It would surprise me to learn that the Soviets were terrified of a
weapon based on the thoroughly discredited idea that heavily armed,
unescorted strategic bombers could fight their way deep into enemy
territory with acceptable losses. The B-36 always struck me as a flying
porkbarrel project propelled by Curtis LeMay's ego.

We know for a certainty that the 36s routinely flew over China and
even Vladivostok, and very likely they flew over much of Siberia and
perhaps even eastern Russia. Several crewmen have related how they
watched the MiGs trying to get up to their altitude but vainly falling
away. Such flights were probably made in excess of 50,000 feet.

LeMay actually didn't care for the 36, but it was in the pipeline when
he became head of SAC. He accepted it for what it was: a placemarker
for the B-52. It overlapped the B-47 (which likewise made regular
flights over eastern Russia) but the latter simply didn't have the
range to do what the 36 (and later the 52) was capable of.

Very quickly these flights were made unnecessary by the U-2, and the
U-2 in turn was soon supplanted by satellite photography.


all the best -- Dan Ford
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