Convair B-36 Peacemaker

Convair B-36 Peacemaker

This bomber followed the B-29 and B-50 to mention a few.  It was primarily a cold war weapon.  We needed a way to deliver nuclear weapons.

Initially it was under powered with six pusher propeller engines.  Later iterations boasted an additional four jet engines.  It was a Strategic Air Command weapon and was ready to fly on short notice should the need arise.

It also fulfilled probably the earliest role of aircraft starting in WW I.  It was an essential roll and a life and death mission.  What was it?  Reconnaissance!  The ground fighters, the army, demanded the data quickly to plan army strategy.  Being a photographer I was extremely interest in the role it fulfilled.

Boston Camera for the B-36

You will notice the size of the lens, 240 inches (6096mm), f/8, 1/400 shutter and used a 36"x 18" negative.  It had so much resolution that it could record a golf ball at 45,000 feet.  It was built at Boston University Optical Research Lab.  This camera can be seen at the National Museum of the US Air Force, Dayton, OH  It is and was the world's largest camera used for reconnaissance which could be defined as military observation of a region to locate an enemy or ascertain strategic features.

This bomber started out with four smaller wheels on each landing gear and migrated to two giant ones on each landing gear.

 Thanks to Wikipedia and for the information provided.

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