Martin RB-57D

was a side-oblique precision 6" focal length with KC-1B 9" x 9" film magazines with 390 feet of normal base film. This allowed it to film a matrix from nearly horizon to horizon. Loter from an old Nephograhics guy of the 4080th.

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I was stationed in Japan in the late 50"s and early 60's we had RB-57Ds through there ocasionlay most were all black with red tail numbers 1" letters and about a 3" us insigna I remember one take off tower told the pilot to call when clearing the tower (he made a vertical) takeoff the tower called about 15 minutes later and ask have you cleared the tower the reply was no we are still climbing.
I remember refueling a U-2 later it was shot down (Col.Francis Scott Powers)
George W.

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I was born in Del Rio in 1960, my father was stationed there, Horace "Marty" Martineau, during that time. I'm not sure if he flew with the 4025th and 4080th but it was the Black Knights, does anyone remember him? I am interested to hear stories about him if anyone has any. Appreciate any info. Thank you.

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My dad (Barton Warren)flew one. It was stenciled as an RB-57D2. He was a test pilot for Hughes Aircraft in Culver city. I have pictures of it on Christmas Island where it was used to drop chaff and other metallic objects behind the atomic bomb tests. The project was sponsored, I believe by Columbia University I think. The objective was to determine if US radar systems would be able to detect strategic bombers approaching the US coast if a wall of nuclear bombs were dropped along the coast. Unfortunately he was killed testing the second F-111B produced while testing the Phoenix Missle System in 68, but I do have some pictures of the plane with mushroom clowds painted on the side like "kills".

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Hello all,
I am working on a book about the Canberra in worldwide service and part of my research has led me down the RB-57D path. One of the guys I am talking with, his father was a civilian crew chief that had a lot of B-57 experience in general, but among other things he was involved with the Project Aerospace Reconnaissance Experiment (APRE) RB-57D that I think was at Holloman AB in 1964. This is the machine previously referred to on this page with the geometric patterns painted in black and white. If anyone here was involved with this I would very much like to hear from you. Similarly, if anyone would like to contribute their story to the book, air or ground crew, please do get in touch.

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Don't know how relevant but I saw a B57D in Peshawar, Pakistan during the Cuban missile thingy.

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I flew the "D" while with the 4677DSES at Hill from 1962-1963. One of the birds I flew has been restored and is now at USAF Museum in Dayton... Recall the prefilights.... the flight physical from the Flight Surgeon who deployed with us... then off to the mess hall or the hospital dining room for a meal of steak and eggs and cottage cheese... no salt allowed. Upon landing another physical and an allocation of either Old Methusala or Christian Brothers Brandy...

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Does anybody remember what issue of Av-Week that actually displayed a photo of the RB-57A or even the 57D model on display in China? I have one of the drones, and 4 U-2s one with slipper tanks flown by CIA, but not one of any 57 Canberra on display. Anybody have a reasonable good dpi image? Thanks.

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Ah!yes, the "D" model.... The only Aircraft that could take an aerial Photo of the U-2 at Maximum Altitude. Our Pilots would hold them on the runway until they were near the end and then rotate into a straight up spiral climb out of sight.

B57-D Crew Chief

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Anybody interested in trading "Dog" (yes, anything but a dog), images please contact me...U-2 I have some too.

However, information is coming from a far east contact concerning disposition of that RB-57D that was Sa-2'd over China. It was used as template so to speak for what finally resulted in Mya "Mystic." I'm on pins and needles waiting for photos of the D model wreck and what was done with it. if...if the file will be released to my contact. The plan is to present Soviet reverse engineering and flight test info on what they scraped up of our planes. Hang tuff...take no guff, and stay healthy.
DS

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I was with the RB-57D and U-2 in the 4080th SRW at Del Rio in the late '50s. For the one that wants a copy of the black /white paint job, get hold of a copy of the Aamerican Aviation Historical Society (AAHS) Vol 44, Number 4, Winter, 1999, page 276. This shows white paint under nose and on vertical stab, but ours were flat black in those positions. Our paint shop were the ones that painted them. One of the other guys who messaged here named Ballard, whom I knew, is a real expert crew chief on these birds. E-mail me if you want more at

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Smallest man in the 4677DSES engine shop. Guess my job. Give the man a starter cartage for the correct answer. "Tailpipe inspecter" Seemed to have a good # of cracks after a "hot" start. If I remember right, we few up yo one and half inch in a seam. Would rate with dirty jobs on TV. Some body said we had fun with them, indeed we did. Felt sorry for the fighter pilots with zero on thire score sheet

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I worked on a "d" model at G L Martin, Baltimore. in early '70s. 2n day on job I was shimering through fuel cells because ga.s didn't read correctly between main and aux. found problem in an hour. the crew that was playing with it for wk's didn't have a clue about sys. later made auto-pilot work before test flight. was told ap never worked correctly before.

