Altus in Jackson County, Oklahoma — The American South (West South Central)

The City of Altus B-47 Bomber

Photographed by James Hulse, October 27, 2025

1. The City of Altus B-47 Bomber Marker

Inscription.

The City of Altus B-47 Bomber. . On April 22, 1955 Col. Audrin R. Walker, 96th Bombardment Wing Commander, landed this, the first bomber, on the runway of Altus Air Force Base., In special ceremonies attended by a number of prominent national, state and local figures, the bomber was christened "The City of Altus" with an easy-breaking bottle containing a mixture of waters from the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and from Lake Altus. The blending of the waters was symbolic of the stratojet's defensive capabilities for the entire United States., Built by the Boeing Aircraft Co. Tulsa, Okla., the bomber was then the best in the world with a long striking range. It could re-fuel in mid-air and fly around the world without landing. Wingspread - 116 feet; length - 107 feet; overall weight - 230,000 pounds; powered by 6 J47 General Electric Turbojets with 6000 pounds thrust each; speed was in the 600 miles per hour class; ceiling was more than 40,000 feet range was more than 3000 miles; required a crew of three - pilot, co-pilot, and navigator-bombardier., The plane was given to the city of Altus by the Air Force with special ceremonies on Armed Forces Day, May 14, 1961., Reverse Side , In Memory of the Altus Air Force Base B-47 crews who gave their lives in service to their country.. , Date: 3 Jan 1956 - B-47e 52-0070 , Capt. Edward Stein, Aircraft Commander . Capt Rex Witzel, Pilot . A/2C James Stratford, Crew Chief, Date: 6 Nov 1956 - B-47e 51-2421 , Maj Joseph E Wilford, Aircraft Commander . Capt Francis Paul Bouchard, Pilot . 1st Lt Andrew J Toalson, Aircraft Observer . Capt Lee D Ellis Jr, Instructor Aircraft Observer, Date: 7 Apr 1957 - B-47e 51-2425 , Capt Don Rodgers, Aircraft Commander . 1st Lt Sherman Bozeman Jr, Pilot . 1st Lt Frank R Clausi, Navigator . SSgt Haskell E Gray, Crew Chief, 3rd Panel , Refurbished by 11th Air Refueling Sq. SAC, May 1976, Col. P. W. Brown, Cmdr.. Lt Col David Powell . 1Lt Charles Flood . SMS Berlon Graham . MSG Richard Morrison . MSG Anthony Rose . MSG Thomas Westcott . TSG Vance Kelley . TSG Ronald Weatherly . TSG Dennis Wolfe . SSG David Armstrong . SSG Lonnie Keasling . SSG Andrew Lario . SSG Stephen Williams . SGT Thomas Barnes . SGT Anthony Gurley . SGT Larry Holden . SGT Stephen Orosco . SGT Robert Phel . SGT Michael Rivera . SGT Raymond Sanders . SGT Kermit Steria . SGT Jerry Temple . AIC John Borden . AIC Orvil Greer . AIC Thomas Miley . AIC Daniel Trujillo . AMN George Connolly . AMN James Dushenke . AMN Lon Kidd . AMN Todo Muller . AMN Stan Sells . AMN Thomas Senters . AMN Terry Whitaker . Mr Larry Hill . Mr Leroy Walker

On April 22, 1955 Col. Audrin R. Walker, 96th Bombardment Wing Commander, landed this, the first bomber, on the runway of Altus Air Force Base.

In special ceremonies attended by a number of prominent national, state & local figures, the bomber was christened "The City of Altus" with an easy-breaking bottle containing a mixture of waters from the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and from Lake Altus. The blending of the waters was symbolic of the stratojet's defensive capabilities for the entire United States.

Built by the Boeing Aircraft Co. Tulsa, Okla., the bomber was then the best in the world with a long striking range. It could re-fuel in mid-air and fly around the world without landing. Wingspread - 116 feet; length - 107 feet; overall weight - 230,000 pounds; powered by 6 J47 General Electric Turbojets with 6000 pounds thrust each; speed was in the 600 miles per hour class; ceiling was more than 40,000 feet range was more than 3000 miles; required a crew of three - pilot, co-pilot, and navigator-bombardier.

The plane was given to the city of Altus by the Air Force with special ceremonies on Armed Forces Day, May 14, 1961.

