B-57B Canberra 3d Bombardment Wing Johnson AB Japan 1956

EB-57A Air Defense Command Defense Systems Evaluation

The Martin

B-57 Canberra The Martin B-57 Canberra is an American-built, twin-engined tactical bomber and reconnaissance aircraft that entered service with the United States Air Force (USAF) in 1953. The B-57 is a license-built version of the British English Electric ...

was first manufactured in 1953, and the

United States Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army Signal ...

had accepted a total of 403 B-57s before production ended in early 1957. The last USAF B-57 was retired in 1983. It was the last tactical bomber used by the United States Air Force, being engaged in combat operations during the Vietnam War (1963–1971). It also performed a wide variety of other missions. This list is of the units it was assigned to, missions performed, and the bases it was stationed.

Units

Tactical Bombardment

The B-57B Tactical Bomber was the replacement for the

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

B-26 Invader The Douglas A-26 Invader (designated B-26 between 1948 and 1965) is an American twin-engined light bomber and ground attack aircraft. Built by Douglas Aircraft Company during World War II, the Invader also saw service during several major Col ...

. Assigned to TAC, USAFE,

PACAF Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) is a List of Major Commands of the United States Air Force, Major Command (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force and is also the air component command of the United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM). PACAF i ...

. 202 aircraft produced. Production began in 1952, deliveries began in 1954. TAC aircraft sent to

Air National Guard The Air National Guard (ANG), also known as the Air Guard, is a federal military reserve force of the United States Air Force, as well as the air militia of each U.S. state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the ter ...

by 1958, being replaced by

F-100 Super Sabre The North American F-100 Super Sabre is an American supersonic jet fighter aircraft that served with the United States Air Force (USAF) from 1954 to 1971 and with the Air National Guard (ANG) until 1979. The first of the Century Series of ...

. USAFE aircraft withdrawn from

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

in 1957 by agreement with French Government. PACAF 8th and 13th Bombardment Squadrons flew B-57B Tactical Bombers in combat during

Vietnam War The Vietnam War (also known by #Names, other names) was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vie ...

, 1964–1969. The B-57G modification (Tropic Moon Night Intruder, 18 B-57B aircraft modified, 1968–1969) flew in combat 1970–1972. Last aircraft retired from Air National Guard, 1974. The B-57Cs was a limited-production dual-control trainer version of the B-57B (1954–1958). 38 produced. A small number of B-57Cs were later re-equipped and redesignated as RB-57C for service alongside RB-57A Reconnaissance aircraft as trainers when the latter were issued to ANG units. *

3d Bombardment Wing 3-D, 3D, or 3d may refer to: Science, technology, and mathematics Relating to three-dimensionality * Three-dimensional space ** 3D computer graphics, computer graphics that use a three-dimensional representation of geometric data ** 3D film, a ...

, Tactical (B-57B/C) (PACAF) :

Johnson AB is a Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) base located in the city of Sayama, Saitama Prefecture, north of western Tokyo, Japan. It was the airfield for the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force Academy until 1945, when it became Johnson Air Forc ...

, Japan, 1956–1960 :

Yokota AB Yokota ( ja, 横田, 與古田, etc.) may refer to: * 6656 Yokota, an asteroid * Yokota Shōkai, a Japanese film company Places * Yokota Air Base, a US Air Force Base located in Tokyo, Japan * Harima-Yokota Station * Iyo-Yokota Station * Yoko ...

, Japan, 1960–1963 ::

8th Bombardment Squadron 8 (eight) is the natural number following 7 and preceding 9. In mathematics 8 is: * a composite number, its proper divisors being , , and . It is twice 4 or four times 2. * a power of two, being 2 (two cubed), and is the first number of the ...

, Tactical ::

13th Bombardment Squadron In music or music theory, a thirteenth is the note thirteen scale degrees from the root of a chord and also the interval between the root and the thirteenth. The interval can be also described as a compound sixth, spanning an octave p ...

, Tactical ::

90th Bombardment Squadron 9 (nine) is the natural number following and preceding . Evolution of the Arabic digit In the beginning, various Indians wrote a digit 9 similar in shape to the modern closing question mark without the bottom dot. The Kshatrapa, Andhra and ...

, Tactical *

345th Bombardment Wing The 345th Bombardment Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the Tactical Air Command at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, where it was inactivated on 25 June 1959. During World War II the 345th Bombardme ...

, Tactical (B-57B/C) (TAC) : 345th Bombardment Group (1954–1957) received first production USAF B-57Bs, July 1954 :

Langley AFB Langley Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located in Hampton, Virginia, adjacent to Newport News. It was one of thirty-two Air Service training camps established after the entry of the United States into World War I in April 19 ...

, Virginia, 1954–1959 :: 498th Bombardment Squadron, Tactical ::

499th Bombardment Squadron The 499th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 345th Bombardment Wing at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, where it was inactivated on 25 June 1959. The squadron was first activated in 1 ...

