First Supersonic Strategic Bomber - near former Kelly AFB, San Antonio, Texas USA
N 29° 22.989 W 098° 33.605
14R E 542689 N 3250516
Near the static aircraft display of a Convair B-58 Hustler bomber is a concrete block on which three metal plaques are mounted. The top plaque states that the B-58 bombers were the first strategic bombers capable of supersonic flight.
Waymark Code: WM17NN0
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 03/15/2023
Views: 0
The plaque at the top of a concrete block near the display of the B-58 bomber begins with the seal of Kelly Air Force Base, Texas at the top part of this marker. After a few lines of attribution, the main text begins with the statement that "The B-58 was the world's first supersonic bomber ...." The US Air Force used the B-58 Hustler bomber from 1960 through 1970. The text below the crest reads as follows:
"B-58 Hustler No. 50-2437
Dedicated 17 November 1991
to the
Kelly Field Heritage Foundation
by
Lt. Gen (RET) Thomas McMullen,
MAJ GEN (RET) Lewis G. Curtis
and
MAJ GEN Richard D. Smith
The B-58 was the world's first supersonic
strategic bomber and set numerous
records over its ten years of operation.
Designed under the weapons system
concept, the B-58 represented a leap
into the future. The challenge of
managing the B-58 spurred creation of a
new directorate at Kelly AFB, a key step
in the fundamental revision of Air Force
management practices."
The B-58 bomber on display was #40 of the 116 total B-58 bombers produced. As a class of strategic bombers, all B-58s could fly a Mach 2 speed.
Link to Port San Antonio link about the development and maintenance of the B-58s:
(
visit link)
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