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I was an A /1c crewchief on RB57D 966 & 969 Hill AFB 1960-61 & Kirtland AFB & Christmas Island atomic test. A great Acft that brought a lot of attention.
Anyone that was at Christmas Isl. oper. Domonic and has had one of the listed cancers caused by radiation contact me. I will give you the info. on how to get your settlement from theUS Justice Dept. It only takes about a month to get your $75000.00 check. One of my American Legion members flew passangers in and out of Xmas Isl. during Dominic received his check in less than a month after applying. So contact me on how if you have a cancer. dobber16@cablelynx.com

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An interesting phenomenon of the design of the "D" was the way it could climb out a stalling condition with the outboard wings still in a stalled (wings beffeting) condition while the aircraft was climbing. If you held it in a climb with power at idle, you could hold the nose in the same attitude as the outboard wing began to buffet. Then by slowly incresaing power the aircraft would hold it indicated airspeed you wanted and begin climbing while the outboard sections continued to buffet. Ailerons wre located well inboard thus you could maneuver the aircraft laterally while the stall continued. To break the stall a simple release of the backpressure would do the trick. I never flew another aircraft that you could hold in a stall while continuing full control.

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xfeered from Langley with B57 short wings to Hill AFB when Air Appachies deactivated in 1959.1960 went to boneyard and activated RB57D's. Became crew chief on 971 then crew chief on 966 when it arrived. 966 was a 2 seater RB57DII. Had some good cross country missions in back seat. Capt. Caldwell was one of my pilots. I was an A1C. I remember Bill Crawley, Lester Russell, Pineapple,Garceia, Capt Lafoone, Col Boone,commander a top notch officer,Maj Scanlin. D models were xfeered to Kirtland AFB for the atomic test at xmas island.I was xfeered with the aircraft and wound up at xmas island atomic test. Very intresting. I enjoyed all my time on the B57's lots of good times, lots of TDY out of Hill.
Billy
dobber16@cablelynx.com

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Here are a few RB-57D facts & figures from another website:
Armament: None
Engines: 2 x Pratt&Whitney J57-P-9, 10,000 lb static thrust
Max. speed: About 600 mph @ 45,000 ft.
Cruise speed: About 420 knots @ 65,000 ft.
Combat radius: About 2,000 miles
Service ceiling: About 70,000 ft.
Span: 106 ft.
Length: 66 ft.
Height: 15 ft. 7 inches
Max. takeoff weight: About 59,000 lb
Crew: 1 or 2 depending on variant
Serial numbers: 53-3963 to 53-3982

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RB 57 D,D1,D2 histroy starts at Turner AFB, Albany GA.

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I was with the 4677DSES at Hill twice. First as a 'flight
chief and later as the Line Chief. Interesting in the notes /comments no one commented on the Rb-57-d1 or the D2 configurations. Both were at Hill AFB and Were very special aircraft. I enjoyed flying in the back seat on several missions of the RB-57-D2. Of All the Aircraft I worked on, around and with in 23 yeasr of active duty the B-57 was my favoriate aircraft. Most do not know the WB-57F was assembled from mostly B-57 model aircraft (all but the B-57 A models. Lots of History for this fleet that is fading into the sun set FMJ1

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Reference comment by David Stern (16.3.2010):
Photograph of RB-57D used in APRE appears on page 22 ofSquadron /Signal Publications Aircraft No 77 ISBN 0-89747-184-9.

Their address is 1115 Crowley Driv, Carrollton, Texas 75011-5010.

I am a keen modeller and have made two RB-57Ds.(Plus a few Canberras). Still trying to confirm if the white on the top wrapped around to the leading edge of the bottom of the wing, or did the black wrap around to the top. I'm about to start on a RB-57F.

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