, Tactical :: 500th Bombardment Squadron, Tactical :: 501st Bombardment Squadron, Tactical * 461st Bombardment Wing, Tactical (B-57B/C) (TAC) :

Hill AFB Hill Air Force Base is a major U.S. Air Force (USAF) base located in northern Utah, just south of the city of Ogden, and bordering the Cities of Layton, Clearfield, Riverdale, Roy, and Sunset with its largest border immediately adjacent to ...

, Utah, 1955–1956 :

Blytheville AFB Blytheville Air Force Base was a United States Air Force base from 1942, until it closed in 1992. In 1988, the facility was renamed Eaker Air Force Base in honor of World War II General of the Eighth Air Force, Ira C. Eaker. It was located nort ...

, Arkansas, 1956–1958 ::

764th Bombardment Squadron The 764th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 461st Bombardment Wing at Amarillo Air Force Base, Texas, where it was inactivated on 28 March 1968. The squadron was first activated durin ...

, Tactical ::

765th Bombardment Squadron The 765th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. The squadron was first activated during World War II. After training in the United States, it deployed to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, where it participated ...

, Tactical ::

766th Bombardment Squadron The 766th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. The squadron was first activated during World War II. After training in the United States throughout 1943, it deployed to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, where ...

, Tactical *

3510th Combat Crew Training Wing __NOTOC__ Year 351 (Roman numerals, CCCLI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Magnentius and Gaiso (or, less frequently ...

, (B-57B/C) (ATC) :

Randolph AFB Randolph Air Force Base was an United States Air Force base located at Universal City, Texas ( east-northeast of Downtown San Antonio). Opened in 1931, Randolph has been a flying training facility for the United States Army Air Corps, the Un ...

, Texas, 1954–1956 :: 3511th Combat Crew Training Squadron *

17th Bombardment Group The 17th Bombardment Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. The group was last stationed at Hurlburt Field, Florida. The Group is a direct successor to the 17th Pursuit Group, one of the 15 original combat air groups formed by the ...

, Tactical (B-57B/C) (TAC) :

Hurlburt Field Hurlburt Field is a United States Air Force installation located in Okaloosa County, Florida, immediately west of the town of Mary Esther. It is part of the greater Eglin Air Force Base reservation and is home to Headquarters Air Force Sp ...

, Florida, 1955–1956 :: 34th Bombardment Squadron, Tactical *

38th Bombardment Group The 38th Bombardment Group is an inactive unit of the United States Air Force. It was most recently assigned as the operational (flying) component of the 38th Bombardment Wing, stationed at Laon-Couvron Air Base, France, where it was inactivated ...

, Tactical (B-57B/C) (USAFE) : Laon-Couvron AB, France, 1955–1957 :: 71st Bombardment Squadron, Tactical :: 405th Bombardment Squadron, Tactical :: 822d Bombardment Squadron, Tactical *

41st Air Division The 41st Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Fifth Air Force at Yokota Air Base, Japan. It was inactivated on 15 January 1968. History "The 41st Air Division was organized, administered, equipp ...

(B-57B) (PACAF) :

Yokota Air Base , is a Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) and United States Air Force (USAF) base in the Tama Area, or Western Tokyo. It occupies portions of Akishima, Fussa, Hamura, Mizuho, Musashimurayama, and Tachikawa. The base houses 14,000 personnel ...

, Japan, 1964 ::

, Tactical ::

, Tactical *

405th Fighter Wing The 405th Air Expeditionary Wing (405 AEW) is a provisional United States Air Force unit assigned to Air Combat Command. It may be activated or inactivated at any time. Currently, it is believed that the 405 AEW is inactive. History : ''Fo ...

(B-57B) (PACAF) :

Clark Air Base Clark Air Base is a Philippine Air Force base on Luzon Island in the Philippines, located west of Angeles City, about northwest of Metro Manila. Clark Air Base was previously a United States military facility, operated by the U.S. Air Forc ...

, Philippines, 1965–1968 ::

, Tactical (Tail Code: PQ) ::

, Tactical (Tail Code: PV) :: Both squadrons performed rotating temporary duty at: :::

Tan Son Nhut Air Base Tan Son Nhut Air Base ( vi, Căn cứ không quân Tân Sơn Nhứt) (1955–1975) was a Republic of Vietnam Air Force (RVNAF) facility. It was located near the city of Saigon in southern Vietnam. The United States used it as a major base durin ...

Bien Hoa Air Base Bien Hoa Air Base (Vietnamese: ''Sân bay Biên Hòa'') is a Vietnam People's Air Force (VPAF) military airfield located in South-Central southern Vietnam about from Ho Chi Minh City, across the Dong Nai river in the northern ward of Tân Phon ...

Da Nang Air Base Da Nang Air Base ( vi, Căn cứ không quân Đà Nẵng) (1930s–1975) (also known as Da Nang Airfield, Tourane Airfield or Tourane Air Base) was a French Air Force and later Republic of Vietnam Air Force (RVNAF) facility located in the city ...

