North American B-45A 47-080

These are 1/72 scale decals for the North American B-45A Tornado, serial 47-080, assigned to the 47th Bomb Group, based at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana — a second airframe from one of the USAF's pioneering early jet bomber units.

The B-45 Tornado holds the distinction of being the first operational jet bomber in the United States Air Force inventory, entering service in 1948 and representing a dramatic leap forward from the propeller-driven bombers of World War II. Powered by four General Electric J47 turbojet engines, the B-45A was capable of speeds and altitudes that left piston-era interceptors struggling to respond. While it would eventually be overshadowed by the swept-wing B-47 Stratojet, the Tornado served a vital role in establishing the USAF's jet bomber doctrine and tactics during the critical early years of the Cold War.

The 47th Bomb Group, with its lineage stretching back to World War II light bomber operations in North Africa and Europe, transitioned to the B-45 as part of the USAF's rapid postwar modernization. Operating from Barksdale, the 47th flew the Tornado in both nuclear strike and tactical bombing roles, developing jet bomber procedures from the ground up at a time when no playbook yet existed. Serial 47-080 represents a second distinct airframe from this storied unit, ideal for displaying alongside the 47-047 decal sheet.

A rare and historically significant subject representing the dawn of the jet bomber age in American aviation. Please allow some time for decal printing and shipping.