This is a list of aircraft used by the United States Air Force and its predecessor organizations for combat aerial reconnaissance and aerial mapping.
The first aircraft acquired by the Aeronautical Division, U.S. Signal Corps were not fighters or bombers but reconnaissance aircraft. From the first days of World War I, the airplane demonstrated its ability to be the "eyes of the army." Technology has improved greatly over the almost century since the first reconnaissance aircraft used during World War I. Today reconnaissance aircraft incorporate stealth technology; the newest models are piloted remotely. The mission of reconnaissance pilots remains the same, however.
The United States became a leader in development of aircraft specifically designed for the reconnaissance role; examples include the Lockheed SR-71, Lockheed U-2, Republic XF-12, and Hughes XF-11 (the latter two did not enter production). Most other nations that have developed reconnaissance aircraft generally used modified versions of standard bomber, fighter, and other types. The United States has, of course also operated reconnaissance variants of aircraft initially designed for other purposes, as the list below demonstrates.
World War I aircraft
Initially flown with a pilot and an observer, the observer would often sketch the scene of the ground below. Soon, some English observers thought it would be easier and more accurate to use their cameras to photograph the enemy lines. Unfortunately, both sides knew that if they were receiving valuable information from their pilots, the other side must be doing the same, and aircraft became armed to shoot down the other's. After the war, England estimated that its flyers took one-half million photographs during the four years of the war, and Germany calculated that if you laid all its aerial photographs side by side, they would cover an area six times the size of Germany.
The United States did not produce any aircraft of its own design for use in combat during World War I; however, several British and French designs were used by Air Service Aero Squadrons for reconnaissance missions. Airco DH.4 British two-seat biplane day-bomber, used by the Air Service; DH-4-BP Experimental photographic reconnaissance version. Produced under licence in the United States and used by the Army Air Service until 1932.The U.S. Aircraft Industry During World War I AR-2 (Avion de Reconnaissance) Breguet 14 Salmson 2A2 French biplane reconnaissance aircraft. Aerial Reconnaissance in World War I
Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.2 SPAD S.XIII
World War II and later aircraft
Douglas A-20 Havoc|A-20 Havoc
Lockheed F-15|Lockheed P-38
Attack aircraft A-20 Havoc The F-3A was a conversion of 46 A-20J and K models for night-time photographic reconnaissance (F-3 were a few conversions of the original A-20). It was used in all major Theaters of Operations. The first Allied aircraft to land at Itazuke Airfield, Japan after the August 1945 surrender was an F-3A.Mesko, Jim. A-20 Havoc in Action - Aircraft No. 144. 1994, Squadron/Signal Publications. A-29 Hudson A-29B converted for photographic survey work.Baugher - Lockheed A-29B
Bomber aircraft B-17 Flying Fortress The F-9 was the photographic reconnaissance variant.Thompson, Scott A. Final Cut: The Post War B-17 Flying Fortress: The Survivors. 2000, Pictorial Histories Publishing Company. Baugher - F-9 Photographic Reconnaissance F-9A was assigned to some B-17Fs that were converted to photographic configuration in a manner similar to that of the F-9 but differing in some camera details. Both the F-9s and F-9As were re-designated F-9B after further camera changes. F-9C was assigned to ten B-17Gs converted for photographic reconnaissance in a manner similar to the F-9, F-9A, and F-9B conversions of the B-17F. Redesignated FB-17 after 1948.
B-18 Bolo Obsolete as a bomber, B-18Bs and B-18Cs were used for anti-submarine warfare reconnaissance after the Attack on Pearl Harbor until their withdrawal from service in 1943. Replaced by the B-24 Liberator which had a substantially longer range and a much heavier payload.Baugher - B-18 Bolo
B-24 Liberator The F-7 was the photographic reconnaissance variant.Davis, Larry. B-24 Liberator in Action - Aircraft No. 80. 1987, Squadron/Signal Publications. XF-7 was the designation of B-24D 41-11653 by removing all the bombing equipment and installing eleven reconnaissance cameras in the nose, bomb bay, and aft fuselage. F-7 was the designation of four additional B-24Ds were converted to reconnaissance configuration. F-7A were B-24Js that had a camera located in the nose, and cameras installed in the aft bomb bay. Full defensive armament suite of the bomber was retained. F-7B were B-24Ms which carried all five cameras in the aft bomb bay. Most F-7Bs were conversions of late-model B-24Ms, although a few B-24Js and Ls became F-7Bs as well.
B-25 Mitchell The F-10 was the photographic reconnaissance variant of 45 B-25Ds. Used primarily for mapping over remote areas which had been poorly mapped. Mostly flown over areas of the Pacific, Northern Canada, Amazon basin of Brazil and over the Himalayas.Avery, Norm and Lambert, John W. B-25 Mitchell: The Magnificent Medium. 1993, Specialty Pr Pub & Wholesalers.
A-26 Invader RB-26B, RB-26C based on variants developed in the postwar era. Used for night photography and carried flash flares for illumination.Wagner, Ray. American Combat Planes, Third Enlarged Edition. 1982, Doubleday. RB-26L was assigned to two RB-26Cs that were modified in 1962 for night photography missions in South Vietnam. Assigned to Bien Hoa Air Base in March 1963, and were for a while the only aircraft in South Vietnam with any real night reconnaissance capability.Baugher - Douglas A-26C Invader
B-29 Superfortress The F-13 was the photographic reconnaissance version of the B-29 initially deployed to the Pacific theater in 1944–45. An F-13 conducted the first flight by an Allied aircraft over Tokyo since the Doolittle Raid of April 1942. F-13A was the B-29A model. Carried three K-17B, two K-22 and one K-18 cameras with provisions for others. Redesignated as RB-29/RB-29A in 1948. Later reconnaissance versions were primarily postwar developments to perform SAC's global reconnaissance mission.Mann, Robert. The B-29 Superfortress Chronology, 1934-1960. 2009, McFarland. Six B-29A/F-13As had Wright R-3350-CA-2 fuel injected engines installed and were eventually designated as RB-29Js. Other versions included weather reconnaissance WB-29s which could monitor radiation levels after nuclear weapons tests.
