Martin RB-57D Canberra
Encyclopedia
The Martin RB-57D Canberra was a specialized high-altitude strategic reconnaissance aircraft developed from the B-57 Canberra
tactical bomber. It was used by the United States Air Force during the 1950s prior to operational use of the Lockheed U-2
.
. Preliminary specifications were prepared by the Air Force on 27 March 1953. The project was carried out in high secrecy. It was known as Weapon System MX-2147, and the code name was Bald Eagle.
The basic B-57 Canberra
design was used as a starting point for the D model, but there were several significant changes incorporated. The most obvious was the greatly enlarged wing. The wing was lengthened by 42 feet to 106 feet overall. The chord (width) of the wing was also increased, which when combined with the increased length, gave the wing a very high lift capability.
The second major change to the RB-57D was the addition of Pratt & Whitney
J57 engines in place of the Wright J65s used on all earlier B-57 models. The two J57s produced about 20,000 pounds total thrust, about 6,000 pounds more than the two J65s. Other changes in the D model included removal of all fuselage fuel tanks and the addition of "wet wing" fuel cells. All defensive armament was removed, and the bomb bay was also removed and replaced by avionics equipment. The horizontal stabilizer was changed to the variable incidence or "all flying" type. Spoilers were added the outboard wings to assist the ailerons in roll axis control.
Despite the massively enlarged wing, an empty RB-57D weight not much more than an empty B-57 due to the lightening measures taken. The most extreme measures were taken with the wings which were thin metal honeycomb sections that formed a full wet wing (even in the leading edges). To avoid the weight of rivets, the wings were assembled with a special glue and the wing skin was waxed for aerodynamic smoothness. With a surface skin of only 0.010 inch thick, even dropping a small tool on the wing could damage the skin. Even deicing fluid used on the aircraft could potentially cause the glue used to lose strength.
On takeoff, only 50% engine power was necessary for takeoff which only needed a ground roll of about 2,000 feet. Climbing at 25-30 degrees, the RB-57Ds could reach 50,000 feet in only 15 minutes. Maximum cruise altitude was 65,000 feet and the pilots wore full pressure suits. With over 200 gallons less than a stock B-57, the RB-57D could fly twice the duration, approximately seven hours compared to four hours for a B-57. Landing was challenging as the big wing didn't lose lift easily. Even with the engines at idle, it was still too much power for landing. Even with the spoilers out and landing gear extended, the plane still had a very low sink rate and pilots resorted to actually holding the RB-57Ds into a series of slight stalls to get the aircraft down to the runway.
The first RB-57D flew on 5 November 1955.
(SAC). Initially, the planes were to be based at Lockbourne AFB, Ohio, but they were soon relocated to Turner AFB, Georgia.
The squadron would become fully operational with its first six RB-57Ds only 120 days from the delivery of its first RB-57D. Those first six aircraft, all Group A RB-57Ds, deployed Yokota AB, Japan and to Eielson AFB, Alaska in late 1956 for reconnaissance missions over what is presumed to be China
, North Korea
and the Soviet Union
. The detachment at Yokota was used to monitor fall-out from Soviet tests in Operation Sea Lion. Other sorties were flown over Communist China
, the RB-57D's operational ceiling being well above that of Chinese MiG-15s. The Eielson based aircraft conducted ELINT around the Kamchatka Peninsula
of the Soviet Union
. On 15 Dec 1956 three aircraft overflew Vladivostok
.
In early 1956, the 4080th SR Wing moved to Laughlin AFB, Texas. Midair-refuelling capable RB-57Ds (Group B and the sole Type C} were deployed in 1957 to Rhein-Main AB, West Germany to support USAFE operations. All RB-57D operations were under heavy security and very little information ever leaked out about their early operations. They presumably carried out ELINT/SIGINT missions along the East German border and over the Baltic Sea
. Since the missions were carried out under an atmosphere of high secrecy, RB-57s returning from missions over the Baltic were often intercepted by RAF Hawker Hunter
interceptors just to make sure that they were not Soviet aircraft. When the 4025th SRS was de-activated in June 1959 the RB-57D aircraft were assigned to the 7407th Support Squadron at Rhein-Main AB, two additional aircraft added to complement including the unique RB-57D-1 equipped with SLR. Intelligence gathering sorties by the RB-57’s in West Germany continued until 1964 when wing fatigue problems caused type to be withdrawn from service.
