Research for Aerial Refueling

The relative capabilities for the delivery of bombs to USSR target areas circa 1950 are estimated for typical medium and heavy bombers - the B-36, B-50, and B-47. The effects of navigation errors, bombing accuracy, diversionary raids, and hours of darkness are discussed. These measures are combined to compare the relative suitability of aircraft types and flight plans, and to provide rough estimates of force requirements for conventional or atom bombing campaigns. Measures of the economic cost, and the cost in strategically critical aviation fuel, per ton of bombs delivered, are compared for the various aircraft, flight plans, and refueling plans.