Anti-Flash white

[tigercat2]

In the late fifties/early sixties, before cammo for SAC aircraft, most B-52s and B-47s had gloss white on the underside.  The reason given was to help protect the bomber from the effects of a nuclear flash if they ever had do deliver a nuke.

The B-58 never had white undersides, as far as I know, and the only scheme I have ever seen was overall NMF.  Same with B-57s in NMF; no white underneath, and they had a nuke mission in the far east.  Also, F-101A/Cs and F-105s in Europe had nuke delivery as their primary mission, but both types were in NMF or silver lacquer; no white undersides.

Any particular reason for this?  Perhaps the thought was that a B-52 or '47 would take longer to escape from the blast, and needed more protection.

I think a B-58 in NMF/White scheme would look very good!



Wes W.

[sandiego89]

Agree that a white underside and SAC badge would look great on a B-58, but I imagine that the original flight profile of a very fast and high altitude (MACH 2+, 50,000+ feet) delivery would preclude the need for anti-flash paint- the delivery aircraft would be well past the blast.  B-47, B-52 and B-36 needed the extra time.  White also tended to suffer poorly in high speed, high temp applications (the white XB-70 looked really shabby after a few high speed tests).  Would likely not fare as well on higher speed aircraft.  White is also one of the heaviest paints, and anything to reduce weight on the B-58 would be of interest.     

[jcf]

Both XB-70 were white when flown and never anything else.
The paint peeling on the No.1 aircraft was evidently the result of overenthusiastic applications
of said coating, it was simply too thick. The problem was rectified after the fourth flight.