Several RB-57D crews participated in support of atomic bomb tests at Eniwetok Atoll in the Marshall Islands
during 1958. The high flying capability of the RB-57Ds allowed them to get particle samples from high in the atmosphere as part of the post-detonation analysis.
started sponsoring a program known as Diamond Lil, in which Chinese Nationalist
pilots were trained to fly RB-57Ds. Six Black Cat Squadron
Taiwanese pilots were trained on the B-57C at Laughlin AFB, Texas, arriving back in Taiwan
, and two or three Group A RB-57Ds were ferried to Taoyuan AB, near Taipei
, Taiwan in early 1959. During early 1959, they carried out deep penetration reconnaissance flights over the Chinese mainland, photographing airfields, military establishments and ports. They flew in Republic of China Air Force
markings, being painted white on top and black on the bottom with lettering stenciled in red.
RB-57D "5643", piloted by Capt Ying-Chin Wang, was shot down and killed on October 7, 1959 by a People's Liberation Army
SA-2 Surface-to-Air missile
, which was among the first successful shoot-downs of an aircraft ever achieved by a SAM. It seems that the pilot had made a premature descent while returning to Taiwan. The program ended around 1964, when fatigue problems with the wing spars forced the retirement of the surviving aircraft, which was returned to the USA. They were replaced by four Lockheed U-2
s, all of which were subsequently lost in operations over the Chinese mainland.
Air Defense Command took over the remaining RB-57Ds to act as high altitude targets for the supersonic interceptor force. Martin modified the wings to extend their surface life. Fitted out with electronic countermeasures, the 4677th Defense Systems Evaluation Squadron at Hill AFB, Utah, was formed to operate 12 of the 20 RB-57Ds to fly training missions against continental Radar defense installations as electronic "aggressor" aircraft The upgrades to the electronic countermeasures to challenge the ADC interceptor crews resulted in these aircraft being designated EB-57Ds
Some were used by NASA for high-altitude flight testing and terrain mapping. A few aircraft were transferred to Taiwan in the late 1950s for high altitude reconnaissance missions.
Six more RB-57Ds were used to monitor the last series of American atmospheric nuclear tests which took place in 1962. Three RB-57Ds were assigned to the 1211th Test Squadron (Sampling) of the MATS
Air Weather Service at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico and were re-designated WB-57D.
In 1964, an RB-57D which was operating on test flights out of Wright-Patterson AFB (53-3973), lost its wing at 50,000 feet over Dayton, Ohio
and crashed into a schoolyard. Fortunately, no-one was injured and the pilot was able to eject safely. Because of this mishap finally forced all the surviving RB-57Ds to be withdrawn from service and grounded.
But the ADC still needed a high altitude target aircraft and Martin agreed to modify the remaining EB-57Ds for another 3,000 flight hours and they served in this role along with other testing roles until the last was retired in July 1979 due to wing-spar fractures
Remarkably, there was an even larger B-57 reconnaissance version, the 122-foot wingspan RB-57F
. Beginning in 1963, General Dynamics converted 21 B-57 airframes (four of them RB-57Ds) into RB-57Fs. These aircraft performed missions similar to the RB-57D, and the last USAF-operated RB-57F was retired in the early 1970s.
Clarence "Kelly" Johnson of Lockheed submitted an unsolicited proposal on his own which eventually edged out the RB-57D design, resulting in the Lockheed U-2
.. The U-2 was a more capable aircraft and replaced the RB-57D in U.S. strategic reconnaissance units.
B-57 Canberra
The Martin B-57 Canberra was a United States-built, twin jet engine light bomber and reconnaissance aircraft, which entered service with the United States Air Force in 1953. The B-57 was initially a version of the English Electric Canberra built under license. However, the Glenn L...
tactical bomber. It was used by the United States Air Force during the 1950s prior to operational use of the Lockheed U-2
Lockheed U-2
The Lockheed U-2, nicknamed "Dragon Lady", is a single-engine, very high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft operated by the United States Air Force and previously flown by the Central Intelligence Agency . It provides day and night, very high-altitude , all-weather intelligence gathering...
.
