Martin B-57E Canberra
Even before the Korean War broke out in 1950, the US Air Force had been planning for a jet-powered replacement of the B-26 Marauder and A-26 Invader. Korea only exacerbated the need for a new aircraft, and the USAF issued a requirement for a new tactical bomber in late 1950, with the stipulation that it had to be based on an existing design to minimize production delays. Three American designs were considered—the North American AJ-1 Savage and B-45 Tornado, and the completely new Martin XB-51. So pressing was the need that the USAF included, in a rare move, foreign aircraft as well—a modified Avro Canada CF-100 Canuck, and the English Electric Canberra B.2. The Canberra, to the surprise of everyone involved, won the competition easily. The USAF did have misgivings about the design, especially the fact that the bombardier sat behind the cockpit, completely enclosed in the fuselage, but its performance was what won the competition: the Canberra had been designed to replace the deHavilland Mosquito and had the speed and maneuverability to match.
The problem was, English Electric was a small startup company and could barely supply the British Royal Air Force with its Canberras, let alone the much larger USAF. To solve the problem, Martin Aircraft was awarded a contract to build the Canberra as the B-57.
Though the initial batch of B-57As were basically identical to the Canberra B.2, aside from upgraded engines and the deletion of the navigator station, the B-57B was to be fundamentally different and more in line of what the USAF intended. The B-57B had a completely redesigned forward fuselage, eliminating the clear navigator nose and wide side-by-side seating of the Canberra B.2, and replacing it with tandem seating, with the now-combined bombardier/navigator sitting behind the pilot. The Canberra B.2 had been unarmed, but the B-57B could either carry eight machine guns or four 20mm cannon in an underfuselage tray. The internal bomb bay of the Canberra was replaced with a rotary-type developed for the XB-51, which would rotate to expose the bomb load on the target run, enhancing the aerodynamics of the aircraft. USAF B-57Bs entered service in June 1954, replacing the A-26 in the night attack role.
Soon after it entered service, however, the USAF began to question its new bomber’s capabilities. The Canberra had been fast enough when it was designed in the late 1940s, but technology had moved so quickly that it was now vulnerable to surface-to-air missiles. With this in mind, the USAF resolved to replace the B-57 in tactical bomber units with F-100 Super Sabres and delete the entire night interdiction role.
Vietnam was to give the Canberra a temporary stay in retirement. Though it could be a tough aircraft to fly, it was a stable platform, and in the comparatively low threat skies of South Vietnam, its slow speed was more of a help than a detriment. It could carry a heavy bombload, and it was accurate; B-57s were especially deadly over the Ho Chi Minh Trail against enemy trucks. This accuracy made it a welcome sight to troops in contact, but as Viet Cong and North Vietnamese troops increased their antiaircraft capabilities, B-57s began to take heavier losses. Over half the Canberras sent to Vietnam would be shot down. A number were developed into special operations aircraft, such as the RB-57E Patricia Lynn and B-57G Tropic Moon III. The Royal Australian Air Force also flew their own British-version Canberras over Vietnam.
Vietnam would be the B-57's swan song. The survivors were converted to electronic warfare training EB-57s, and these lasted in service until 1983. A few massively modified WB-57Fs atmospheric research aircraft remain in service with NASA.
Built as B-57E 55-4244, this aircraft never served with a frontline or ANG unit, spending its entire career as a testbed; it flew with the Armament Development and Test Center (ADTC) at Eglin AFB, Florida, between 1956 and 1969. With the B-57 force winding down, 55-4244 was retired from service and flown to the Strategic Air Command Museum at Offutt AFB, Nebraska in 1970. It was moved with the rest of the collection to Ashland in 1997, and I saw it in June 2020.
Unfortunately, this is not the best picture; I was really having trouble getting good shots at the museum that day.
Martin B-57E Canberra
Even before the Korean War broke out in 1950, the US Air Force had been planning for a jet-powered replacement of the B-26 Marauder and A-26 Invader. Korea only exacerbated the need for a new aircraft, and the USAF issued a requirement for a new tactical bomber in late 1950, with the stipulation that it had to be based on an existing design to minimize production delays. Three American designs were considered—the North American AJ-1 Savage and B-45 Tornado, and the completely new Martin XB-51. So pressing was the need that the USAF included, in a rare move, foreign aircraft as well—a modified Avro Canada CF-100 Canuck, and the English Electric Canberra B.2. The Canberra, to the surprise of everyone involved, won the competition easily. The USAF did have misgivings about the design, especially the fact that the bombardier sat behind the cockpit, completely enclosed in the fuselage, but its performance was what won the competition: the Canberra had been designed to replace the deHavilland Mosquito and had the speed and maneuverability to match.
The problem was, English Electric was a small startup company and could barely supply the British Royal Air Force with its Canberras, let alone the much larger USAF. To solve the problem, Martin Aircraft was awarded a contract to build the Canberra as the B-57.
Though the initial batch of B-57As were basically identical to the Canberra B.2, aside from upgraded engines and the deletion of the navigator station, the B-57B was to be fundamentally different and more in line of what the USAF intended. The B-57B had a completely redesigned forward fuselage, eliminating the clear navigator nose and wide side-by-side seating of the Canberra B.2, and replacing it with tandem seating, with the now-combined bombardier/navigator sitting behind the pilot. The Canberra B.2 had been unarmed, but the B-57B could either carry eight machine guns or four 20mm cannon in an underfuselage tray. The internal bomb bay of the Canberra was replaced with a rotary-type developed for the XB-51, which would rotate to expose the bomb load on the target run, enhancing the aerodynamics of the aircraft. USAF B-57Bs entered service in June 1954, replacing the A-26 in the night attack role.
Soon after it entered service, however, the USAF began to question its new bomber’s capabilities. The Canberra had been fast enough when it was designed in the late 1940s, but technology had moved so quickly that it was now vulnerable to surface-to-air missiles. With this in mind, the USAF resolved to replace the B-57 in tactical bomber units with F-100 Super Sabres and delete the entire night interdiction role.
Vietnam was to give the Canberra a temporary stay in retirement. Though it could be a tough aircraft to fly, it was a stable platform, and in the comparatively low threat skies of South Vietnam, its slow speed was more of a help than a detriment. It could carry a heavy bombload, and it was accurate; B-57s were especially deadly over the Ho Chi Minh Trail against enemy trucks. This accuracy made it a welcome sight to troops in contact, but as Viet Cong and North Vietnamese troops increased their antiaircraft capabilities, B-57s began to take heavier losses. Over half the Canberras sent to Vietnam would be shot down. A number were developed into special operations aircraft, such as the RB-57E Patricia Lynn and B-57G Tropic Moon III. The Royal Australian Air Force also flew their own British-version Canberras over Vietnam.
Vietnam would be the B-57's swan song. The survivors were converted to electronic warfare training EB-57s, and these lasted in service until 1983. A few massively modified WB-57Fs atmospheric research aircraft remain in service with NASA.
Built as B-57E 55-4244, this aircraft never served with a frontline or ANG unit, spending its entire career as a testbed; it flew with the Armament Development and Test Center (ADTC) at Eglin AFB, Florida, between 1956 and 1969. With the B-57 force winding down, 55-4244 was retired from service and flown to the Strategic Air Command Museum at Offutt AFB, Nebraska in 1970. It was moved with the rest of the collection to Ashland in 1997, and I saw it in June 2020.
Unfortunately, this is not the best picture; I was really having trouble getting good shots at the museum that day.