The Boeing B-47 was the country's first swept-wing multiengine bomber. It represented a milestone in aviation history and a revolution in aircraft design. Every large jet aircraft today is a descendant of the B-47.

The graceful jet broke speed and distance records; in 1949, it crossed the United States in under four hours at an average 608 mph (978 km/h). The B-47 needed defensive armament only in the rear because no fighter was fast enough to attack from any other angle.

The B-47 medium bomber became the foundation of the Air Force's newly created Strategic Air Command, and many were adapted for several specialized functions. One became a missile carrier, others were reconnaissance aircraft or trainers or carried remote controls for other aircraft. Between 1947 and 1956, a total of 2,032 B-47s in all variants were built. Boeing built 1,373, Douglas Aircraft Co. built 274 and Lockheed Aircraft Corp. built 385.