Development
The RB-57D was built strictly as a high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft. It originated in a December 1952 USAF study funded by the Wright Air Development Center for a turbojet-powered special reconnaissance aircraft with a radius of 2000 nautical miles that could operate at altitudes of 65,000 feet. Subsonic performance was considered to be acceptable and it was felt that no defensive armament would be needed. The RB-57D was unique and set the stage for high-altitude reconnaissance operations in the rarefied air of the stratosphereStratosphere
The stratosphere is the second major layer of Earth's atmosphere, just above the troposphere, and below the mesosphere. It is stratified in temperature, with warmer layers higher up and cooler layers farther down. This is in contrast to the troposphere near the Earth's surface, which is cooler...
. Preliminary specifications were prepared by the Air Force on 27 March 1953. The project was carried out in high secrecy. It was known as Weapon System MX-2147, and the code name was Bald Eagle.
The basic B-57 Canberra
B-57 Canberra
The Martin B-57 Canberra was a United States-built, twin jet engine light bomber and reconnaissance aircraft, which entered service with the United States Air Force in 1953. The B-57 was initially a version of the English Electric Canberra built under license. However, the Glenn L...
design was used as a starting point for the D model, but there were several significant changes incorporated. The most obvious was the greatly enlarged wing. The wing was lengthened by 42 feet to 106 feet overall. The chord (width) of the wing was also increased, which when combined with the increased length, gave the wing a very high lift capability.
The second major change to the RB-57D was the addition of Pratt & Whitney
Pratt & Whitney
Pratt & Whitney is a U.S.-based aerospace manufacturer with global service operations. It is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corporation . Pratt & Whitney's aircraft engines are widely used in both civil aviation and military aviation. Its headquarters are in East Hartford, Connecticut, USA...
J57 engines in place of the Wright J65s used on all earlier B-57 models. The two J57s produced about 20,000 pounds total thrust, about 6,000 pounds more than the two J65s. Other changes in the D model included removal of all fuselage fuel tanks and the addition of "wet wing" fuel cells. All defensive armament was removed, and the bomb bay was also removed and replaced by avionics equipment. The horizontal stabilizer was changed to the variable incidence or "all flying" type. Spoilers were added the outboard wings to assist the ailerons in roll axis control.
Despite the massively enlarged wing, an empty RB-57D weight not much more than an empty B-57 due to the lightening measures taken. The most extreme measures were taken with the wings which were thin metal honeycomb sections that formed a full wet wing (even in the leading edges). To avoid the weight of rivets, the wings were assembled with a special glue and the wing skin was waxed for aerodynamic smoothness. With a surface skin of only 0.010 inch thick, even dropping a small tool on the wing could damage the skin. Even deicing fluid used on the aircraft could potentially cause the glue used to lose strength.
On takeoff, only 50% engine power was necessary for takeoff which only needed a ground roll of about 2,000 feet. Climbing at 25-30 degrees, the RB-57Ds could reach 50,000 feet in only 15 minutes. Maximum cruise altitude was 65,000 feet and the pilots wore full pressure suits. With over 200 gallons less than a stock B-57, the RB-57D could fly twice the duration, approximately seven hours compared to four hours for a B-57. Landing was challenging as the big wing didn't lose lift easily. Even with the engines at idle, it was still too much power for landing. Even with the spoilers out and landing gear extended, the plane still had a very low sink rate and pilots resorted to actually holding the RB-57Ds into a series of slight stalls to get the aircraft down to the runway.
Production
Only 20 RB-57Ds were built, but there were four basic variants that each had mission specific changes incorporated into the design.- 6 x RB-57D Model 294 (53-3977 to 53-3982) – (Group A) Basic configuration built as single-seat aircraft. The primary mission of these aircraft was high-altitude photo reconnaissance. There were four reconnaissance cameras (two K38 and two KC1) mounted in the forward lower fuselage.
- 7 x RB-57D Model 744 (53-3970 to 53-3976) – (Group B) Basic configuration with in-flight refuelling.
- 1 x RB-57D-1 (53-3963) – (Type C) Single-seat basic version, but its mission was electronic (radar) reconnaissance. This type didn't have any cameras but had an extensive suite of radar equipment installed throughout the fuselage. The aircraft had a nose radome housing an AN/APN-107 radar antenna. A number of search radars and an AN/APQ-56 Side Looking Airborne Radar (SLAR) were mounted within the fuselage. The SLAR was primarily used for radar mapping and its antennas were mounted on the lower fuselage just below the aft wing. These antennas gave the D-1 a unique appearance.
