ObsessedNuker
↑
Am trying to isolate some of your statements for response.
I wrote:
The North American B-45 aircraft is one of the last I'd select for an overflight, since it was relatively slow and had no real altitude capability. The missions were discussed in the unspecified reference (Paul Lashmar?) If so, the book is excellent as far as it goes, but says nothing about RAF Canberra bombers equipped with Spectre rocket engines climbing away from random MiG-15s, or operations conducted by 'Featherweight" B-36s which occasionally sighted MiGs far below them.
You Responded:
"Probably because none of those stories have any factual basis in reality. A simple glance at the specifications shows that any B-36 variant has a lower ceiling then the MiG-15. Even the highest altitude of the RB-36 “featherweights” I’ve heard of that was credible was around 50,000 feet, about the same as a ‘15."
I note that several of my Technical Reports to Wright Air Development Center, on dynamic performance analysis, written as far back as 1959, still retain their security status. Possibly some B-36 overflights are not known to the general public. Please share with us your thoughts on RB-57D overflights of the USSR. Fact or Fiction in your opinion?
You listed losses of US aircraft in the contexts of overflights of the Soviet Union-
My response:
Every one of the losses you chose took place at relatively low altitude over the Sea of Japan. Not one during a deep penetration of the USSR.
Your reply which was partly incomprehensible to me-
"Tgere’s actually no indications at what altitude these intercepts took place at. The location, Ingive, but then as previously noted recon missions were rather ultra-cautious and often aborted when it looked like the Russians might pull an intercept, so even that is not proof positive of inability to intercept."
I continue:
Further- Contemporary reports were clear that none of these intercepts involved flight over land. I concede that my assumption of relatively low altitude (compared with the altitudes during deep penetration flights which were the topic of discussion) was based only on familiarity with the topic.
If you like , we can discuss altitude performance of RB-36 variants relative to the Mig 15- for example wing loading, stall speed and demonstrated turn radii, all of which favor the '36.
Edit- While searching for a quick check of wing loading data, I just visited Wikipedia. The B-36 (under "Peacemaker") is credited with penetrations of the Soviet Union and -the RB-36-III variant- with demonstrating flight at 58,000 feet. For accuracy, they should have identified the aircraft as a "J" variant, and the altitude as being somewhat higher.
Dynasoar