US Air Force involvement in the Korean War highlighted an urgent need for a high performance day/night tactical bomber. To speed the availability of such an aircraft it was planned to procure a land-based version of the A3D Skywarrior then being developed for the US Navy. To this end Douglas was given a contract for five pre-production Douglas RB-66A all-weather/night photo-reconnaissance aircraft, the first of which was flown on 28 June 1954 at the Long Beach plant. Although retaining the basic overall configuration of the A3D Skywarrior, the USAF's RB-66A Destroyer dispensed with the arrester gear, strengthened landing gear and wing-folding of the naval version; it introduced aerodynamic changes in the wing design, revised accommodation for the three-man crew who were provided with ejection seats, and detail changes in equipment, including a multiple-camera installation and the provision of bombing and navigation radar. Power for this initial version was provided by two 4341kg thrust Allison YJ71-A-9 turbojets. Successful testing of the RB-66As led to a contract for the first production version, the RB-66B powered by 4627kg thrust Allison J71-A-11s or J71-A-13s. The first of 145 RB-66Bs was flown in March 1955 and deliveries to the USAF began on 1 February 1956.
Production versions included also the B-66B bomber (72 built), which had the same powerplant as the RB-66B and could carry up to 6804kg of bombs in place of reconnaissance equipment; the RB-66C (36 built), which was an electronic reconnaissance and ECM-aircraft with J71-A-11 or J71-A-13 turbojets and a crew of seven including five specialist radar operators, four of them accommodated in what had initially been the bomb bay; and the WB-66D (36 built) combat-area weather reconnaissance aircraft with J71-A-13 engines and a crew of five (two plus equipment in the bomb bay).
ECM versions of the B-66/RB-66 proved of great value during operations in Vietnam, locating, classifying and jamming enemy radars, but withdrawal of US forces from Southeast Asia brought retirement of these aircraft.
Douglas B-66 Destroyer on YOUTUBE
3-View
A three-view drawing (1000 x 567)
Specification
MODEL
RB-66B
ENGINE
2 x Allison J71-A-11 or J71-A-13 turbojets, 4627kg each
I was a crew chief on the '66 at Shaw AFB in the 16th TRS in 1958-59. Went on the Incirlik deployment out in the desert for 60 days. Enjoyed the airplane.
The answer to the person that asked if B66 had a co-pilot. The answer is no! This Web page brought some awareness again of this great plane built by Douglas Aircraft. Nice to have a way to communicate about experiences of interest.
Swearingen Richard, e-mail, 22.05.2021 Kenneth L Weiand
Ken were you stationed at RAF Sculthorpe in 1957-1958 and flew as gunner on B-66 ? I was in 85 th and was gunner. I was assigned to B-45 as gunner before we received the B-66 Bombers. Attended Tech School at Lowery AFB. Thinking we may have been in same training classes at Lowery an$ then assigned to RAF Sculthorpe at same time. Sound familiar to you ?
Don I Phillips, Capt, USAF, R, e-mail, 22.03.2015 12:23
Needed an errata update I saw. Memory fades but PTSD craziness hangs bright 3 AM! One is we now train dive bomb on roller coasters! Cost save is enormous with an j all day ticket. DIP
I can make some observations about E-Model 54-536 crashed off the S departure at Spang, Oct 9,'69. It was my crew. Pilot Capt Ken Kelly and recent EWO 1st Lt Tony Holly just back from Thailand year tour (any call him by first name John didn't ever know him). I was off TDY ferrying the Bitburg Goon to Davis-Monthan for salvage. Was sitting at the duty desk 2nd week Sept when. Smiley Pomeroy, Asst Ops came in and said. "Phillips, get out your dancing shoes, you're flying home". USAFE was retiring all C-47s, Bas Ops flyers, usually, for either conversion to Puff Gunships in FL or bone yard salvage. Computer had spit me out as most qualified celestial, trans-ocean Nav qualified with B-52 time. Met my crew of Chief Ops and Training Spang, a Major returning to US, Co-pilot 1Lt Airfield Mgr, a mechanic crew chief and a radio operator for briefing and test hop. I was issued a bubble sextant and pilot had a little plexi window cut on skin by the nav table. Fri Sept 19 we left for a RAF base refueling RON at Lossiemouth RNAF carrier base N Scottland. I tied a sun line mid- cannel but found it was an astro-compass bubble dome and me and the sextant didn't fit. I made a smaller hook from a coat hanger but the off balance sunline fell back in Germany. No problem our other Goon assigned had Loran. Turned out with weather holds we flew alone to Iceland 2 days, Greenland 2 days and overnight at Goose on my 32nd birthday. Sept 24. Next day we landed at Dow for fuel and McGuire where we were diverted to FL not AZ. Meant me and rhe radio were finished. Next day I 2 hopped all