In December another RB-57F would be deployed for this purpose, under project Sky Wave. Specialized high-altitude strategic reconnaissance aircraft developed from the Martin B-57 Canberra tactical bomber. The USAF had awarded General Dynamics a contract to modify two B-57E Canberras (55-4243, 55–4245) as all-weather high-altitude strategic reconnaissance aircraft. The three remaining flightworthy WB-57Fs are technically assigned to the NASA Johnson Space Center, next to Ellington Field in Houston, as high-altitude scientific research aircraft,[2] but are also used for testing and communications in the U.S. and Afghanistan. [1] As such, more than 30 changes that had been requested by the Wright Air Development Center (WADC) were rejected on program schedule or cost grounds.

RB-57As also suffered from a high accident rate caused in part by poor single-engine handling. The existing inventory of piston-engined Douglas B-26 Invaders had been dispatched in this capacity at the very start of the conflict; however, within only a few months within the theatre, the B-26 had suffered a very high rate of attrition and successes with the type were typically limited. In 1959, two RB-57Ds were delivered to replace the A-types; one of them was shot down over China by a SA-2 Guideline missile, marking the very first successful operational engagement of surface-to-air missiles. These particular versions of the RB-57Ds had the guts ripped out of the fuselage. All RB-57D operations were under heavy security and very little information ever leaked out about their early operations. The RVNAF never officially took control of the aircraft, and, after accidents and other problems, including apparent claims by RVNAF pilots that the B-57 was beyond their physical capabilities, the program was terminated in April 1966, and the aircraft were returned to their original USAF units.[36].

The first deliveries were in April 1956 to the 4025th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, 4080th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, which was a part of Strategic Air Command (SAC). The aircraft had a nose radome housing an AN/APN-107 radar antenna. [7], Several other minor differences were also present between early US-built and UK-built Canberras. "Buy British, Fly American.".

There were also doubts about production availability with English Electric being able to mesh with USAF demands, as well as questions over continued spares support. [1][2], The basic B-57 Canberra design was used as a starting point for the D model, but there were several significant changes incorporated. Of the 94 B-57Bs deployed to Southeast Asia, 51 were lost in combat and seven other Canberras were lost to other causes. 7 – RB-57D Model 744 (53-3970 to 53-3976) – (Group B) Basic configuration with in-flight refuelling.

The two J57 engines produced about 20,000 lbf (89.0 kN) total thrust, about 6,000 lbf (26.7 kN) more than the two J65 engines.
52-1467 - Glenn L. Martin Maryland Aviation Museum. Data from Quest for Performance,[82] Jet Bombers[83], Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era, American built bomber license-built version of the British English Electric Canberra, Reconnaissance and electronic warfare B-57s. In 1983, the USAF opted to retire the type; the B-57 Canberra's retirement marked the ending of the era of the tactical bomber. These weapons combined with their bomb loads and four hours of flight time made them excellent ground support aircraft, as well as exceptional truck killers along the Ho Chi Minh trail.

[3], 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. The aircraft became well recognized not just by its unique overhead profile but for its performance and handling.

The B-57A was not considered combat-ready by the USAF and the aircraft were used solely for testing and development. With a surface skin of only 0.010 inch thick, dropping a small tool on the wing could damage the skin. Low level sorties designated as training flights were conducted with the hope of it having a psychological effect.
A number of modified RB-57As were used by the 7499th Support Group at Wiesbaden AB, West Germany in Operation "Heart Throb" reconnaissance missions over Europe. This was one of only eight B-57A Canberras to be manufactured; the remaining 67 aircraft from this first batch, deemed no longer to be required as bombers, were converted on the assembly line to serve as medium-altitude reconnaissance aircraft while retaining all the basic Canberra features, and were accordingly re-designated as the RB-57A Canberra. [4] The Canberra was used extensively during the Vietnam War in a bombing capacity; dedicated versions of the type were also produced and served as high-altitude aerial reconnaissance platforms (the Martin RB-57D Canberra), and as electronic warfare aircraft. [1] To expedite the process, only projects based on existing aircraft were considered and, unusually, the service considered foreign aircraft. Two RB-57A-1s were used by the Republic of China Air Force for reconnaissance missions over China; one was shot down by a Chinese Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17 on 18 February 1958 and the pilot killed. Even deicing fluid used on the aircraft could potentially cause the glue used to lose strength.

[10] The B-57B was equipped with an APW-11 Bombing Air Radar Guidance System for target approach guidance, as well as an APS-54 radar warning receiver.

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