, South Vietnam, 1965–1968 * 35th Tactical Fighter Wing (B-57B) (PACAF) :

Phan Rang Air Base Phan Rang Air Base (also called Thành Sơn Air Base) is a Vietnam People's Air Force (VPAF) ''(Khong Quan Nhan Dan Viet Nam)'' military airfield in Vietnam. It is located north-northwest of Phan Rang – Tháp Chàm in Ninh Thuận Provi ...

, South Vietnam, 1968–1969 ::

, Tactical (Tail Code: PQ) ::

, Tactical (Tail Code: PV) *

15th Tactical Fighter Wing 15 (fifteen) is the natural number following 14 and preceding 16. Mathematics 15 is: * A composite number, and the sixth semiprime; its proper divisors being , and . * A deficient number, a smooth number, a lucky number, a pernicious nu ...

(B-57G) (TAC) :

MacDill AFB MacDill Air Force Base (MacDill AFB) is an active United States Air Force installation located 4 miles (6.4 km) south-southwest of downtown Tampa, Florida. The "host wing" for MacDill AFB is the 6th Air Refueling Wing (6 ARW), assig ...

, Florida, 1969–1972 ::

, 1969–1970 (Tail Code: FS) :: 4424th Combat Crew Training Squadron, 1969–1972 (Tail Code: FS) *

8th Tactical Fighter Wing The United States Air Force 8th Fighter Wing is the host unit at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea and is assigned to Seventh Air Force. Seventh Air Force falls under Pacific Air Forces (PACAF). The Wing's 8th Operations Group is the success ...

(B-57G) (PACAF) :

Ubon RTAFB Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base is a Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) facility located near the city of Ubon Ratchathani, in Ubon Ratchathani Province. It is approximately 488 km (303 miles) northeast of Bangkok. The Laos border is about dire ...

, Thailand, 1970–1972 ::

(Tail Code: FK)

Tactical Reconnaissance

The RB-57A was the replacement for the RB-26 night reconnaissance aircraft. 67 produced. The aircraft was filled with various cameras and was unarmed, its mission being day and night, high and low, and visual and photographic reconnaissance. It filled the photo-reconnaissance mission of the RB-26, but were not reliable and also had a high accident rate. Replaced by the RB-66B Destroyer and

RF-101C Voodoo The McDonnell F-101 Voodoo is a supersonic jet fighter which served the United States Air Force (USAF) and the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). Initially designed by McDonnell Aircraft Corporation as a long-range bomber escort (known as a '' ...

by 1958; survivors sent to the

. Some were converted to

Air Defense Command Aerospace Defense Command was a major command (military formation), command of the United States Air Force, responsible for continental air defense. It was activated in 1968 and disbanded in 1980. Its predecessor, Air Defense Command, was est ...

EB-57A electronic warfare aircraft to provide training for air defense radar units. By 1973, most of the surviving R/EB-57A's had been retired to AMARC at

Davis Monthan AFB Davis may refer to: Places Antarctica * Mount Davis (Antarctica) * Davis Island (Palmer Archipelago) * Davis Valley, Queen Elizabeth Land Canada * Davis, Saskatchewan, an unincorporated community * Davis Strait, between Nunavut and Gre ...

, Arizona. A few were converted to RB-57F strategic reconnaissance/weather reconnaissance aircraft. Ten RB-57As were modified for high-altitude strategic reconnaissance over non-friendly areas under "Project Heartthrob". Designated RB-57A-1s, they flew high-altitude reconnaissance missions over

Eastern Europe Eastern Europe is a subregion of the Europe, European continent. As a largely ambiguous term, it has a wide range of geopolitical, geographical, ethnic, cultural, and socio-economic connotations. The vast majority of the region is covered by Russ ...

, Communist China and

North Korea North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the northern half of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and shares borders with China and Russia to the north, at the Yalu River, Y ...

in the late 1950s. Two other RB-57As, designated RB-57A-2 were modified with a bulbous nose containing AN/APS-60 mapping radar and a SIGINT direction finder system in 1957 under project SARTAC. Eight RB-57Es were modified from B-57E Target Towing aircraft and were fitted with cameras and other sensors as part of the " Patricia Lynn Project" during the

. They were used in spotting

Viet Cong , , war = the Vietnam War , image = FNL Flag.svg , caption = The flag of the Viet Cong, adopted in 1960, is a variation on the flag of North Vietnam. Sometimes the lower stripe was green. , active ...

river traffic at night along the

Mekong Delta The Mekong Delta ( vi, Đồng bằng Sông Cửu Long, lit=Nine Dragon River Delta or simply vi, Đồng Bằng Sông Mê Kông, lit=Mekong River Delta, label=none), also known as the Western Region ( vi, Miền Tây, links=no) or South-weste ...

southeast of

Saigon , population_density_km2 = 4,292 , population_density_metro_km2 = 697.2 , population_demonym = Saigonese , blank_name = GRP (Nominal) , blank_info = 2019 , blank1_name = – Total , blank1_ ...

. In 1969/70, Patricia Lynn missions were flown into

Laos Laos (, ''Lāo'' )), officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic ( Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ, French: République démocratique populaire lao), is a socialist ...

and into

Cambodia Cambodia (; also Kampuchea ; km, កម្ពុជា, UNGEGN: ), officially the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochinese Peninsula in Southeast Asia, spanning an area of , bordered by Thailand t ...

