Boeing TB-50D Superfortress

Last revised December 8, 2012


Eleven B-50Ds were stripped of all armament and converted to TB-50D crew trainers. The aft bomb bay was replaced by an electronics bay housing most of the additional avionics used in training. The forward fuselage compartment was used to conduct navigator training. One instructor and two student stations were installed. The aft fuselage was modified for radar operator training and also had seats for one instructor and two students. They were used for various support duties, including the training of B-36 crews.

Serials of TB-50D:

47-163/170	Boeing B-50D-65-BO Superfortress
			c/n 15847/15854
			163,164,167,170 converted to TB-50D aircrew 
			trainer.
48-046/052	Boeing B-50D-70-BO Superfortress
			c/n 15855/15861
			All converted to TB-50D aircrew trainers

Sources:


  1. American Combat Planes, Third Enlarged Edition, Ray Wagner, Doubleday, 1982.

  2. Post World War II Bombers, Marcelle Size Knaack, Office of Air Force History, 1988.

  3. Boeing Aircraft Since 1916, Peter M. Bowers, Naval Institute Press, 1989.

  4. United States Military Aircraft Since 1909, Gordon Swanborough and Peter M. Bowers, Smithsonian, 1989.

  5. USAF Museum website, http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=2648