When Strategic Air Command was formed in 1947 its few flying units were equipped with the Boeing B-29 Superfortress. Few of these aircraft were fit for flight and the crews were under-trained. It would be General Curtis E. LeMay who transformed the entire organisation. Not only would SAC's performance be vastly improved, it would also begin receiving aircraft capable of delivering nuclear weapons to targets in Russia. Having transitioned through the B-29, B-36 and B-50, it was time to enter the jet age. Boeing already had a strong record in bomber design, and the requirement for a medium-range jet bomber would lead to the creation of the B-47 Stratojet. Drawing on aerodynamic knowledge gained from Germany at the end of the Second World War, Boeing's designers produced a revolutionary aircraft. Ultimately, 2,042 B-47s were built, the majority being B-47Es, although it would be the specialist variants that remained in service after the bombers were retired. Following the usual Warpaint format, this latest volume offers a comprehensive look at the aircraft, its history and development, and its operational use. This book is written by Kev Darling with colour profiles and plans by Sam Pearson.

By Kev Darling