. The Patricia Lynn operation was terminated in mid-1971. *

10th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing The 10th Air Base Wing (10 ABW) is a non-flying United States Air Force unit that is the host wing for the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The Wing provides all base-level support activities to the Academy ...

(RB-57A) (USAFE) :

1st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron 001, O01, or OO1 may refer to: *1 (number), a number, a numeral *001, fictional British agent, see 00 Agent *001, former emergency telephone number for the Norway, Norwegian fire brigade (until 1986) *AM-RB 001, the code-name for the Aston Martin V ...

Spangdahlem AB Spangdahlem Air Base (IATA: SPM, ICAO: ETAD, former code EDAD) is a NATO air base with the USAF as a tenant constructed between 1951 and 1953 and located near the small German town of Spangdahlem, approximately 30 km NNE of the city of Trie ...

, West Germany, 1954–1957 *

363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing The 363rd Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing (363 ISRW) is a United States Air Force unit. The group is assigned to the United States Air Force Sixteenth Air Force, stationed at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia. The mission ...

(RB-57A) (TAC) :

22d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron The 22d Intelligence Squadron (22 IS) is a non-flying squadron of the United States Air Force. It is assigned to the 691st Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group, Fort George G. Meade, Maryland. The 22 IS is one of the oldest u ...

41st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron The 41st Electronic Combat Squadron is a United States Air Force unit. Its current assignment is with the 55th Electronic Combat Group at Davis–Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona as a geographically separated unit from its parent wing, the 55th ...

43d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron The 43d Electronic Combat Squadron is a United States Air Force unit. Its current assignment is with the 55th Electronic Combat Group, being stationed as a tenant unit at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona as a geographically separated unit ...

Shaw AFB Shaw Air Force Base (Shaw AFB) is a United States Air Force (USAF) base located approximately west-northwest of downtown Sumter, South Carolina. It is one of the largest military bases operated by the United States, and is under the jurisdict ...

, South Carolina, 1954–1956 :: (First USAF operational B-57 wing) * 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Group (RB-57A) (USAFE) :

30th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron The 30th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron is a disbanded United States Air Force unit. It was first activated in November 1940 as the 30th Army Reconnaissance Squadron, and from 1941 to 1943 was designated the 30th Observation Squadron. It parti ...

Sembach AB Sembach Kaserne is a United States Army post in Donnersbergkreis, Germany, near Kaiserslautern, and is about 19 miles (30 km) east of Ramstein Air Base. Prior to 2010, the installation was a United States Air Force installation and prior to ...

, West Germany. 1954–1958 *

33d Tactical Group The 33d Operations Group is the flying component of the 33d Fighter Wing, assigned to Air Education and Training Command of the United States Air Force. The group is stationed at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. The group was first activated in ...

, Detachment 1, (RB-57E) (PACAF) : Re-designated: 6250th Combat Support Group Detachment 1 : Re-designated:

460th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing 46 may refer to: * 46 (number) * ''46'' (album), a 1983 album by Kino * "Forty Six", a song by Karma to Burn from the album '' Appalachian Incantation'', 2010 * One of the years 46 BC, AD 46 AD 46 ( XLVI) was a common year starting on Saturday ...

, Detachment 1 ::

Tan Son Nhut AB Tan Son Nhut Air Base ( vi, Căn cứ không quân Tân Sơn Nhứt) (1955–1975) was a Republic of Vietnam Air Force (RVNAF) facility. It was located near the city of Saigon in southern Vietnam. The United States used it as a major base duri ...

, South Vietnam, 1963–1971 :: Also operated from:

Da Nang AB Da Nang Air Base ( vi, Căn cứ không quân Đà Nẵng) (1930s–1975) (also known as Da Nang Airfield, Tourane Airfield or Tourane Air Base) was a French Air Force and later Republic of Vietnam Air Force (RVNAF) facility located in the city ...

, South Vietnam *

6021st Reconnaissance Squadron The 6021st Reconnaissance Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, stationed at Yokota Air Base, Japan. It was discontinued on 8 December 1957. History The 6021st Re ...

(RB-57A-1) (FEAF) ::

, Japan, 1955–1957 * 7407th Support Squadron (RB-57A-1, RB-57A-2) (USAFE) ::

Wiesbaden AB Lucius D. Clay Kaserne (german: Flugplatz Wiesbaden-Erbenheim) , commonly known as Clay Kaserne, is an installation of the United States Army in Hesse, Germany. The ''kaserne'' is located within Wiesbaden-Erbenheim. Named for General Lucius D. Cl ...

, West Germany, 1955–1957

Strategic Reconnaissance

The RB-57D was a high-altitude strategic reconnaissance aircraft. 20 produced. Extended wing with higher thrust engine modification of B-57B, operated in lower stratosphere. Operations remain largely classified (1957–1963). Replaced by

Lockheed U-2 The Lockheed U-2, nicknamed "''Dragon Lady''", is an American single-jet engine, high altitude reconnaissance aircraft operated by the United States Air Force (USAF) and previously flown by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). It provides day ...

