In the late 1940s Boeing developed the C-97 Stratofreighter cargo/transport aircraft from the WWII B-29 bomber. The tanker version (KC-97 Stratotanker) was introduced in 1950 using the "flying boom" refueling system and began the in-flight refueling of bomber aircraft, usually the Boeing B-47 Stratojet. The performance of the piston-engine aircraft and the faster, high-performance jet bomber was a mismatch from the beginning, so special operational techniques were developed such as refueling while in a dive. Eventually, the KC-97 was replaced by the much faster KC-135 based on the Boeing 707 airliner. This image depicts SAC bomber wing aircraft during an evening refueling operation somewhere near Labrador Canada in the early 1950s.

An open edition  printed on 100% acid-free cover stock. Print size is 22"x 32" including a 2" white border. $59.99 + $15 shipping and handling. Original not available.