Pipe Creek Township in Grissom Air Force Base in Miami County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Boeing B-47B

51-2315

— Grissom Air Museum —

Boeing B-47B Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Doda, September 5, 2026

1. Boeing B-47B Marker

Inscription. Specifications:
Manufacture: Boeing
Designation: B-47B
Serial number: 51-2315
Official name: Stratojet
Nickname:
Initial cost: $1.9 Million
Function: Strategic Bomber Medium
Crew: 3. Pilot, Co-Pilot/Gunner, Bombardier/Navigator
Wingspan: 116.14 Feet Length: 108.01 Feet
Height: 28.02 Feet
Power plant: 6, GE J-47-GE-25 Turbojets
Thrust: 7200 lbs. each
Empty weight: 79,073 Max T/O weight: 230,000 lbs.
Cruising speed: 587mph
Max Speed: 630mph
Service ceiling: 40,499 feet
Range: 3870 (Unrefueled)
Armament: 2 X 20mm
Cannons, Up to 25,000lbs of conventional or nuclear ordnance.
Year built: 1951
Year retired: Bombers, 1965.

Mission:
The Boeing B-47 Stratojet (company Model 450) was an American long range, six-engine, turbojet-powered strategic bomber designed to fly at high subsonic speed and at high altitude to avoid enemy interceptor aircraft. The B-47's primary mission was to drop nuclear bombs on the Soviet Union. With its engines carried in nacelles under the swept wing, the B-47 was a major innovation in post-World War II combat jet design, and contributed to the development of modern jet airliners.

The

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B-47 entered service with the United States Air Force's Strategic Air Command (SAC) in 1951. It never saw combat as a bomber, but was a mainstay of SAC's bomber strength during the late 1950s and early 1960s, and remained in use as a bomber until 1965. It was also adapted to a number of other missions, including photographic reconnaissance, electronic intelligence and weather reconnaissance, remaining in service as a reconnaissance aircraft until 1969 and as a testbed until 1977.

Our aircraft:
On 1 June 1959 the 305th Bomb Wing was moved from MacDill AFB Florida to Bunker Hill AFB and with it came SAC's B-47s. This aircraft suffered an in-flight engine explosion resulting in the number six engine separating from the wing, and falling to the ground. The crew made a successful but emergency landing. It was repaired, but a couple of hard landings finally did old 2315 in and she eventually was put on permanent display. B-47s were phased out at Bunker Hill in 1963 making room for the new Mach II B-58 Hustler. Looking at its graceful lines its hard to imagine the first B-47 took its first flight only two years after the end of WWII.

Erected by Grissom

Photographed by Craig Doda, September 5, 2026

2. Boeing B-47B Marker

Air Museum.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Military • War, World II. A significant historical date for this entry is June 1, 1959.

Location. 40° 40.175′ N, 86° 7.836′ W. Marker is in Grissom Air Force Base, Indiana, in Miami County. It is in Pipe Creek Township. It is at the intersection of West Hoosier Boulevard and U.S. 31, on the right when traveling west on West Hoosier Boulevard. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1000 W Hoosier Blvd, Peru IN 46970, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Northern Indiana.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: War Dogs Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Hall of Honor (within shouting distance of this marker); 305th Bomb Group (within

Photographed by Craig Doda, September 5, 2026

3. Boeing B-47B Marker

shouting distance of this marker); Lockheed D-21 (within shouting distance of this marker); B-58 Hustler (within shouting distance of this marker); Grumman C-1A (within shouting distance of this marker); Veterans Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Cessna U-3A (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Grissom Air Force Base.

Photographed by Craig Doda, September 5, 2026

4. Boeing B-47B Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on September 16, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 16, 2026, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 10 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 16, 2026, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.