- 6 x RB-57D-2 Model 796 (53-3964 to 53-3969) – (Group D) Dual-seat version, pilot and electronic warfare officer/observer -- and was designed for the electronic ferret mission. The aircraft hasd the same AN/APN-107 nose radar, but also had an AN/APA-69A radar with an antenna mounted in a distinctive belly radome.
The first RB-57D flew on 5 November 1955.
USAF operational use
The RB-57D remained in service for only about five years. The first deliveries were in April 1956 to the 4025th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, 4080th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, which was a part of Strategic Air CommandStrategic Air Command
The Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
(SAC). Initially, the planes were to be based at Lockbourne AFB, Ohio, but they were soon relocated to Turner AFB, Georgia.
The squadron would become fully operational with its first six RB-57Ds only 120 days from the delivery of its first RB-57D. Those first six aircraft, all Group A RB-57Ds, deployed Yokota AB, Japan and to Eielson AFB, Alaska in late 1956 for reconnaissance missions over what is presumed to be China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
and the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. The detachment at Yokota was used to monitor fall-out from Soviet tests in Operation Sea Lion. Other sorties were flown over Communist China
Communist China
Communist China refers to:*Chinese Soviet Republic*People's Republic of China...
, the RB-57D's operational ceiling being well above that of Chinese MiG-15s. The Eielson based aircraft conducted ELINT around the Kamchatka Peninsula
Kamchatka Peninsula
The Kamchatka Peninsula is a peninsula in the Russian Far East, with an area of . It lies between the Pacific Ocean to the east and the Sea of Okhotsk to the west...
of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. On 15 Dec 1956 three aircraft overflew Vladivostok
Vladivostok
The city is located in the southern extremity of Muravyov-Amursky Peninsula, which is about 30 km long and approximately 12 km wide.The highest point is Mount Kholodilnik, the height of which is 257 m...
.
In early 1956, the 4080th SR Wing moved to Laughlin AFB, Texas. Midair-refuelling capable RB-57Ds (Group B and the sole Type C} were deployed in 1957 to Rhein-Main AB, West Germany to support USAFE operations. All RB-57D operations were under heavy security and very little information ever leaked out about their early operations. They presumably carried out ELINT/SIGINT missions along the East German border and over the Baltic Sea
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
. Since the missions were carried out under an atmosphere of high secrecy, RB-57s returning from missions over the Baltic were often intercepted by RAF Hawker Hunter
Hawker Hunter
The Hawker Hunter is a subsonic British jet aircraft developed in the 1950s. The single-seat Hunter entered service as a manoeuvrable fighter aircraft, and later operated in fighter-bomber and reconnaissance roles in numerous conflicts. Two-seat variants remained in use for training and secondary...
interceptors just to make sure that they were not Soviet aircraft. When the 4025th SRS was de-activated in June 1959 the RB-57D aircraft were assigned to the 7407th Support Squadron at Rhein-Main AB, two additional aircraft added to complement including the unique RB-57D-1 equipped with SLR. Intelligence gathering sorties by the RB-57’s in West Germany continued until 1964 when wing fatigue problems caused type to be withdrawn from service.
Several RB-57D crews participated in support of atomic bomb tests at Eniwetok Atoll in the Marshall Islands
Marshall Islands
The Republic of the Marshall Islands , , is a Micronesian nation of atolls and islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, just west of the International Date Line and just north of the Equator. As of July 2011 the population was 67,182...
during 1958. The high flying capability of the RB-57Ds allowed them to get particle samples from high in the atmosphere as part of the post-detonation analysis.
CIA use
In 1958, the Central Intelligence AgencyCentral Intelligence Agency
The Central Intelligence Agency is a civilian intelligence agency of the United States government. It is an executive agency and reports directly to the Director of National Intelligence, responsible for providing national security intelligence assessment to senior United States policymakers...
started sponsoring a program known as Diamond Lil, in which Chinese Nationalist
Chinese nationalist
Chinese nationalist can refer to:* Chinese nationalism* Kuomintang - Chinese Nationalist Party in Taiwan....
pilots were trained to fly RB-57Ds. Six Black Cat Squadron
Black Cat Squadron
The Black Cat Squadron was a squadron of the Republic of China Air Force that flew the U-2 surveillance plane out of Taoyuan Airbase in northern Taiwan, from 1961 to 1974. The formal designation of the squadron was the 35th Squadron, operating under the cover of a high altitude weather research...
