Dates

Event

Constructed as a B-47E-25-DT by Douglas at Tulsa, OK, USA.

25 October 1952

Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Air Force with s/n 52-0166.
The delivery date is provided.

Transferred to 93BW, Castle AFB.

Transferred to 9th BW, Mountain Home AFB, ID.

From time to time Spirt would be stationed at RAF Fairford U.K.

By 1957

To 509th BW, Walker AFB, NM.
By 1958 52-0166 was sent to 40th BW at Forbes AFB, KS.

Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Navy with BuNo 52-0166.

Transferred to NAS China Lake, CA.

From 1958 to 1980

Roy Simmons comments (19 May 2019): From 1958 til 1980 she was to be come a smoking hole in the earth but my shear fate her location near a highway turned her into a photographic target.

Withdrawn from use.
Retired at China Lake.

1981

Restored.
Roy Simmons comments (19 May 2019): Castle air museum personnel and from Castle AFB would travel to China Lake to get her airborne one last time. so from 1981 til 1986 they worked.

To National Museum of the United States Air Force Loan Program, Wright Field, Dayton, OH.
View the Location Dossier

17 June 1986

Last flight.
Roy Simmons comments (19 May 2019): On the last flight of a B-47 took place, with chase planes in tow Spirit flew the 45 min from NAWS China lake to Castle AFB. So with the help of Maj. General J.D. Moore and Lt. Col Wolfe Spririt made a safe landing to complet 40,000+hrs of work.

Loaned to Castle Air Museum, Atwater, CA.

Placed on display with Castle Air Museum, Castle Airport (formerly Castle AFB), Atwater, CA.
View the Location Dossier

By 1991

Markings Applied: 0166, Spirit, 0-20166
Finished in the markings of 93BW.

2 September 1991

Photographer: Robert Nichols

2 September 1991

Photographer: Robert Nichols

19 April 1999

Photographer: Tom Tessier
Notes: At Castle Air Museum.

12 September 2010

Photographer: Mike Henniger

12 September 2010

Photographer: Mike Henniger

1 May 2017

Photographer: Marcin Rogowski
Notes: At the Castle Air Museum in Atwater, CA, USA.