B-36: Saving the Last Peacemaker (2nd Edition)

Of a total of 383 Convair B-36 "Peacemaker" intercontinental bombers, the last one built is remembered as signaling the end of its era - an era that without this aircraft type could have seen the end of our way of life on Earth.

By the time this last aircraft of its type was built, developments of high performance jet-powered aircraft, ballistic missiles and stealthy atomic-powered submarines had pushed the piston-engined B-36 into obsolescence, but not before it had served as an effective deterrent to the Soviet Union's goal of enslaving Europe with communism during the Cold War and as a test bed for major advancements in defense technology.

When the last B-36 retired from service, the United States Air Force loaned it to the City of Fort Worth, Texas to be enshrined at historic Amon Carter Field as a symbol of freedom and as a monument to those who built, maintained and operated B-36 aircraft.

After 11 years of public display, the aircraft was threatened with destruction when the park it occupied was sold to land developers as a result of the construction of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.

Not willing to allow the Cold War's ultimate nuclear deterrent be reduced to a few ingots of aluminum, a handful of aircraft workers overcame a series of seemingly impossible obstacles to preserve the last B-36 for future generations. Facing resistance from land developers, their city government and the Air Force, the stalwart group eventually gained support from their community and saved the aircraft.

A true story of the determination of a small group of men to save the historic last B-36 Peacemaker from destruction, B-36: SAVING THE LAST PEACEMAKER provides a photographic and narrative record of one of the most unlikely aircraft rescues in American history.

Profusely illustrated with 408 photographs and documents, this second edition of B-36: SAVING THE LAST PEACEMAKER has been revised and expanded with a wealth of additional information that was not available in the first edition.

Written in HTML, the book utilizes a program that is standard equipment in most computers sold today - a web browser - for telling this amazing American story.

DISK CONTENTS:

• A chronological presentation of 408 color and black-and-white photographs, official documents and other graphic images, plus historically accurate narratives of the depicted events.

• A thoroughly researched history of the manufacture, delivery to the Air Force, service life, retirement and preservation of the last B-36.

• Actual color progress photos of the restoration of the aircraft by retired Convair and Air Force veterans.

• An appendix of related photographs, documents and other information for the serious aviation historian, student and modeler.

• A detailed history of Convair in North Texas that explains why the B-36 was manufactured in Fort Worth and originally based at Carswell AFB.

• Sound recordings of a B-36 departing Carswell AFB and another dropping its bomb load.