The Martin B-57 Canberra was first manufactured in 1953, and the United States Air Force 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 B-26 Invader. Assigned to TAC, USAFE, PACAF. 202 aircraft produced. Production began in 1952, deliveries began in 1954. TAC aircraft sent to Air National Guard by 1958, being replaced by F-100 Super Sabre. USAFE aircraft withdrawn from France in 1957 by agreement with French Government.
PACAF 8th and 13th Bombardment Squadrons flew B-57B Tactical Bombers in combat during Vietnam War, 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, Tactical (B-57B/C) (PACAF) Johnson AB, Japan, 1956–1960 Yokota AB, Japan, 1960–1963 8th Bombardment Squadron, Tactical 13th Bombardment Squadron, Tactical 90th Bombardment Squadron, Tactical
345th Bombardment Wing, Tactical (B-57B/C) (TAC) 345th Bombardment Group (1954–1957) received first production USAF B-57Bs, July 1954 Langley AFB, Virginia, 1954–1959 498th Bombardment Squadron, Tactical 499th Bombardment Squadron, Tactical 500th Bombardment Squadron, Tactical 501st Bombardment Squadron, Tactical
461st Bombardment Wing, Tactical (B-57B/C) (TAC) Hill AFB, Utah, 1955–1956 Blytheville AFB, Arkansas, 1956–1958 764th Bombardment Squadron, Tactical 765th Bombardment Squadron, Tactical 766th Bombardment Squadron, Tactical
3510th Combat Crew Training Wing, (B-57B/C) (ATC) Randolph AFB, Texas, 1954–1956 3511th Combat Crew Training Squadron
17th Bombardment Group, Tactical (B-57B/C) (TAC) Hurlburt Field, Florida, 1955–1956 34th Bombardment Squadron, Tactical
38th Bombardment Group, 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 (B-57B) (PACAF) Yokota Air Base, Japan, 1964 8th Bombardment Squadron, Tactical 13th Bombardment Squadron, Tactical
405th Fighter Wing (B-57B) (PACAF) Clark Air Base, Philippines, 1965–1968 8th Bombardment Squadron, Tactical (Tail Code: PQ) 13th Bombardment Squadron, Tactical (Tail Code: PV) Both squadrons performed rotating temporary duty at: Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Bien Hoa Air Base, Da Nang Air Base, South Vietnam, 1965–1968
35th Tactical Fighter Wing (B-57B) (PACAF) Phan Rang Air Base, South Vietnam, 1968–1969 8th Bombardment Squadron, Tactical (Tail Code: PQ) 13th Bombardment Squadron, Tactical (Tail Code: PV)
15th Tactical Fighter Wing (B-57G) (TAC) MacDill AFB, Florida, 1969–1972 13th Bombardment Squadron, 1969–1970 (Tail Code: FS) 4424th Combat Crew Training Squadron, 1969–1972 (Tail Code: FS)
8th Tactical Fighter Wing (B-57G) (PACAF) Ubon RTAFB, Thailand, 1970–1972 13th Bombardment Squadron (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 by 1958; survivors sent to the Air National Guard. Some were converted to Air Defense Command 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, 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, Communist China and North Korea 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 Vietnam War. They were used in spotting Viet Cong river traffic at night along the Mekong Delta southeast of Saigon. In 1969/70, Patricia Lynn missions were flown into Laos and into Cambodia. The Patricia Lynn operation was terminated in mid-1971.
