It was manufactured for the United States Air Force by Boston University in 1951[2] and was tested on the Convair B-36 and the C-97 Stratofreighter.

The camera was installed aboard Boeing C-97A 49-2592 installation and serial number citation needed[citation needed](not an "RC-97" or "EC-97" as often widely quoted) which was used operationally by the 7405th Support Squadron based at Wiesbaden, West Germany, between 1952 and 1962.

The camera weighed about three tons, and eight hundred pounds of lead shot were required to balance it.

The camera made an 18 x 36 inch negative and was so powerful a photo interpreter could detect a golf ball from an altitude of 45,000 feet (14,000 m).

Shutter Speed: 1/400 sec Weight: 6,500 lbs (3 metric ton) (camera and aircraft mount)