North American B-45A Tornado (8366)

The B-45 was the first jet bomber put into production. It was designed to replace the WWII B-25s and B-26s. It served only from 1948 to 1958. This aircraft displayed at Castle Air Museum was the eighth production Tornado and holds the distinction of being oldest jet in the Museum. After serving in the USAF, this plane was used by the Navy as a drone controller, and later as a photographic ground target at the China Lake Naval Weapons Center where it was recovered in pieces and restored here at Castle.