. The RB-57F was the result of an early-1960s program to produce a virtually new high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft out of the B-57. 21 produced. Developed from some RB-57As, RB-57Bs, and RB-57Ds in 1963 with newer engines and wider wings. Used for strategic reconnaissance. Transferred to

Air Weather Service The atmosphere of Earth is the layer of gases, known collectively as air, retained by Earth's gravity that surrounds the planet and forms its planetary atmosphere. The atmosphere of Earth protects life on Earth by creating pressure allowing for ...

as WB-57Fs, 1968 Two WB-57Fs are the only B-57 aircraft model still flyable and in service (NASA, 2011). *

4080th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing The 4080th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing is a discontinued United States Air Force (USAF) wing last assigned to the 12th Strategic Aerospace Division of Strategic Air Command (SAC) at Davis–Monthan AFB, Arizona. It was SAC's high altitude rec ...

(RB-57D) (SAC) :

4028th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron The 4028th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron was a component of the 4080th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, Strategic Air Command, that operated Lockheed U-2 spy planes out of Laughlin AFB, Texas, and Davis–Monthan AFB, Arizona, in the late 1950 ...

: Detachment 1 operated from:

, Japan : Detachment 2 operated from:

Eielson AFB Eielson Air Force Base is a United States Air Force (USAF) base located approximately 26 miles (42 km) southeast of Fairbanks, Alaska and just southeast of Moose Creek, Alaska. It was established in 1943 as Mile 26 Satellite Field and redes ...

, Alaska ::

Turner AFB Naval Air Station Albany (formerly Turner Air Force Base and Turner Field) is a former United States Air Force and United States Navy military airfield located in Albany, Georgia. History Turner Field (1941-1946) In mid-1940 the U.S. Army Air Cor ...

, Georgia, 1956–1957 ::

Laughlin AFB Laughlin Air Force Base is a facility of the United States Air Force located east of Del Rio, Texas. Overview Laughlin AFB, the largest pilot training base in the US Air Force, is home to the 47th Flying Training Wing of the Air Education and ...

, Texas, 1957–1959 * 6091st Reconnaissance Squadron (RB-57F) (PACAF) :

, Japan, 1963–1968 * 556th Reconnaissance Squadron (RB-57F) (PACAF) :

, Japan (RB-57F), 1968–1972 * 7407th Support Squadron (RB-57D, RB-57F) (USAFE) :

, West Germany, 1957–1964 (D), 1963–1974 (F)

Weather Reconnaissance

B/RB-57C/D/E/Fs operated by the

. WB-57Ds used for high altitude atmospheric sampling for nuclear weapons testing/monitoring. WF-57Fs were remaining RB-57Fs re-designation after June, 1968. Used for high-altitude weather monitoring and occasionally fitted with cameras for clandestine strategic reconnaissance flights. Retired 1981. *

4926th Test Squadron The 1211th Test Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 9th Weather Reconnaissance Group, stationed at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico. It was inactivated on 8 June 1963. History The squadron conducted nuclear ...

(Sampling) : Re-designated: 1211th Test Squadron (Sampling) ::

Kirtland AFB Kirtland Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located in the southeast quadrant of the Albuquerque, New Mexico urban area, adjacent to the Albuquerque International Sunport. The base was named for the early Army aviator Col. Ro ...

, New Mexico, 1955–1963 (B-57B), 1957–1963 (RB-57D) * 55th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron (RB-57F) ::

McClellan AFB McClellan Air Force Base (1935–2001) is a former United States Air Force base located in the North Highlands area of Sacramento County, northeast of Sacramento, California. History For the vast majority of its operational lifetime, McClella ...

, California, 1963–1964 : 55th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, Detachment 1 (RB-57F) ::

, Alaska, 1963–1964 * 56th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, (WB-57B, R/WB-57F) ::

, Japan, 1962–1964, 1966–1972 * 57th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, (WB-57B, R/WB-57F) :

Avalon Airport Avalon Airport is an international airport located in Avalon in the City of Greater Geelong in Victoria, Australia. While located outside the Melbourne metropolitan area, it is the second busiest of the four airports serving the state capita ...

, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1962–1969 * 58th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron (WB-57C, WB-57E, R/WB-57F) ::

, New Mexico, 1 Feb 1964-1 Jul 1974 : Detachment:

RAAF Base East Sale RAAF Base East Sale is a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) military air base and training school, located in , Victoria, Australia. The base is one of the main training establishments of the RAAF, including where Australian Air Force Cadets fr ...

, Victoria, Australia (R/WB-57F) : Detachment:

El Plumerillo International Airport Governor Francisco Gabrielli International Airport ( es, link=no, Aeropuerto Internacional Gobernador Francisco Gabrielli) , better known as El Plumerillo International Airport, is located northeast of the centre of Mendoza, Argentina, Mendoza, ...

