MovieChat Forums > Strategic Air Command (1955) Discussion > A B-36 in Russian skies with Mig-15s and...

A B-36 in Russian skies with Mig-15s and -17s?

posted 8 years ago by mhansen-25806
3 replies | jump to latest

I don't give the bomber much of a chance. As I recall, USAF fighters in the 50s didn't have the range to escort such a plane.

"When you come to a fork in the road, take it." - Yogi Berra

[–] rockmail 8 years ago

Would they be perfect? No. But the USAF wasn't foolhardy. The B-36 flew very high and very fast for the times, MiGs weren't a huge threat on the way in, they couldn't reach most of the B-36s in time before bomb release.
The trip home would probably have been more risky, but the short range of the MiGs and the very accurate large cannons on the bombers would help.
But all in all, it wasn't until advanced ground to air missiles were developed that the B-36 became obsolete.

[–] Vega_Lyra 8 years ago

What was the maximum altitude and climb rate of the Mig 15? I figured that the B-36 would be so high that any interception would be fruitless unless advanced warning was given some long minutes/hour? early.

Conquer your fear, and I promise you, you will conquer death.

[–] Vega_Lyra 8 years ago

Just a little tid bit of information. Look up the B-45 Tornado. Early in the Cold War the crews of this intermediate jet bomber were given the potential task of having to fly a 1 way trip to drop a nuke on Moscow if given the order. The plane didn't have the range for a return flight but it was the only aircraft available before the B-36 was operational. I can only imagine what kind of guts those crews had to have. I'm glad they never had to fulfill the mission.

Conquer your fear, and I promise you, you will conquer death.