This Week in Travis History

  • Published
  • By Mark Wilderman
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing historian
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  In January 1951, the 5th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing received its first factory-fresh RB-36D. During 1951 and 1952, the 5th SRW phased out the B-29 Superfortress, replacing it with RB-36D, E, F, and H aircraft. When the host 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing was transferred to Mountain Home Air Force Base in March 1953, the 5th SRW became the host wing at Travis Air Force Base. By December 1952, the 5th SRW RB-36 fleet had grown to 43 of the massive aircraft.

Originally designed during WWII as a strategic intercontinental bomber capable of bombing Nazi-occupied Europe from the continental U.S., the RB-36 possessed an extremely long range of up to 10,000 miles and a combat radius was less than 4,000 miles. The aircraft was not capable of aerial refueling-it didn't need it, as it was capable of flying for nearly two days on internal fuel and limited mainly by the endurance of the crew. RB-36 missions lasting over 24-40 hours were common among 5th SRW crews at Travis during the 1950s.

2012 Cold War Heritage Displays at Travis AFB

The eight-year 5th Bomb Wing B-36 era is one of the most interesting, but little-known, periods in the 68-year history of Travis. During 2012, Travis will remember the RB-36 Cold War era and honor its veterans with new heritage displays at the Exchange, the 60th Air Mobility Wing Headquarters Bldg. 51 and the Travis Heritage Center. The Exchange display will include a video wall heritage display of the significant events in Travis history, including the Cold War, and highlighting Travis heroes. The Wing Headquarters heritage display will feature lithographs of the major aircraft types based at Fairfield-Suisun and Travis since 1942, including Travis-based B-29, RB-36, B-52G, F-86D and F-102 aircraft of the Cold War era. The Travis Heritage Center is currently constructing a new "Cold War Fortress Travis" heritage display of the 1949 to 68 period featuring models of B-29, RB-36, B-52G and KC-135A aircraft.