The B-36 Peacemaker was the greatest of all American bombers produced. Its wingspan 230 feet was almost a fifty percent greater than that of the great B-52 that replaced it. During his eight years of service, which is one of a force to deter U.S. aggression by a potential enemy. It was "keep the peace." It is famous for its "never a shot being fired in anger."
Development of the huge plane began in 1941, when it seems that Britain would soon fall to Nazi Germany. The Army Air Force wanted a bomber that could fly from America to Europe, drop bombs, then return (combat radius) The first prototype flew on August 8, 1946. The first operational models were delivered to Strategic Air Command 1948. There were many problems with them and the fleet was not fully operational until 1951.
The B-36 achieved its design goal. Its combat radius with a load of 10,000 pounds (a small nuclear bomb) was 3740 miles nautical. With its maximum bomb load of 86,000 pounds (conventional bombs), its combat radius was reduced to 1757 miles nautical.