way to LAX on VIP T-39s. after a long month's leave I was on my way back hop stopping with friends at Shaw. THAT was when I was told Ken and Tony were dead! Dumb as rocks sgdn never checked my Emergency Data info ( recall that thing in case you die?) and tried to find a Mrs Philips in Salinas. My mother was a Fletcher since 1950! Leave form said "self, home of record. Ken had been my student AT Shaw and we'd agreed to crew up at Spang that May Terry Kelly was one super lady from the time I saw her drive in from Kansas in their red and black Austin-Healy. She'd asked for me as escort officer with her to Arlington but they did not locate me at all.I can never bring myself to forgive them that! My real replacement that day was Lt Col Frank Fucich our Exec, no matter what silly people claim. Tough old bird survived 6 moths burn ward in Wiesbadden and we became close friends. We bonded as he was in MY seat Oct 9th and knew it. After he retired on disability in '73 became My best advisor when I was disabled out at Wilford Hall in 1777. We'd both bought retirement lots in Cameron Park CA while he was at Mather Nav Bomb Tng Sqdn CO and me just back from SEA in B-57s. Dorly and I'd stop and visit each time through CA to Texas where I retired to be near neurosurgery department follow up. I can still recall Ken banging that elevator every run up that spring and summer. We ferried a bird across from Shaw day after we watched Armstrong step on the moon. That Oct day the bell crank broke and froze in place and they went off the Alert Facility end with a telephone pole light standard cutting Kenny in half then right through Tony. Frank was sitting in my Nav radar position back left side and fell out a tear by the # 1 engine.
Later I became Information Officer in new 52nd TFW and responded immediately in Wing Safety truck to the Aug 28, '72 C model 54-0386 crash where good friend Dan Craven, (Dorly sold them their Audi at Capitol Motors in early '70) aborted take off. All crews since my and Ken's had spoken of what to do IF, and our plan was raise the gear and pull hard right that departure. Much worse odds to N with Armament storage to left and Trier-Bitburg highway corner to right with steep drop off past base golf course pro shop. "FORE!"
Don Harding, IP, on Dan's check ride felt he could have trimmed it off into the air but is a fighter pilot trick not taught much to heavier bombers. We watched Don unhurt crawl across the top and drop down to get Bobby Serman out badly injured. I was busy hugging Dan with all my strength. Same cause, seized,long abused,bell crank. Later I was assigned as Air Field manager 73-75 but could never get myself to drive down the decline where Ken died and Frank "crawled to the light". Spent a summer '74 exercising , first time ever, Wing Safety and I found really hard to believe when we asked them, a bomb damage repair group up in heavy semi trucks convoy from Baumholder Base leveling the rough terrain both B-66s ran across. My contribution to Ken's memory. Once even C-141's delivering nukes needed a runway turn around for my safety approval. Now C-5 and C-17's can enter large ...
Don I Phillips, Capt, USAF, Re, e-mail, 21.03.2015 23:16
I can make some observations about E-Model 54-536 crashed off the S departure at Spang,Oct 9,'69. It was my crew. Pilot Capt Ken Kelly and recent EWO 1st Lt Tony Holly just back from Thailand year tour (any call him by first name John didn't ever know him). I was off TDY ferrying the Bitburg Goon to Davis-Monthan for salvage. Was sitting at the duty desk 2nd week Sept when Maj Smiley Pommeroy, Asst Ops came in and said. "Phillips, get out your dancing shoes, you're flying home". USAFE was retiring all C-47s, Bas Ops flyers, usually, for either conversion to Puff Gunships in FL or bone yard salvage. Computer had spit me out as most qualified celestial, trans-ocean Nav qualified with B-52 time. Met my crew of Chief Ops and Training Spang, a Major returning to US, Co-pilot 1Lt Airfield Mgr, a mechanic crew chief and a radio operator for briefing and test hop. I was issued a bubble sextant and pilot had a little plexi window cut on skin by the nav table. Fri Sept 19 we left for a RAF base refueling RON at Lossiemouth RNAF carrier base N Scottland. I tied a sun line mid- cannel but found it was an astro-compass bubble dome and me and the sextant didn't fit. I made a smaller hook from a coat hanger but the off balance sunline fell back in Germany. No problem our other Goon assigned had Loran. Turned out with weather holds we flew alone to Iceland 2 days, Greenland 2 days and overnight at Goose on my 32nd birthday. Sept 24. Next day we landed at Dow for fuel and McGuire where we were diverted to FL not AZ. Meant me and rhe radio were finished. Next day I 2 hopped all way to LAX on VIP T-39s. after a long month's leave I was on my way back