Taiwanese pilots were trained on the B-57C at Laughlin AFB, Texas, arriving back in Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
, and two or three Group A RB-57Ds were ferried to Taoyuan AB, near Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
, Taiwan in early 1959. During early 1959, they carried out deep penetration reconnaissance flights over the Chinese mainland, photographing airfields, military establishments and ports. They flew in Republic of China Air Force
Republic of China Air Force
The Republic of China Air Force is the aviation branch of the Republic of China Armed Forces. The ROCAF's primary mission is the defense of the airspace over and around Taiwan...
markings, being painted white on top and black on the bottom with lettering stenciled in red.
RB-57D "5643", piloted by Capt Ying-Chin Wang, was shot down and killed on October 7, 1959 by a People's Liberation Army
People's Liberation Army
The People's Liberation Army is the unified military organization of all land, sea, strategic missile and air forces of the People's Republic of China. The PLA was established on August 1, 1927 — celebrated annually as "PLA Day" — as the military arm of the Communist Party of China...
SA-2 Surface-to-Air missile
Surface-to-air missile
A surface-to-air missile or ground-to-air missile is a missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft or other missiles...
, which was among the first successful shoot-downs of an aircraft ever achieved by a SAM. It seems that the pilot had made a premature descent while returning to Taiwan. The program ended around 1964, when fatigue problems with the wing spars forced the retirement of the surviving aircraft, which was returned to the USA. They were replaced by four Lockheed U-2
Lockheed U-2
The Lockheed U-2, nicknamed "Dragon Lady", is a single-engine, very high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft operated by the United States Air Force and previously flown by the Central Intelligence Agency . It provides day and night, very high-altitude , all-weather intelligence gathering...
s, all of which were subsequently lost in operations over the Chinese mainland.
Retirement
The pace of missions put a strain on the delicate wings of the RB-57D and the first aircraft were put into storage by SAC following two incidents when the wings outboard of the engine nacelles cracked and fell off during landing. Martin had designed the wings for only 500 flight hours and many of them had already exceeded that limit but strategic necessity resulted in the RB-57Ds still flying missions. The 4025th SRS was deactivated in June 1959. Some of the RB-57Ds that had been operating with the 4025th SRS were adapted to other specialist roles.Air Defense Command took over the remaining RB-57Ds to act as high altitude targets for the supersonic interceptor force. Martin modified the wings to extend their surface life. Fitted out with electronic countermeasures, the 4677th Defense Systems Evaluation Squadron at Hill AFB, Utah, was formed to operate 12 of the 20 RB-57Ds to fly training missions against continental Radar defense installations as electronic "aggressor" aircraft The upgrades to the electronic countermeasures to challenge the ADC interceptor crews resulted in these aircraft being designated EB-57Ds
Some were used by NASA for high-altitude flight testing and terrain mapping. A few aircraft were transferred to Taiwan in the late 1950s for high altitude reconnaissance missions.
Six more RB-57Ds were used to monitor the last series of American atmospheric nuclear tests which took place in 1962. Three RB-57Ds were assigned to the 1211th Test Squadron (Sampling) of the MATS
MATS
MATS is an acronym standing for Measurements with an Advanced Trapping System, which is a Helmholtz research group for young investigators...
Air Weather Service at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico and were re-designated WB-57D.
In 1964, an RB-57D which was operating on test flights out of Wright-Patterson AFB (53-3973), lost its wing at 50,000 feet over Dayton, Ohio
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
and crashed into a schoolyard. Fortunately, no-one was injured and the pilot was able to eject safely. Because of this mishap finally forced all the surviving RB-57Ds to be withdrawn from service and grounded.
But the ADC still needed a high altitude target aircraft and Martin agreed to modify the remaining EB-57Ds for another 3,000 flight hours and they served in this role along with other testing roles until the last was retired in July 1979 due to wing-spar fractures
Remarkably, there was an even larger B-57 reconnaissance version, the 122-foot wingspan RB-57F
Martin RB-57D Canberra
The Martin RB-57D Canberra was a specialized high-altitude strategic reconnaissance aircraft developed from the B-57 Canberra tactical bomber. It was used by the United States Air Force during the 1950s prior to operational use of the Lockheed U-2....