10th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing (RB-57A) (USAFE) 1st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron Spangdahlem AB, West Germany, 1954–1957
363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing (RB-57A) (TAC) 22d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron 41st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron 43d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron Shaw AFB, South Carolina, 1954–1956 (First USAF operational B-57 wing)
66th Tactical Reconnaissance Group (RB-57A) (USAFE) 30th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron Sembach AB, West Germany. 1954–1958
33d Tactical Group, Detachment 1, (RB-57E) (PACAF) Re-designated: 6250th Combat Support Group Detachment 1 Re-designated: 460th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, Detachment 1 Tan Son Nhut AB, South Vietnam, 1963–1971 Also operated from: Da Nang AB, South Vietnam
6021st Reconnaissance Squadron (RB-57A-1) (FEAF) Yokota AB, Japan, 1955–1957 7407th Support Squadron (RB-57A-1, RB-57A-2) (USAFE) Wiesbaden AB, 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 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 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 (RB-57D) (SAC) 4028th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron Detachment 1 operated from: Yokota AB, Japan Detachment 2 operated from: Eielson AFB, Alaska Turner AFB, Georgia, 1956–1957 Laughlin AFB, Texas, 1957–1959
6091st Reconnaissance Squadron (RB-57F) (PACAF) Yokota AB, Japan, 1963–1968 556th Reconnaissance Squadron (RB-57F) (PACAF) Yokota AB, Japan (RB-57F), 1968–1972 7407th Support Squadron (RB-57D, RB-57F) (USAFE) Wiesbaden AB, West Germany, 1957–1964 (D), 1963–1974 (F)
Weather Reconnaissance B/RB-57C/D/E/Fs operated by the Air Weather Service. 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 (Sampling) Re-designated: 1211th Test Squadron (Sampling) Kirtland AFB, New Mexico, 1955–1963 (B-57B), 1957–1963 (RB-57D) 55th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron (RB-57F) McClellan AFB, California, 1963–1964 55th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, Detachment 1 (RB-57F) Eielson AFB, Alaska, 1963–1964 56th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, (WB-57B, R/WB-57F) Yokota AB, Japan, 1962–1964, 1966–1972
57th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, (WB-57B, R/WB-57F) Avalon Airport, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1962–1969 58th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron (WB-57C, WB-57E, R/WB-57F) Kirtland AFB, New Mexico, 1 Feb 1964-1 Jul 1974 Detachment: RAAF Base East Sale, Victoria, Australia (R/WB-57F) Detachment: El Plumerillo International Airport, Argentina (R/WB-57F) 58th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, Detachment 1, Eielson AFB, Alaska (R/WB-57F)
Tow Target Dedicated Air Defense Command target towing aircraft used for training of F-86D Sabre, F-94C Starfire, and F-89D Scorpion interceptors firing 2.75-inch Mk 4/Mk 40 Folding-Fin Aerial Rockets. 68 produced. As F-102 Delta Dagger interceptors firing heat-seeking AIM-4 Falcon 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 Vietnam War, 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, 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, California, 1957–1960 4756th Tow Target Squadron (ADC) Tyndall AFB, Florida, 1957–1960
8d Bombardment Squadron, TT Flight (PACAF) Re-designated: 6th Tow Target Squadron Johnson AB, Japan, 1957–1960 17th Tow Target Squadron (ADC) Yuma AFB, Arizona. 1957–1959 MacDill AFB, Florida, 1959–1960
Defense Systems Evaluation Used by Air Defense Command 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; Air National Guard 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 Hill AFB, Utah, 1959–1972 Malmstrom AFB, Montana, 1972–1979
5040th Radar Evaluation Squadron (EB-57B) (AAC) (10th AD) Re-designated: 5070th System Evaluation Squadron Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, 1957–1960
5041st Tactical Operations Squadron (EB-57) (AAC) (21st CW) Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, 1971–1977
4758th Defense Systems Evaluation Squadron (EB-57E) Biggs AFB, Texas, 1958–1960 Holloman AFB, New Mexico, 1960–1968
4713th Defense Systems Evaluation Squadron (EB-57A/B/E) Stewart AFB, New York, 1959–1969 Otis AFB, Massachusetts, 1969–1972 Westover AFB, Massachusetts, 1972–1974
6091st Reconnaissance Squadron (EB-57E) Yokota AB, Japan Re-designated: 556th Reconnaissance Squadron Moved to Kadena AB, Okinawa.
Air National Guard
106th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing 149th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (RB-57A), 1 Aircraft Virginia Air National Guard Richmond ANGB, VA, Apr–Jun 1958
110th Tactical Reconnaissance Group 172d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (RB-57A/C) Michigan Air National Guard Battle Creek ANGB, MI, 1958–1971
123d Tactical Reconnaissance Group 162d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (RB-57B) Kentucky Air National Guard Louisville ANGB, KY, 1958–1965
152d Tactical Reconnaissance Group 192d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (RB-57A/C) Nevada Air National Guard Reno ANGB, NV, 1961–1965
158th Defense Systems Evaluation Group 134th Defense Systems Evaluation Squadron (EB-57B/C)