hop stopping with friends at Shaw. THAT was when I was told Ken and Tony were dead! Dumb as rocks sgdn never checked my Emergency Data info ( recall that thing in case you die?) and tried to find a Mrs Philips in Salinas. My mother was a Fletcher since 1950! Leave form said "self, home of record. Ken had been my student AT Shaw and we'd agreed to crew up at Spang that May Terry Kelly was one super lady from the time I saw her drive in from Kansas in their red and black Austin-Healy. She'd asked for me as escort officer with her to Arlington but they did not locate me at all.I can never bring myself to forgive them that! My real replacement that day was Lt Col Frank Fucich our Exec, no matter what silly people claim. Tough old bird survived 6 moths burn ward in Wiesbadden and we became close friends. We bonded as he was in MY seat Oct 9th and knew it. After he retired on disability in '73 became My best advisor when I was disabled out at Wilford Hall in 1777. We'd both bought retirement lots in Cameron Park CA while he was at Mather Nav Bomb Tng Sqdn CO and me just back from SEA in B-57s. Dorly and I'd stop and visit each time through CA to Texas where I retired to be near neurosurgery department follow up. I can still recall Ken banging that elevator every run up that Spring and summer. We ferried a bird across from Shaw day after we watched Armstrong step on the moon. That Oct day the bell crank broke and froze in place and they went off the Alert facility end with a telephone pole cutting Kenny in half then right through Tony. Frank was sitting left side and fell out a tear by the engine.
Later I became Information Officer in new 52nd TFW and responded to the C Model crash where good friend Dan Craven, ()Dorly sold them their Audi at Capitol Motors in early '70) All crews since Ken had spoken of what to do if, and our plan was raise the gear and pull hard right. Don Harding IP, felt he could have trimmed it off but we watched Don unhurt crawl across the top and drop down to get Bobby Serman out badly injured. I was busy huggin Dan with all my strength. Same cause, seized,long abused,bell crank. Later I was assigned as Air Field manager 73-75 but could never get myself to drive down the decline where Ken died. Spent a summer '74 exercising first time ever a bomb damage repair group up from Baumholder Base leveling the rough terrain both B-66s ran across. My contribution to Ken's meomory.
About 1995 on a visit to Dorly's mom in Trier I picked up a rock for both of us. He thanked me and displayed it on the mantle Frank died in Jan 2004 23 years late. Don Phillips
My father, Richard (Rick) Schlesser was a Captain last stationed at Shaw AFB. To the best of my knowledge, he was an EWO on a B-66. I think it was a RB-66C. I am not sure how long he was on a B-66, but I am pretty sure he was in the USAF from 59-66. I believe that he was an instructor for survival training as well. Dad passed away back in 1993, and I never got many stories out of him about his time in Vietnam, or the Cuban missle crises. Any information would be great. Thank you all and God Bless each of you for your service.
Flew as B-66 Navigator in early 1960's for 9th TRS at Shaw AFB in SC. Many TDY's to Europe, especially England. Flew many missions on the E. German border. Would enjoy hearing from others. Flew in first Opeation Swamp Fox 1.
Paul P Clement Jr, e-mail, 05.09.2022 Chuck Schnorenberg
Chuck,
After our survival school experience, I went immediately to Shaw for RB-66B training and, later, joined the 16th TRS there. Left when AF offered me an early out in late 1960. So, we were there at the same time. Weird.
I just came across this web site and found your email. I hope that this one finds you well.
I was stationed at RAF Alconbury, England from 62_65 and was luck enough to spend the entire time as a flight engineer in the 1st tactical reconnaissance squadron. Spent many hours on Whiskey alert and in Morocco enjoying the warm weather and practicing our night photo capabilities.
Correction on Doug De Ronde comment about B66 crash at Spang. Germany. The crash date was 9 October 1969. Aircraft did not rotate from runway. Crashed into woods at runway end. Only survivor as Lt /Col. Fran W. Fucich. I know this to be factual, because Frank W. Fucich was my DAD. Frank passed in 2004 in Sacramento, Ca. Contact me at TravisBrophy@sbcglobal.net
I just learned my father, Stephen J. Andrichak, flew the B66 as an EWO in Vietnam. He told my mother he was flying supplies from Tachikawa AFB in Japan. We were there from 1960-1965.
I would love to hear from anyone who knew my father, as he passed when I was very young. I know less than my mother about his missions.
He also flew in the Korean War.
Call anytime to 941-623-9391, or email at scott_andrichak@yahoo.com
Thank you and God Bless you all for defending our freedom.