. Beginning in 1963, General Dynamics converted 21 B-57 airframes (four of them RB-57Ds) into RB-57Fs. These aircraft performed missions similar to the RB-57D, and the last USAF-operated RB-57F was retired in the early 1970s.
Clarence "Kelly" Johnson of Lockheed submitted an unsolicited proposal on his own which eventually edged out the RB-57D design, resulting in the Lockheed U-2
Lockheed U-2
The Lockheed U-2, nicknamed "Dragon Lady", is a single-engine, very high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft operated by the United States Air Force and previously flown by the Central Intelligence Agency . It provides day and night, very high-altitude , all-weather intelligence gathering...
.. The U-2 was a more capable aircraft and replaced the RB-57D in U.S. strategic reconnaissance units.
Operators
- Republic of China Air ForceRepublic of China Air ForceThe Republic of China Air Force is the aviation branch of the Republic of China Armed Forces. The ROCAF's primary mission is the defense of the airspace over and around Taiwan...
- United States Air ForceUnited States Air ForceThe United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
- NASANASAThe National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
Specifications
Aircraft list
- Martin RB-57D-1-MA
- 53-3963 (c/n 014) Retired to MASDC 1964
- Martin RB-57D-2-MA
- 53-3964 (c/n 015) to MASDC Apr 9, 1964, returned to servce after conversion to EB-57D
- 53-3965 (c/n 016) converted to EB-57D. To MASDC as BM0042 Nov 5, 1970
- 53-3966 (c/n 017) converted to EB-57D. To MASDC in 1972.
- 53-3967 (c/n 018) converted to EB-57D. To MASDC as BM0040 Sep 1, 1970.
- 53-3968 (c/n 019) converted to EB-57D. To MASDC in 1972.
- 53-3969 (c/n 020) converted to EB-57D. To MASDC as BM0039 Sep 2, 1970
- Martin RB-57D
- 53-3970 (c/n 007) was equipped for midair refueling. Rebuilt as RB-57F 63-13502
- 53-3971 (c/n 008) was equipped for midair refueling. To MASDC in 1961 for use as spares.
- 53-3972 (c/n 009) was equipped for midair refueling. Rebuilt as RB-57F 63-13500
- 53-3973 (c/n 010) was equipped for midair refuelling. Converted to WB-57D. It was reported in late autumn of 1958 the pilot made a full-fuel landing during an emergency immediately after takeoff at Laughlin AFB, Texas, but when right main landing gear hit the runway the wing separated at the engine root. Pilot OK. Plane must have been repaired. Redesignated NRB-57D when used in a research program at Wright Patterson AFB, OH. w/o Jan 4, 1964 when wings failed near Dayton, OH and plane came down in a schoolyard. This crash forced the grounding of the entire W/RB-57D Fleet.
- 53-3974 (c/n 011) was equipped for midair refuelling. Rebuilt as RB-57F 63-13503
- 53-3975 (c/n 012) was equipped for midair refuelling. Rebuilt as RB-57F 63-13501
- 53-3976 (c/n 013) was equipped for midair refuelling. To MASDC in 1968.
- 53-3977 (c/n 001) had no midair refuelling capability. Converted to WB-57D, later to EB-57D. To MASDC as BM0038 Jul 30, 1970
- 53-3978 (c/n 002) had no midair refuelling capability. To ROCAF 4th Squadron. Shot down by PLA SA-2 over China Oct 7, 1959. Pilot killed.
- 53-3979 (c/n 003) had no midair refuelling capability. w/o Del Rio 10/2/58.
- 53-3980 (c/n 004) had no midair refuelling capability. Converted to EB-57D. To MASDC as BM0037 Jul 29, 1970
- 53-3981 (c/n 005) had no midair refuelling capability. sold to Taiwan.
- 53-3982 (c/n 006) had no midair refuelling capability. Converted to EB-57D. To MASDC as BM0143 Jun 18, 2002. On display at Pima Air and Space Museum, Tucson, AZ. Moved in 2005 to WPAFB, OH. Placed on display 2006 at National Museum of the United States Air Force
See also
- List of United States Air Force Reconnaissance Aircraft
- Martin RB-57F CanberraMartin RB-57F CanberraThe Martin RB-57F Canberra was a highly specialized strategic reconnaissance aircraft developed by General Dynamics in the 1960s from the B-57 Canberra tactical bomber...