I was recently over in the states and had to visit Maxwell AFB on an unrelated matter. However, this thread had been so interesting I wanted to see what I could quickly dig up in the short time I had available.
This cannot compare to the article cited above by VIP, but does cover the training that the RAF crews received while in the states. There is more information available about the 1952 missions, but that will have to wait until I have a chance to type it into this computer. Hope this is of interest to you, it was to me.
Source: USAF Air Force Historical Research Agency, Maxwell AFB, Montgomery AL
K-WG-91-HI, Historical Report for September 1951 of 91st Strategic Reconnaissance, Lockbourne Air Force Base
Covering pages 45 - 49:
Mission Analysis
On 4 August 1951 three (3) Royal Air Force (RAF) crews reported to Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana for the purpose of participating in a training program to be given by personnel of the 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Wing. (See Ltr no no, Hqs 91st SRW to CG SAC, subj: Trng of RAF Crews, dtd 10 Oct 51) During the first week at Barksdale, the RAF crews were given a brief indoctrination in organizations within the USAF, the mission of strategic reconnaissance, and the internal organization and activities of a wing. Arrangements were then made for these crews to attend the B-45 Mobile Training Detachment (MTD) at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia. This course involved 120 hours of instruction and was attended by the RAF crews from 12 August 1951 thru 2 September 1951. Each crew passed this course successfully and reported to Lockbourne Air Force Base, Columbus, Ohio, on 5 September 1951 for flying training and further ground school under the supervision of the Commanding Officer, 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Wing.
The total ground school training per crew given by Headquarters, 91st Strat Recon Wing consisted of 80 hours of instruction, and was broken down into eight (8) different categories as follows: (1) Physiological Indoctrination – eight (8) hours consisting of four (4) hours classroom instruction covering the effects of high altitude flight on the human body, the mental hazards of which must be overcome, and the theory of operation of the pressure-demand oxygen system now in use by the USAF. The remaining four (4) hours of this training was consumed by simulated flight, through the use of a pressure chamber, to altitudes falling within normal operation of the B-45 type aircraft. An explosive decompression exercise was completed simulating decompression from 20,000 to 45, 000 feet. (2) Flying Safety – three hours. This phase of ground training consisted of explanation of USAF and SAC flying safety programs, discussion of traffic control system as administered by Civil Aeronautics Authority, and the jurisdiction of this agency over USAF aircraft in flight. (3) Regulations – one (1) hour review of pertinent Air Force regulations covering general flight rules and requirements, visual flight rules, instrument flight rules, clearance rules and authorized deviations. (4) Maintenance - three (3) hours, concerning Strategic Air Command Maintenance System as outlined in SAC Regulation 66-12. (5) Intelligence – six (6) hours concerning deportment of captured personnel, interrogation of prisoners of war, and articles contained in the Geneva Convention. (6) Navigation – consisting of 14 hours training in the theory of radar in general and a complete breakdown of the APQ-24 indicator, computer, modulator systems, and their relation to each other; 11 hours of practice on the APQ-24 radar trainer making use of the set under simulated flight conditions; and four (4) hours of training on identification and breakup of targets as applied to reconnaissance radar scope photography. (7) Basic Photography – eight (8) hours, consisting of training in the physical properties of light; principles and characteristics of lenses and filters upon components of light. Focal length of a lens and its application to photography; compilation scale; photographic coverage; flight line separation and exposure interval; photographic equipment used on the RB-45 and its operation. (8) Miscellaneous – consisting of six (6) hours link training, two (2) hours air refueling, 10 hours cruise control, and four (4) hours examination.
The flying training program for these three (3) RAF crews consisted of a series of missions designed to bring each crew to a combat ready status in the minimum of time. These missions have been designated as “P” missions. The breakdown of crew flying times is as follows: Crew Number One – 58:55 hours; Crew Number Two – 57:00 hours; and Crew Number Three – 50:55 hours. The following is the air training program as outlined by Headquarters 91st Strat Recon Wing for the training crews in transition to B-45 type aircraft.
Mission Description
P-1 Back seat familiarization ride, instructor pilot demonstrates
Operation of all emergency procedures
P-2 Front seat ride transition
P-3 Transition
P-4 This is normally a pre-solo stand board check but since
RAF crews did not solo until completion of training this time was used for more transition.
P-5 Instrument demonstration
P-6 Instrument practice
P-7 Instrument practice
P-8 Instrument practice
P-9 Instrument check
P-10 Night Check
P-11 Primarily a photo training mission and X country
P-12 In Flight Refueling Demonstration
P-13 In Flight Refueling Practice
P-14 In Flight Refueling Practice
P-15 In Flight Refueling Practice
P-16 Standardization Board Check
Two (2) of the three (3) RAF crews completed all phases of the foregoing air training successfully. RAF Crew Number Three did not complete the air refueling phase. After expending 14 hours and 45 minutes on the refueling training, it became obvious that considerable more time would be required before the potential aircraft commander on this crew could complete the air-to-air refueling with any degree of success. Experience of this Wing has shown that the normal crew training time required on this phase of training is 10 hours. RAF Crew Number One completed the air refueling training in 11 hours and RAF Crew Number Two completed the air refueling training in 13 hours. With the exception of the air refueling phase of this training program, all three (3) crews successfully completed their air training.
As a check on the capability of the RAF crews and to substantiate their combat ready status, each crew was briefed to fly a simulated combat mission. These simulated missions were flown without instructors and incorporated all phases of a normal reconnaissance mission including in-flight refueling, radar scope and conventional photography. The RAF Crew Number Three was flown by a combat ready aircraft commander of the 91st Strat Recon Wing. All of these missions were completed successfully and photo results were forwarded to higher headquarters for evaluation and observation. As a result of these missions and previous results, RAF Crew Number One and RAF Crew Number Two were considered Combat Ready by Headquarters 91st Strat Recon Wing. RAF Crew Number Three, with the exception of the aircraft commander, was also considered to be in a Combat Ready status.