From 1953 the USAF began replacing its WB-29 weather reconnaissance aircraft with modified B-50Ds. Stripped of defensive armament, 36 became WB-50Ds for long-range weather recon missions with high-altitude atmospheric samplers, Doppler & weather radar and a bomb-bay fuel tank for longer range. While with the 97th BW, 49-0310 was used to sample for radioactive particles in case the Soviet Union had detonated a nuclear weapon. Transferred to the Air Weather Service in 1955, from 1965-67 it flew as a JB-50D test machine here at Wright Patt; to the USAFM in 1968. My 1973 pic here

In 1965 this became the last WB-50D to be retired, but it flew on for another couple years as a JB-50D test vehicle here at Wright Patterson (further details with my December 2024 photo)

Ca.1950: TOS USAF as a B-50D. 1953: Converted to WB-50D and assigned to the 97th Bombardment Wing, Biggs AFB, TX. 4/55: Air Weather Service. 7/56: 57th Weather Recon Squadron, Hickam AFB, HI. 10/58: 55th WRS, Hickham AFB. 5/61: 56th Weather WRS, Yokota Air Base, Japan. 9/65: Departed Yokota, ferry flight to Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ. 6/66: Flown to Air Force Systems Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH; redesignated JB-50D for test flights. Ca.1967: SOC and turned over to the Air Force Museum.

Ca.1950: TOS USAF as a B-50D. 1953: Converted to WB-50D and assigned to the 97th Bombardment Wing, Biggs AFB, TX. 4/55: Air Weather Service. 7/56: 57th Weather Recon Squadron, Hickam AFB, HI. 10/58: 55th WRS, Hickham AFB. 5/61: 56th Weather WRS, Yokota Air Base, Japan. 9/65: Departed Yokota, ferry flight to Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ. 6/66: Flown to Air Force Systems Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH; redesignated JB-50D for test flights. Ca.1967: SOC and turned over to the Air Force Museum.

Originally built as B-50D, converted in 1953 to WB-50D. Pulled out of storage at Davis-Monthan AFB in 1966 and flown to Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. There it was redesignated JB-50D and used by Aeronautical Systems Division, Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory in a test configuration. Retired in 1967 to the USAF Museum. This slide shows its last operational markings prior to being restored to a WB-50B. Now on display inside the museum.

The B-50 was the last propeller driven bomber to be delivered to the USAF and although superficailly similar to the B-29 the large numer of modifications caused the redesignation. After being replaced by B-47s in front-line service many B-50s were stripped of defensive arnament and converted by the addition of Doppler & weather radar, atmospheric samplers and bomb-bay fuel tanks to weather recon aircraft. This was the last WB-50 to be retired in 1965 and arrived at the National Museum of the USAF in 1968.

One of the forgotten heros of the Cold War