Reverse Side
In Memory of the Altus Air Force Base B-47 crews who gave their lives in service to their country.
Date: 3 Jan 1956

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- B-47e 52-0070
Capt. Edward Stein, Aircraft Commander • Capt Rex Witzel, Pilot • A/2C James Stratford, Crew Chief

Date: 6 Nov 1956 - B-47e 51-2421
Maj Joseph E Wilford, Aircraft Commander • Capt Francis Paul Bouchard, Pilot • 1st Lt Andrew J Toalson, Aircraft Observer • Capt Lee D Ellis Jr, Instructor Aircraft Observer

Date: 7 Apr 1957 - B-47e 51-2425
Capt Don Rodgers, Aircraft Commander • 1st Lt Sherman Bozeman Jr, Pilot • 1st Lt Frank R Clausi, Navigator • SSgt Haskell E Gray, Crew Chief

3rd Panel
Refurbished by 11th Air Refueling Sq. SAC, May 1976, Col. P. W. Brown, Cmdr. Lt Col David Powell • 1Lt Charles Flood • SMS Berlon Graham • MSG Richard Morrison • MSG Anthony Rose • MSG Thomas Westcott • TSG Vance Kelley • TSG Ronald Weatherly • TSG Dennis Wolfe • SSG David Armstrong • SSG Lonnie Keasling • SSG Andrew Lario • SSG Stephen Williams • SGT Thomas Barnes • SGT Anthony Gurley • SGT Larry Holden • SGT Stephen Orosco • SGT Robert Phel • SGT Michael Rivera • SGT Raymond Sanders • SGT Kermit Steria • SGT Jerry Temple • AIC John Borden • AIC Orvil Greer • AIC Thomas Miley • AIC Daniel Trujillo • AMN George Connolly • AMN James Dushenke • AMN Lon Kidd • AMN Todo Muller • AMN Stan Sells • AMN Thomas Senters • AMN Terry Whitaker • Mr Larry Hill • Mr

The City of Altus B-47 Bomber Marker - Reverse Side image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, October 27, 2025

2. The City of Altus B-47 Bomber Marker - Reverse Side

Leroy Walker

Erected by Local Unit Woodmen of the World and Air Force Association Chapter 342.

Topics. This memorial is listed in this topic list: Air & Space. A significant historical date for this entry is April 22, 1955.

Location. 34° 38.279′ N, 99° 19.008′ W. Memorial is in Altus, Oklahoma, in Jackson County. It is at the intersection of E Broadway Street and North Park Lane, on the right when traveling west on E Broadway Street. Touch for map. Memorial is in this post office area: Altus OK 73521, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial is in Southwest Oklahoma.

It is also in the American South,

specifically on the prairies,

and on the Southern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Comanchería,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

the Dust Bowl,

and the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 4 other markers are within 17 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Altus Jackson County Well (approx. one mile away); The Great Western Cattle Trail (approx. 2.7 miles away); Friendship / Western Cattle Trail (approx. 6.4 miles away); Site of Beginning Trip of Abernathy Boys to New York City in 1910 (approx. 16.8 miles away).

Also see . . . Boeing B-47 Stratojet. Wikipedia

The Boeing B-47 Stratojet (Boeing company designation Model 450) is a retired American long-range, six-engined, turbojet-powered strategic bomber designed to fly at high subsonic speed and at high altitude to avoid enemy interceptor aircraft. The primary mission of the B-47 was as a nuclear bomber capable of striking targets within the Soviet Union.

Development of the B-47 can be traced back to a requirement
Photographed by James Hulse, October 27, 2025

3. The City of Altus B-47 Bomber and Marker
expressed by the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) in 1943 for a reconnaissance bomber that harnessed newly-developed jet propulsion. Another key innovation adopted during the development process was the swept wing, drawing upon captured German research. With its engines carried in nacelles underneath the wing, the B-47 represented a major innovation in post–World War II combat jet design, and contributed to the development of modern jet airliners.

(Submitted on November 2, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

The 3rd Panel under the B-47 Bomber Landing Wheels image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, October 27, 2025

4. The 3rd Panel under the B-47 Bomber Landing Wheels

Photographed by James Hulse, October 27, 2025

5. 3rd Panel

Photographed by James Hulse, October 27, 2025

6. The City of Altus B-47 Bomber Marker

B-47 Bomber in flight image. Click for full size.

Public Domain - Photo courtesy of National Nuclear Security Administration / Nevada Field Office

7. B-47 Bomber in flight

The Boeing B-47 Stratojet, Strategic Air Command's primary medium bomber, is among the aircraft participating in the current nuclear test series at the Nevada Test Site. Powered by six turbojet engines, this swept wing bomber can fly higher and faster than any bomber in its class. Twenty-nine of these aircraft will be used on various Teapot shots. Most of them are reconnaissance types which are being employed on photographic missions.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 2, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 1, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 133 times since then and 71 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on November 2, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.