The B-45 Tornado may not be as well-known by name as some of its descendants, but it was the original groundbreaking aircraft—the first operational American jet bomber. Its contributions to aviation history continue to hold up, and reviewing ten defining moments serves to help explain why this Cold War pioneer continues to matter.
Now, there exist just three B-45s remaining in museums, providing a glimpse into the infancy of jet-powered bombing. These historic planes can be viewed at Castle Air Museum in California, the Strategic Air and Space Museum in Nebraska, and the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Ohio. Their existence reminds us of a fleeting but historical chapter of military aviation.
In the midst of the Cold War, only a few B-45s were used by the British on covert missions. These were no routine training exercises but deep-penetration surveillance sorties into Soviet territory, utilizing the RB-45C model. The aircraft were flown by British pilots but owned by the United States. How extensive these brazen missions were only became public decades later and had lasting implications for the intelligence protocols of the era.
The Tornado was not one airplane model but a series of variants. The XB-45 prototypes gave rise to the first B-45A bombers, and then the B-45C with air refueling, and the RB-45C reconnaissance variant. Recce versions were especially useful, particularly in missions such as Fandango, also referred to as Backbreaker, that converted many B-45s into nuclear missions by incorporating additional fuel tanks and defensive systems.
Performance-wise, the B-45 was impressive for its time. Equipped with four General Electric J47 turbojets, it was able to fly at speeds of approximately 570 miles per hour and climb to almost 38,000 feet. Its combat radius was roughly 1,000 miles, and its maximum weight capacity for ordnance, including nuclear weapons, was 22,000 pounds. Tail-mounted .50 caliber machine guns provided limited defense, since the bomber depended more on speed and surprise than on heavy firepower.
With the intensification of the Cold War, the B-45 was deployed to Europe with a nuclear deterrence role. Nuclear-capable B-45s were deployed to the United Kingdom in 1952, fortifying NATO’s strategic position. The medium-sized Tornado, though, was capable of doing missions that previously were feasible only for very large aircraft, showing the capability of jet-powered bombers in the nuclear age.
The Tornado also came into action in Korea, though not originally meant for front-line action. It performed bombing and reconnaissance sorties, and its jet propulsion made it superior to propeller aircraft. However, with the introduction of MiG-15 fighter aircraft, the B-45 had to change tactics, and nighttime missions became the favored approach for safety reasons. The reconnaissance versions, particularly the RB-45C, were crucial for intelligence gathering throughout the war.
The B-45 was a pioneer in several ways, with several firsts under its belt. It was the first four-engine jet bomber of the U.S. military, the first mass-produced jet bomber, and the first aircraft to conduct aerial refueling and drop a nuclear bomb. All these firsts set the stage for the next generation of high-altitude, high-speed bombers that would rule the Cold War era.
As with any of the first planes of its kind, the B-45 had its challenges. Earlier models equipped with J35 engines were underpowered and mostly limited to training missions. The later aircraft received the more dependable J47 engines, improved electronics, and safety features such as ejection seats. Even with these advances, heavy maintenance requirements mitigated against the Tornado’s operational effectiveness during its operational lifespan.
The introduction of the Boeing B-47 Stratojet ultimately led to the retirement of the B-45 from frontline service. The B-47 was faster, had greater payload and distance capabilities, and soon became the main medium jet bomber for the Air Force. The Tornado was phased out in 1959, a replacement coming in the form of newer supersonic bombers like the B-58 Hustler, and its short but influential stint came to a close.
Despite its relatively short operational life, the B-45 made a lasting impact on the history of aviation. It spanned the transition from propeller-pusher bombers of World War II to Cold War jet-powered fleets. With nuclear deterrence operations, top-secret reconnaissance, and everything in between, the Tornado shaped America’s early strategic airpower and set the stage for the post-war bombers that followed.