The British were into aerial refueling first, if you don't count the
Piper Cubs that used to stay up for days during the Great Depression,
for the very good reason that British aircraft didn't have the range
to cross the Atlantic. The USAAF began mucking about with it at Wright
Field in 1944 by passing drop-tanks from a B-24 to a P-38, in
preparation for raids on Japan. (The twin-fuse Mustang came out of the
same need.) The USAF got serious in 1948 as the Cold War began to
percolate into consciousness. The British by this time were actually
using the "crossover system" on trial flights London-Montreal. Each
plane trailed a cable with a grappling hook. The tanker moved left,
crossing over the recipient aircraft and engaging the hooks. The
recipient reeled them in, followed by the hose from the tanker.

The British also came up with the probe & drogue system, which I think
is what Wright Field was experimenting with in 1948.

all the best -- Dan Ford
email: (put Cubdriver in subject line)

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