B-36 Peacemaker Reconnaissance versions of the B-36 were used by SAC throughout the 1950s.Jacobsen, Meyers K. Convair B-36: A Comprehensive History of Americas Big Stick. 1998, Schiffer. RB-36D carried up to 23 cameras, primarily K-17C, K-22A, K-38, and K-40 cameras. Included a small darkroom where a photo technician could develop the film. The second bomb bay contained up to 80 T86 photo flash bombs, while the third bay could carry an extra 3000 gallon droppable fuel tank. The fourth bomb bay carried ferret ECM equipment. Had a 50-hour flight endurance capability. RB-36Es were B-36As refitted as reconnaissance aircraft. Also equipped with the four J-47 jet engines and advanced electronics.
B-45 Tornado RB-45C was the reconnaissance version of the B-45, the first United States jet bomber. A total of 12 cameras. Flew combat missions over Korea, but found to be vulnerable to the MiG-15 and withdrawn. Also flew penetration missions over Eastern Europe but withdrawn in the mid-1950s.Baugher - North American RB-45C Tornado
B-47 Stratojet Reconnaissance versions of the B-47 were SAC's first very long range jet strategic reconnaissance aircraft.Bowers, Peter M. The Boeing B-47 Aircraft in Profile, Volume 4. 2nd revised and enlarged edition, 1970. Windsor, Berkshire, UK: Profile Publications Ltd. RB-47B Daylight only reconnaissance version. YRB-47B was a conversion of the B-47B specifically intended for the training of RB-47E crews. RB-47E Strategic reconnaissance version. As compared with the standard B-47E, the nose of the RB-47E was 34 inches longer so that it could house a special air-conditioned compartment for cameras and other sensitive equipment. Eleven cameras could be carried, along with ten photoflash bombs and supplementary photoflash cartridges for night photography. WB-47E Weather reconnaissance version which could perform atmospheric sampling and monitoring. Served in the 1960s as replacement for WB-50Ds. RB-47H / ERB-47H Built for the electronic intelligence (ELINT) mission, extensively refitted with monitoring equipment and additional (3 on RB-47H, only 2 on ERB-47H) Electronic Warfare Officers called "Crows" accommodated in a pressurized bomb bay compartment. ERB-47H had a small but distinctive antenna fairing under the rounded nose, otherwise external appearance difficult to distinguish from RB-47H.
Boeing B-50 The Boeing B-50 Superfortress was a postwar improvement of the B-29 with R-4360 Wasp Major engines (also used in the B-36). It became a versatile strategic reconnaissance platform developed and employed in multiple versions for SAC's global mission.Baugher - Boeing B-50B Superfortress RB-50B 28 converted from B-50B for photographic reconnaissance and photographic mapping, all later to be reclassified/designated as RB-50E and RB-50F, respectively (see below). Camera suites of the reconnaissance and mapping aircraft were interchangeable; rear fuselage capsule carried nine cameras in four stations, weather instruments, and extra crew. Could be fitted with two drop tanks under outer wings."RB-50B Factsheet." National Museum of the United States Air Force. Retrieved: 28 June 2010.Knaack 1988, p. 177.Hays, Geoffrey. Boeing B-50 — Air Force Legends Number 215. 2012, Simi Valley, California: Ginter Books. RB-50D Three B-50Ds modified by Goodyear Aircraft, Akron, Ohio for collection of specialized imagery in support of ATRAN (Automatic Terrain Recognition and Navigation) system for the TM-61B Matador missile (ATRAN would eventually be deployed in MGM-13 Mace). RB-50E Redesignation of 14 photographic reconnaissance RB-50Bs in April 1951. Some equipped with palletized (for easy removal) SHORAN to eliminate interference with defensive armament system; others later assigned to photographic mapping projects."Boeing RB-50E." National Museum of the United States Air Force. Retrieved: 30 June 2010.Knaack 1988, pp. 178–179. RB-50Es had limited SIGINT and weather data collection capabilities to suit mission requirements. Subsequent RB-50E ACRP (5 aircraft, all armament retained) and RB-50E-II (same 5 aircraft, all armament except tail guns removed) were remanufactures fitted to COMINT capabilities for monitoring frequency bands of Soviet bloc fighter aircraft and ground stations. RB-50F Redesignation of 14 photographic mapping/survey RB-50Bs in April 1951. Fitted with SHORAN / HIRAN (HIgh precision SHORAN) designed to conduct mapping, charting, and geodetic surveys in conjunction with MATS and Air Photographic and Charting Service (APCS); weather reconnaissance gear retained and limited ELINT collection missions were able to be flown. Camera suite as RB-50E.RB-50F Factsheet." National Museum of the United States Air Force. Retrieved: 30 June 2010.Knaack 1988, p. 179. RB-50G 15 RB-50Bs converted at Boeing Wichita for signals intelligence (SIGINT) collection. Fitted with SHORAN navigation radar, forward pressure bulkhead relocated into shortened forward bomb bay to allow 5 electronic operator stations and 16-man crew. Subsequent RB-50G ACRP (5 aircraft, all armament retained) and RB-50G-II (4 aircraft, all armament except tail guns removed) were remanufactures of RB-50Gs from the same original batch and fitted to COMINT capabilities.