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
Was at Shaw Air Force Base '57-'58. Did radio repair on the B-66. Loved the bird then and still do today. Since I was on ground crew I never had the chance to fly in the aircraft. My loss. I was shipped out in '58 and reassigned and retrained. A fellow airman who took my place got the chance to fly in the B-66 overseas. His gain. So in goes in the service. You win some and lose some! Thanks to all you guys who cared for and flew the great one - the B-66.
I was CC of RB-66-B,tail # 54-0541 that was shot down over East Germany by a Mig-19.The aircraft was piloted by Capt David I. Holland,Nav. Capt. Melvin J. Kessler,and 2nd Lt. Harold Welch who was on a check ride being evaluated by Capt Kessler.All ejected and were returned to Toul-Rosieres after a month in captivity.This was a major cold war incident that caused quite a few re-assignments by senior officers in the 19th TRS and wing headquarters.Anyone remember?
Hello Steve, my name is Jack Williams. I was stationed at RAF Bruntingthorpe on December 14, 1959 when a RB-66 crashed on approach returning to base. Is that when your father was lost?
I crewed EB66E's & C's from 1971 till they went to the bone yard. I was stationed at Shaw AFB & Korat AFB. Best aircraft I ever worked on. We had the best ground crews and air crews as well.
I was C /C or asst. cc as had to be a 7 level to have name on forms, But everyone knew who the C /C was at Takhli in 69 /70 I crewed the first one that flew and came back with an OR flight It took my hearing. Was not found of the aircraft but it always came back with crew in good shape Ken Hintz
I worked on the radar systems from 1957-1960 in Spangdalam Germany before DeGalle kicked the 100's out and we took up 3 bases in England. I also help pick up pieces of the crew that did not make it back to the base (about 59. Never want to see or do that ever again. Also had a TDY to Tripoli and Spain.
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 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. Would you possibly have any memory of this crash incident? Any information would be helpful. My mom was pregnant with me at the time of the crash so I never met my father.
Steve, Where did your dad have that B-66 crash? I witnessed a crash of a B-66 at Evreux Air Base, France but I don't remember exactly when. I was there from August 1956 to August 1960. The pilot had lost one engine, made a very long pattern, then was unable to make it to the runway. He put it down in a ploughed field and, seeing a major highway between him and the base, nosed it over to stop short of the highway. Banged his head but walked away.
I flew 115 combat missions in the 66. It was the 2nd most challenging bird I flew, but still a lot of fun. Once off the ground she would get up and go especially at low level.
This was a solid platform for ECM work and was a workhorse in Vietnam. I flew 100 missions over Vietnam from Takhli Royal Thai AFB in three models. Sadly, only a couple survive in museums.
I was a crew chief /flight chief on the RB-66C in Germany 1957; Ec-66C /WB-66C at Shaw AFB,SC 1958,59,60; B-66B RAF Sculthorpe, Eng 1960-61; RB /B-66C Clarke AFB,PI 1965-66. The A /C was under powered, however the flt crews learned how stable a weapons delivery platform the acft was.
Wayne Stallard
Hi Pete.
I crewed them 65-68, at Chambley, Takhli and Shaw.
Also have hearing aids now !
I'm surprised we didn't know each other.
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