B47stratojetAssoc history Chapter 21

The RB-47H was an electronic reconnaissance and countermeasures version of the B-47E. It was built in response to a mid 1951 requirement laid down for an aircraft that would be capable of countering enemy air defense systems. An additional pressurized compartment was carried in the area formerly occupied by the short bomb bay. The compartment carried additional electronic equipment intended to locate and analyze enemy radar emissions as well as three operators, bringing the total crew to six. Self-protection equipment such as transmitters and chaff dispensers were provided for the jamming of enemy radar signals.

The first RB-47H entered service with the 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at Forbes AFB, Kansas, in August of 1955. The last RB-47H was delivered in January of 1957. A total of 35 RB-47H aircraft were built. Three of the RB-47Hs were delivered as ERB-47H electronic ferret aircraft.

The RB-47H carried out many ferret missions around the periphery of Soviet territory, and sometimes inside. Shortly after the U-2 incident of May 1, 1960, an RB-47H was shot down by Soviet fighters over the Bering Sea.

The last SAC B-47, a RB-47H (53-4296) of the 55th SRW was flown to Davis-Monthan AFB for storage on December 29, 1967, bringing the era of B-47 service with the USAF to an end.

Serial Numbers of the Boeing RB-47H Stratojet:

53-4280/4309 4291, 4293/4294 converted to RB-47H. (32)
53-6245, 6246, and 6249 converted to ERB-47H. (3)