Kyle Flanary, e-mail, 23.05.2020 Robert M. Johnson
Correct. Cockpit and flight deck were laid out in a triangle, pilot in front then engineer and navigator just behind a bulkhead. The navigator had a "remote control" box that could control flight using a link to the autopilot. I was cc 1965-68.
I was looking at the old eb66 .I was stationed at Takhli.worked test cell on the J71.went to school at shaw befor i went over.my memory is a little off that long ago.can anyone help me out on the location of things on base?
William R. "Tex" Summers, e-mail, 22.06.2014 03:27
RB-66B Aircraft Mechanic Shaw AFB 4415th CCTS 1957-1960 Flew many missions as flight engineer in gunner's seat ($55 bucks monthly flight pay). Some of my squadron's planes came back from the '58 Lebanon flap with rifle bullet holes in them. One of our birds went down in the Atlantic near Bermuda on the way over. Pilot and Navigator were picked up by a fishing boat. Sadly the gunner was never found. I was A /2c Crew Chief of TWO 66's last months of my 4-year enlistment. Frozen career field ??? I thought the 66's were fazing out then but now learn they cruised on a while longer. I didn't. Line Chief was sergeant Zane Allen. Tessaro, Jenschke, West, Knapp, Young, any of you pushing 80 guys still around? Did you stop telling folks you flew the "heavies" because no one ever heard of a B-66? Glad to find this nice '66 site. Tex
I was an assist c /c with the 9th trs 1958 to 1962 t /sg shire was the flight chief ,I think M /sgt Madigon was the line chief. I went tdy to England, mendenhall or Chelveston I've been to both. S /sgt francis was my c /c the best I can remember. I stayed out for 15 years and Mc entire ang in columbia sc >I met a SC girl at Carolina skating rink got married and settled down ( 55 years now) I've been around the world 2 weeks at a time 6 mo i saudia for 6 mo.80 1 8o3 408 1432
I was an assist c /c with the 9th trs 1958 to 1962 t /sg shire was the flight chief ,I think M /sgt Madigon was the line chief. I went tdy to England, mendenhall or Chelveston I've been to both. S /sgt francis was my c /c the best I can remember. I stayed out for 15 years and Mc entire ang in columbia sc >I met a SC girl at Carolina skating rink got married and settled down ( 55 years now) I've been around the world 2 weeks at a time 6 mo i saudia for 6 mo.80 1 8o3 408 1432
Stationed at Shaw AFB, SC in 1956 as a Gunner. Transferred to Spangdalhem AFB, Germany from 1958 to 1962 with the B-66, but was grounded due to loss of hearing. The J-71's were really loud and high pitched. I loved every minute I flew in the aircraft.
Dawn (Chandler) Armstrong, 15.10.2023 Jerry Forbes
Hello, my name is Dawn (Chandler) Armstrong. I'm doing some research on my father, Captain Donn F. Chandler. He was flying an RB-66 out of Spangdahlem that crashed on June 8, 1958 not far from Beilingen, Germany. He did not eject from the plane so it wouldn't crash into a village. A marker was placed at the crash site by a local Burgermeister. Do you recall this incident at all?
Hello, my name is Dawn (Chandler) Armstrong. I'm doing some research on my father, Captain Donn F. Chandler. He was flying an RB-66 out of Spangdahlem that crashed on June 8, 1958 not far from Beilingen, Germany. He did not eject from the plane so it wouldn't crash into a village. A marker was placed at the crash site by a local Burgermeister. Do you recall this incident at all?
I was stationed at RAF station sculthorpe with three squadrons of B66B and one squadron of KB50J tankers as an avionics instrument tech. in 1958 thru 1962 then transferred to Shaw AFB to work on the rb /ecmb66b
Hello, I'm researching my father's crash in an RB-66. He crashed near Spangdahlem AFB in Germany on June 8th, 1958. It is my impression that a test pilot was there the day before and tested my father's plane, giving it a green light. My husband says he found a written interview with the test pilot regarding my father's crash. My father was Captain Donn F. Chandler, a 1953 graduate from Westpoint. A memorial was placed at the crash site by a local Burgermeister. Do you have any knowledge of your Uncle being in Germany in 1958?
Chuck Schnorenberg
Ken were you stationed at RAF Sculthorpe in 1957-1958 and flew as gunner on B-66 ?
I was in 85 th and was gunner. I was assigned to B-45 as gunner before we received the B-66 Bombers.
Attended Tech School at Lowery AFB.
Thinking we may have been in same training classes at Lowery an$ then assigned to RAF Sculthorpe at same time.
Sound familiar to you ?
Richard E. Swearingen
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