it in the bomber role, though the RB-45C reconnaissance models served slightly longer.
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