First non-stop around the world flight

The first nonstop around-the-world flight was accomplished by B-50A-5-BO (S/N 46-010) "Lucky Lady II" assigned to the 43rd Bomb Group. The flight which lasted from Feb. 26 to March 2, 1949, took 94 hours, 1 minute to complete.

About two-thirds of the B-50As were modified as receiver aircraft for an in-flight refueling technique developed by the British. The fuel delivery aircraft (KB-29M) would fly above and forward of the receiver aircraft (B-50A) and unreel a long refueling hose. The crew of the B-50A would extend an apparatus from the rear of the aircraft designed to snag the refueling hose trailing behind the KB-50M. Once the fuel hose was captured, it was reeled into the B-50A where the crew connected it to the refueling manifold. Once the fuel transfer was complete, the hose was released and the KB-29M reeled in back.

The "Lucky Lady II" flew a route covering 23,452 miles and required numerous in-flight refuelings. The 43rd Air Refueling Squadron supplied four pairs of KB-29M tankers for refueling, making it possible for the "Lucky Lady II" to complete the round-the-world flight nonstop. Although this early type of in-flight refueling was quickly replaced by more efficient methods, the around-the-world flight was proof that the USAF was capable of projecting air power anywhere in the world. The Cold War had started and the United States, Great Britain and France were in the middle of the Berlin Airlift, which started in June 1948 and lasted until September 1949.

The significance of that fact was not lost on the media. The Associated Press noted that potential enemies "may reason that no single one of their cities, should war come, would be safe."

The message was underscored less than eight years later when three SAC B-52s retraced the route of Lucky Lady II in less than half the time, making a simulated bomb run en route.

It was not until 1986, however, that an ultralight airplane named Voyager circled the Earth nonstop without refueling. Flown by Richard G. Rutan and Jeana L. Yeager, it was made of plastic and paper and carried more than five times its own weight in fuel. That trip took nine days and, by then, astronauts were circling the Earth in 90 minutes and several had circumnavigated the moon.

Today, the flight of Lucky Lady II is ancient history. Its commander retired from the Air Force as a colonel. SAC itself disappeared in an Air Force reorganization. The Lady herself was all but destroyed in an accident not long after the world flight. Her fuselage was salvaged and toured for a time as a recruiting exhibit before going on display at an air museum in Chino, Calif.

Notes:
· Serial numbers: 46-002 to 46-060; 47-098 to 47-117
· First flight was June 25, 1947.
· B-50A-5-BO (S/N 46-010) was nicknamed "Lucky Lady II."
· The around-the-world flight was Feb. 26 to March 2, 1949, and lasted 94 hours, 1 minute.

SPECIFICATIONS (standard B-50A):
Span: 141 ft. 3 in.
Length: 99 ft. 0 in.
Height: 32 ft. 8 in.
Weight: 168,500 lbs. (maximum takeoff weight)
Armament: 12 .50-cal. machine guns, one 20 mm cannon and 20,000 lbs. of bombs
Engines: Four Pratt & Whitney R-4360-35 Wasp Major turbosupercharged radials of 3,500 hp each
Crew: 10 or 11 normally [pilot, copilot, flight engineer, navigator, bombardier, radar operator, radio operator, and four gunners (top, tail, left and right)]

PERFORMANCE:
Maximum speed: 385 mph at 25,000 ft. and combat weight of 121,700 lbs.
Cruising speed: 235 mph
Range: 4,650 miles with 10,000-lb. bomb load; 5,270 miles max. ferry range
Service ceiling: 37,000 ft.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• first
• nonstop
• around-the-world
• flight
• BOEING
• B-50A
• LUCKY
• LADY
• II

[carissadhewitt]

How exciting is this video! My grandfather is the 3rd man in line! Like my mom said in the comment below...we think that he is the sole survivor on this flight! It's great to know that he is famous! Enjoyed the video!! Wonderful!

[vickifallred]

This is GREAT!! My DAD is the 3rd one in line!! We think he is the sole survivor on this flight.... He is 85 yrs. young!The Fort Worth Star Telegram has done stories about him & the flight a few times. My Dad's name is Robert R. McLeroy, & he is still very active and loves to talk about his 21 yrs. in the Air Force....I have every news clipping from around the world ... my Mom kept every one of them! Thank you for the wonderful video!

[samoangirld34245]

Cpt. James g. Gallagher (aircraft commander) is my friends great grandfathers son its really cool to know that.

[Chunkywon]

@asap123123 My uncle was on this flight also, these are the names of the crew. Captain James H. Morris Captain Gleen E. Hacker Captain David B Parmellee First Lieutenant Arthur M. Neal First Lieutenant Earl L. Rigor----My Uncle First Lieutenant Roland B. Bonner Rirst Lieutenant William F. Caffrey Techincal Sergeant Virgil L. Young Technical Sergeant Burgess G Cantrell Technical Sergeant Melvin G. Davis Staff Sergeant Robert R. McLeroy Staff Sergeant Donald G. Traugh,Jr.

[eMGeeGFX]

Those brave heroes, bombing civilians.

[anisocoro]

This interesting flight is not a proper "circumnavigation" of The world, because these aorplanes didn't cross the Equator

[steverabb]

The last surviving crewmember of this famous flight, Robert McLeroy died this past Sunday (July 18, 2010) at age 86. Just saw the article in today's Fort Worth paper. I found this video while doing some background search on the B-50. Thanks very much for posting this video. The Star-Telegram online paper has the story and a picture at star-telegram (dot) com.

[asap123123]

@vickifallred

Do you happen to know the names of the rest of the crew?

Thanks,

Joe

[anisocoro]

One moment, that airplane fled around the world, but in case of war it wuold be quite difficult to send "tankers" near USSR borders, and without air refueling reach targets deep inside Soviet Union was not possible

[bboucharde]

Bomberguy,

Very informative & interesting videos from you. Many thanks!

BB

[beavtm]

Lucky Lady II is in parts, some of it in Arizona for storage but the front half of the fuselage is in Chino at Planes of Fame (on display).