, Argentina (R/WB-57F) : 58th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, Detachment 1,

, Alaska (R/WB-57F)

Tow Target

Dedicated

target towing aircraft used for training of

F-86D Sabre The North American F-86D/K/L Sabre (initially known as the YF-95 and widely known informally as the "Sabre Dog",) was an American transonic jet fighter aircraft. Developed for the United States Air Force in the late 1940s, it was an interceptor ...

F-94C Starfire The Lockheed F-94 Starfire was a First-generation jet fighter, first-generation jet engine, jet powered all-weather, day/night interceptor of the United States Air Force. A twin-seat craft, it was developed from the Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star t ...

, and F-89D Scorpion interceptors firing 2.75-inch

Mk 4/Mk 40 Folding-Fin Aerial Rocket The Mk 4 Folding-Fin Aerial Rocket (FFAR), also known as "Mighty Mouse", was an unguided rocket used by United States military aircraft. It was 2.75 inches (70 mm) in diameter. Designed as an air-to-air weapon for interceptor aircraft to ...

s. 68 produced. As

F-102 Delta Dagger The Convair F-102 Delta Dagger was an American interceptor aircraft designed and manufactured by Convair. Built as part of the backbone of the United States Air Force's air defenses in the late 1950s, it entered service in 1956. Its main purpos ...

interceptors firing heat-seeking

AIM-4 Falcon The Hughes AIM-4 Falcon was the first operational guided air-to-air missile of the United States Air Force. Development began in 1946; the weapon was first tested in 1949. The missile entered service with the USAF in 1956. Produced in both heat ...

air-to-air missiles became available, the target towing mission of the B-57E became obsolete, and beginning in 1960 the B-57Es were adapted to electronic countermeasures and faker target aircraft (EB-57E). In order to cover combat losses in the

, twelve B-57Es were reconfigured as combat-capable B-57Bs at the Martin factory in late 1965 and were deployed to Southeast Asia for combat. Six converted to RB-57E "Patricia Lynn" tactical reconnaissance aircraft during the Vietnam War. Retired 1974. * 7272d Air Base Group (USAFE) ::

Wheelus AB Wheelus Air Base was a United States Air Force base located in British-occupied Libya and the Kingdom of Libya from 1943 to 1970. At one time it was the largest US military facility outside the US. It had an area of on the coast of Tripoli. T ...

, Libya, 1957–1961 * 1st Aerial Target Squadron (ADC) : Re-designated: 1st Tow Target Squadron :: Biggs AFB, Texas, 1957–1960 * 3d Tow Target Squadron (TAC) ::

George AFB George Air Force Base was a United States Air Force base located within the city limits, 8 miles northwest, of central Victorville, California, about 75 miles northeast of Los Angeles, California. Established by the United States Army Air Co ...

, California, 1957–1960 * 4756th Tow Target Squadron (ADC) ::

Tyndall AFB Tyndall Air Force Base is a United States Air Force Base located east of Panama City, Florida. The base was named in honor of World War I pilot 1st Lt. Frank Benjamin Tyndall. The base operating unit and host wing is the 325th Fighter Wing (325 ...

, Florida, 1957–1960 * 8d Bombardment Squadron, TT Flight (PACAF) : Re-designated: 6th Tow Target Squadron ::

, Japan, 1957–1960 * 17th Tow Target Squadron (ADC) :: Yuma AFB, Arizona. 1957–1959 ::

, Florida, 1959–1960

Defense Systems Evaluation

Used by

as simulated target aircraft for interceptors and training of ground control intercept radar units. Used re-purposed RB-57As, B-57Bs, B-57Cs, B-57E as they became available from their previous missions. Used by active duty units until 1971;

until 1983. * 4677th Defense System Evaluation Squadron, (RB-57B, EB-57E) : 4677th Defense System Evaluation Squadron, Detachment 1, Holloman AFB, New Mexico (RB-57D) : Re-designated:

17th Defense Systems Evaluation Squadron The 17th Defense Systems Evaluation Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 24th Air Division of Aerospace Defense Command at Malmstrom AFB, Montana. It was inactivated on 13 July 1979. The squadron wa ...

, Utah, 1959–1972 ::

Malmstrom AFB Malmstrom Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base and census-designated place (CDP) in Cascade County, Montana, United States, adjacent to the city of Great Falls. It was named in honor of World War II POW Colonel Einar Axel Malmstrom. ...

, Montana, 1972–1979 * 5040th Radar Evaluation Squadron (EB-57B) (AAC) (10th AD) : Re-designated: 5070th System Evaluation Squadron ::

Elmendorf AFB Elmendorf Air Force Base is a United States Air Force (USAF) facility in Anchorage, Alaska. Originally known as Elmendorf Field, it became Elmendorf Air Force Base after World War II. It is the home of the Headquarters, Alaskan Air Command (AL ...

, Alaska, 1957–1960 * 5041st Tactical Operations Squadron (EB-57) (AAC) (21st CW) ::

, Alaska, 1971–1977 *

4758th Defense Systems Evaluation Squadron The 4758th Defense Systems Evaluation Squadron is a discontinued United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 26th Air Division of Aerospace Defense Command at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, where it was inactivated on 31 Octob ...

