B-45 Tornado

The United States and Germany were the pioneers of aircraft during World War 2, including innovations with an incredible arsenal of weapon systems. As the war drew close to the end, the Luftwaffe launched the first jet-powered bomber, the Arado Ar 234, in a last effort to turn the tide of the war. The Americans immediately began to work on a bomber with similar capabilities. The B45 Tornado was produced by North American Aviation, but the war ended before their prototype was tested in combat. Still, it would eventually achieve several firsts during its operational service. The B45 was the first four-engine jet bomber to fly, and the first to refuel in mid-air. It was also the first jet bomber to enter service with the United States Air Force, and the first capable of carrying a nuclear weapon. Incidentally, it was also the first jet bomber to be successfully shot down by a jet fighter... --- Join Dark Skies as we explore the world of aviation with cinematic short documentaries featuring the biggest and fastest airplanes ever built, top-secret military projects, and classified missions with hidden untold true stories. Including US, German, and Soviet warplanes, along with aircraft developments that took place during World War I, World War 2, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, the Gulf War, and special operations mission in between. As images and footage of actual events are not always available, Dark Skies sometimes utilizes similar historical images and footage for dramatic effect and soundtracks for emotional impact. We do our best to keep it as visually accurate as possible. All content on Dark Skies is researched, produced, and presented in historical context for educational purposes. We are history enthusiasts and are not always experts in some areas, so please don’t hesitate to reach out to us with corrections, additional information, or new ideas.