I'm not sure that the RS-6 was part of every B-47 survival kit. Looking at B-47 flight Manual, T.O. 1B-47E-1, there evidently was no standard survival kit, it was mission specific. Interesting that the survival kit was what the crewman sat on and it had to be purposely attached to the crewman before bailing out.
I put together a three page copy of the above Flight Manual which referenced the survival kit and locations of where other survival gear was stowed aboard the B-47. This attachment was too big and was rejected. If anyone wants a copy, contact me off list.
Also have the Erection and Maintenance manual, T.O. 1B47B-2, which makes no mention of the emergency / survival kits, at least what I could find in the extensive index. This is a large 3875 page manual to help you keep your B-47 in tip-top shape!
There were many other emergency items located throughout the crew area but unless one was able to stay with the aircraft, I don't see how one could take it all with you. As for crew survival, it seems that the B-47 had a dismal record.
Doing a quick calculation, one had perhaps a 25% chance of surviving an accident in a B-47. There were 203 crashes (about 10% of all of the B-47s made). There were 464 deaths due to crashes. The standard mission had a crew of three.
The B-47 aircrews were certainly a group of very brave men, IMHO.
Jim
-----Original Message-----
From: Robert Downs via Milsurplus <milsurplus@mailman.qth.net>
To: main@Army-Radios.groups.io; milsurplus@mailman.qth.net
Sent: Tue, Oct 19, 2021 3:49 pm
Subject: Re: [Milsurplus] [Army-Radios] RS-6 Manual supplement ?
It's around. I think that NJ7P may be the source of the copies that are
around.
BTW, the supplement applies only to the RS-6. The RS-6A has a later manual.
I make hard copy reprints of both.
The source of the RS-6 and RS-6A was 8th AF. Either was on the standard
manifest of B-47's in case the crews had to walk back from Moscow.
Robert Downs
-----Original Message-----
From:
main@Army-Radios.groups.io [mailto:
main@Army-Radios.groups.io] On
Behalf Of Hue Miller
Sent: Monday, October 18, 2021 18:12
To:
main@Army-Radios.groups.io;
milsurplus@mailman.qth.netSubject: [Army-Radios] RS-6 Manual supplement ?
Is this manual supplement already known?
"Addenda to the Instruction Book for Radio Station RS-6 15 May 1953 10
pages"
-Hue Miller