(EB-57E) :: Biggs AFB, Texas, 1958–1960 ::

Holloman AFB Holloman Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base established in 1942 located six miles (10 km) southwest of the central business district of Alamogordo, and a census-designated place in Otero County, New Mexico, United States. ...

, New Mexico, 1960–1968 * 4713th Defense Systems Evaluation Squadron (EB-57A/B/E) ::

Stewart AFB Stewart may refer to: People *Stewart (name), Scottish surname and given name *Clan Stewart, a Scottish clan *Clan Stewart of Appin, a Scottish clan Places Canada *Stewart, British Columbia *Stewart Township, Nipissing District, Ontario (histor ...

, New York, 1959–1969 ::

Otis AFB Otis Air National Guard Base is an Air National Guard installation located within Joint Base Cape Cod, a military training facility located on the western portion of Cape Cod in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. It was known a ...

, Massachusetts, 1969–1972 ::

Westover AFB Westover Air Reserve Base is an Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) installation located in the Massachusetts communities of Chicopee and Ludlow, near the city of Springfield, Massachusetts. Established at the outset of World War II, today West ...

, Massachusetts, 1972–1974 * 6091st Reconnaissance Squadron (EB-57E) ::

, Japan : Re-designated: 556th Reconnaissance Squadron :: Moved to

Kadena AB (IATA: DNA, ICAO: RODN) is a highly strategic United States Air Force base in the towns of Kadena and Chatan and the city of Okinawa, in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. It is often referred to as the "Keystone of the Pacific" because of its high ...

, Okinawa.

Air National Guard

* 106th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing : 149th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (RB-57A), 1 Aircraft :

Virginia Air National Guard The Virginia Air National Guard (VA ANG) is the aerial militia of the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States of America. It is, along with the Virginia Army National Guard, an element of the Virginia National Guard. As commonwealth militia uni ...

:: Richmond ANGB, VA, Apr–Jun 1958 * 110th Tactical Reconnaissance Group :

172d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron Seventeen or 17 may refer to: *17 (number), the natural number following 16 and preceding 18 * one of the years 17 BC, AD 17, 1917, 2017 Literature Magazines *Seventeen (American magazine), ''Seventeen'' (American magazine), an American magazi ...

(RB-57A/C) :

Michigan Air National Guard The Michigan Air National Guard (MI ANG) is the aerial militia of the State of Michigan, United States of America. It is, along with the Michigan Army National Guard, an element of the Michigan National Guard. The Michigan Air National Guard is a ...

:: Battle Creek ANGB, MI, 1958–1971 *

123d Tactical Reconnaissance Group 1 (one, unit, unity) is a number representing a single or the only entity. 1 is also a numerical digit and represents a single unit of counting or measurement. For example, a line segment of ''unit length'' is a line segment of length 1. ...

162d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron Sixteen or 16 may refer to: *16 (number), the natural number following 15 and preceding 17 *one of the years 16 BC, AD 16, 1916, 2016 Films * '' Pathinaaru'' or ''Sixteen'', a 2010 Tamil film * ''Sixteen'' (1943 film), a 1943 Argentine film ...

(RB-57B) :

Kentucky Air National Guard The Kentucky Air National Guard (KY ANG) is the aerial militia of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, United States of America. It is, along with the Kentucky Army National Guard, an element of the Kentucky National Guard. As commonwealth militia un ...

:: Louisville ANGB, KY, 1958–1965 *

152d Tactical Reconnaissance Group The 152nd Airlift Wing (152 AW) is a unit of the Nevada Air National Guard, stationed at Nevada Air National Guard Base, Nevada. If activated to federal service with the United States Air Force, the Wing is operationally gained by the 18th Air F ...

: 192d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (RB-57A/C) :

Nevada Air National Guard The Nevada Air National Guard is the aerial militia of the State of Nevada, United States of America. Along with the Nevada Army National Guard, it is an element of the Nevada National Guard. The units of the Nevada Air National Guard are not in ...

:: Reno ANGB, NV, 1961–1965 *

158th Defense Systems Evaluation Group The 158th Fighter Wing (158 FW) is a unit of the Vermont Air National Guard, stationed at Burlington Air National Guard Base, Burlington, Vermont. If activated to federal service, the Wing is gained by the United States Air Force Air Combat Comm ...

: 134th Defense Systems Evaluation Squadron (EB-57B/C) :

Vermont Air National Guard The Vermont Air National Guard (VT ANG) is the aerial militia of the Vermont, State of Vermont, United States, United States of America. It is, along with the Vermont Army National Guard, an element of the Vermont National Guard. The 158th Fighte ...

:: Burlington ANGB, VT :: Last USAF unit to operate B-57s, 1974-retired 1983. * 189th Tactical Reconnaissance Group : 154th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (RB-57A) :

Arkansas Air National Guard The Arkansas Air National Guard (AR ANG), commonly known as the Arkansas Air Guard, is the aerial militia of the State of Arkansas, United States of America. It is, along with the Arkansas Army National Guard, an element of the Arkansas National ...

Little Rock Air Force Base Little Rock Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located approximately northeast of Little Rock, Arkansas. Little Rock AFB is the primary C-130 Hercules training base for the Department of Defense, training C-130 pilots, naviga ...

, AR, 1958–1965 *

190th Tactical Reconnaissance Group The 190th Air Refueling Wing (190 ARW) is a unit of the Kansas Air National Guard, stationed at Forbes Field Air National Guard Base, Topeka, Kansas. If activated to federal service, the Wing is gained by the United States Air Force Air Mobility ...

:: Re-Designated: 190th Defense Systems Evaluation Group : 117th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (RB-57A, B-57G) :: Re-Designated: 117th Defense Systems Evaluation Squadron, (EB-57B) :

Kansas Air National Guard The Kansas Air National Guard (KS ANG) is the aerial militia of the Kansas, State of Kansas, United States, United States of America. It is, along with the Kansas Army National Guard, an element of the Kansas National Guard. As state militia un ...

:: Naval Air Station Hutchinson, KS, 1958 ::

Forbes Air Force Base ''Forbes'' () is an American business magazine owned by Integrated Whale Media Investments and the Forbes family. Published eight times a year, it features articles on finance, industry, investing, and marketing topics. ''Forbes'' also rep ...

, KS, 1967–1976

Operational Support

Used by Air Force Systems Command at

Edwards AFB Edwards Air Force Base (AFB) is a United States Air Force installation in California. Most of the base sits in Kern County, but its eastern end is in San Bernardino County and a southern arm is in Los Angeles County. The hub of the base is Ed ...

, California and

Eglin AFB Eglin Air Force Base is a United States Air Force (USAF) base in the western Florida Panhandle, located about southwest of Valparaiso in Okaloosa County. The host unit at Eglin is the 96th Test Wing (formerly the 96th Air Base Wing). The 9 ...

Florida for functional test flights and modification testing. Also for various special projects such as hurricane monitoring; Air Force Special Weapons Center; high altitude research; aircraft missile launch testing; missile guidance systems testing, FAA and NASA research projects. * 1001st Operations Group,

Andrews AFB Andrews Air Force Base (Andrews AFB, AAFB) is the airfield portion of Joint Base Andrews, which is under the jurisdiction of the United States Air Force. In 2009, Andrews Air Force Base merged with Naval Air Facility Washington to form Joint B ...

, Maryland : Star Flight, 1958–1962 * 4950th Test Wing,

Wright-Patterson AFB Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB) is a United States Air Force base and census-designated place just east of Dayton, Ohio, in Greene and Montgomery counties. It includes both Wright and Patterson Fields, which were originally Wilbur Wri ...

, Ohio * 6550th Operations Squadron,

Patrick AFB Patrick Space Force Base is a United States Space Force installation located between Satellite Beach and Cocoa Beach, in Brevard County, Florida, United States. It is named in honor of Major General Mason Patrick, USAAC. It is home to Space Lau ...

, Florida * Rome Air Development Center,

Griffiss AFB Griffiss Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force installation in the northeastern United States, located in Central New York state at Rome, about northwest of Utica. Missions included fighter interceptors, electronic research, i ...

, New York * HQ,

Peterson AFB Peterson Space Force Base, previously Peterson Air Force Base, Peterson Field, and Army Air Base, Colorado Springs, is a U.S. Space Force Base that shares an airfield with the adjacent Colorado Springs Municipal Airport and is home to the Nor ...

, Colorado *

Air Force Flight Test Center The Air Force Test Center (AFTC) is a development and test organization of the United States Air Force. It conducts research, development, test, and evaluation of aerospace systems from concept to deployment. It has test flown every aircraft in ...

, California *

Air Armament Center The Air Armament Center (AAC) was an Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) center at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, responsible for development, acquisition, testing, and deployment of all air-delivered weapons for the U.S. Air Force. Weapon systems ...

, Florida *

Federal Aviation Administration The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is the largest transportation agency of the U.S. government and regulates all aspects of civil aviation in the country as well as over surrounding international waters. Its powers include air traffic m ...

United States Department of Commerce The United States Department of Commerce is an executive department of the U.S. federal government concerned with creating the conditions for economic growth and opportunity. Among its tasks are gathering economic and demographic data for bu ...

(Weather) *

NASA The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA ) is an independent agency of the US federal government responsible for the civil space program, aeronautics research, and space research. NASA was established in 1958, succeeding t ...

Ellington Field Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base is a joint installation shared by various active component and reserve component military units, as well as aircraft flight operations of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) under the aegis ...

, Texas

References

* Mikesh, Robert C. Martin B-57 Canberra: The Complete Record. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Publishing Ltd., 1995. {{ISBN, 0-88740-661-0. * Mueller, Robert. Air Force Bases Volume I: Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982. Office of Air Force History, 1989. * Ravenstein, Charles A. Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947–1977. Office of Air Force History, 1984.
Baugher, Martin B-57
United States military aircraft