Martin RB-57F

My first assignment out of basic was the 58th, 68-70.I was a supply troop working in MSL got assigned to 503 than 501. Went to Rhein Main in 69 with 503 using the shuttered 7407th complex. All over the states with 501 for NASA earth resources. I remember my first TDY was to Eilson Alaska it was 67 below in Dec 69. Worked for Msgt Rushing, Lt. Powers, SSgt Lavoie. Many good memories.

reply

I WAS ASSIGNED TO 6220 CAMROM Yokota AB FROM 65 TO 68. I was an assistant crew chief working for S /Sgt CAVAZOS ON 503. Also station there was Ron shinn,Pete Baily and Dan Boatright. We all went to school on the RB AT KIRTLAND AB

reply

I don't understand the opening remark of the B57-F prototype first flying in 1966. I was with the 58WRS from 62-June of 65 and was the first crew chief on 288 in early 1965. The TDYs with this outfit were not my fondest memories. The last one I was on there was at Eilson in Fairbanks Al. Nov.Dec.Jan.1964-1965. Yeah right, over Christmas, and most the time in temperatures of arond 60 below zero. Some of the troops were great though. Fred Selders, SGT Yonkers, SGT Stutt,Harry Tipton, Mervin Nephew,Cletus Yingling all come to mind,and there were many more. Before the F model I was crew chief on 850 a B57C

reply

I don't understand the opening remark of the B57-F prototype first flying in 1966. I was with the 58WRS from 62-June of 65 and was the first crew chief on 288 in early 1965. The TDYs with this outfit were not my fondest memories. The last one I was on there was at Eilson in Fairbanks Al. Nov.Dec.Jan.1964-1965. Yeah right, over Christmas, and most the time in temperatures of arond 60 below zero. Some of the troops were great though. Fred Selders, SGT Yonkers, SGT Stutt,Harry Tipton, Mervin Nephew,Cletus Yingling all come to mind,and there were many more. Before the F model I was crew chief on 850 a B57C

reply

Whoops, old age hits again. I was at Kirtland from 1970-1976

reply

I didn't know this site existed and I was glad to find it. I worked with the high-altitude suits from 1970-1984. I really enjoyed the experiences.

reply

I worked on and recovered samples from the sampling system 1962 to 1966. Remember the D model that lost its wing as it was taxing to a parking place clsoe the the 58th hanger at Kirtland. TDY to Alaska, Johnston Island, Washington State, Panama, Indian Springs and Nellis. Loved the F model. It was great to work on and got a back seat ride out of Panama.

reply

KAFB 69-71. Jet Engine Tech. I also remember Doug Southwick. Some of the other engine shop guys were Steve Pence, Mike Buell, Frank Marquez, Last name Castro, Pereira, and Clagett. Colonel Wolfe was squadron commander.

reply

I was in the WB-57F, 58th WRS from 1968 to 1972. It was a marvelous experience. I was the Task Force Alpha Commander at Albrook Air Force Base, Panama for a period, and according to COMAC, General Jack Catton, the first Navigator to command any flying unit in MAC (maybe the AF--no matter!)and he liked the job I was doing and sent a letter of commendation to Col. Doug "Red Dog" Campbell and Col. Don Wolfe. It was a nice touch. It was one of those things that led to me eventually becoming a full colonel. Once, enroute to Panama, we were at 70,100 on my altimeter, and I cross checked it with the pilot. I've had a couple of folks say they got to 71K and another to 72K. Must have been incredibly cold. On one flight from Mendoza, I got down over the Anarctic Peninsula. I flew many missions in it up over the Northern Polar Region adding more to my record of polar missions, since I flew the WB-47E and WC-135 (dual current) in 55WRS, McClellan, and Det 1, 55th WRS, Eielson, as well as the "F" while later on TDY's to Eielson. My total polar missions--178. My North Pole crossings (in WC-135)-87. Hank Brauner, killed over the Trail in a C-130 Specter Bird had 105 North Pole Crossings, and 105 polar missions. So, he held one record and I the other. I did many of the WC-135 missions with him. I recognize many of the names above and some were great friends. I am in contact with many of them on e-mail. I went from there to Vietnam for my third tour. I was Chief of the Command Post for a while in the 58th then Chief Nav for a period until I left for DaNang. It was incredibly good to me. What a group. God Bless all.

reply

Jet engine mechanic, 58th WRS, Dec64-Jul66. RB-57F and C.
I was in the cockpit trimming a J-60. The guy on the ground got too close to the intake. He was sucked up to the intake. His line badge was hanging outside his shirt--the badge was sucked in the intake--one FOD J-60. The trooper survived with bruised ribs.

We also got to participate in an overtemp of a J-65 on a "C" model during a jet-cal. Turbine buckets were flying like hornets from a busted nest--narrowly missing fuel cells. Then we got to go TDY to Panama, Australia and Alaska. Survived to make it to the PI to rebuild P-21s from dinosaur F-100s(from SEA) in 66. Changed AFSC and wound up going to Viet Nam and Thailand helping to chase Ho Chi Minh--worked A-26's and B-66's doing NDI.

Names I remember from KAFB: Sellers, Rios, Southwick, Smith, Anderson, Dingman, Hillsendigger, Gullo, Rogers, Nestoric. My RAM's from the '60's have a lot of blanks.

Chow,

j. Lloyd

reply

I was a back seater in the 58th from 70 to 72. Tom Shull, one of the pilots, told me a 500 series with 2500 lbs of fuel and all 4 engines (110.6% on the 33's) going all out got to 69.9 thousand. It got to 70 but fell back down. The record low temp was -93C or -135F between Panama and the equator.

reply

I was with the 7407th from 1961 - 1966, we had RB-57D's serial numbers 963, 970, 972, 974, 975 & 976. They were replaced with the RB-57F's.

reply

I am the photographer /reporter that filmed the aircraft coming down in 1972 over Albuquerque. I wonder if that film still exists somewhere. You can read about this event at www.onlyinnewmexico.blogspot.com

reply

I was eng. mec. with the 07th at Rhine Main AB from 67to68when it was disband and have lots of good memories of the long wings and I remember Jim D.I have both patches we used and a few photos of the sq.with RB-57s 500&503.If any of the old 7407th are out there drop me a line some time.

reply

I was a crew chief @ Rhine Main AB 66-68
We flew 500 503 until the squadron was disbanded in 68
I believe it was 286 that spent the night in our hangar on its way back from Pakistan with wing damage

reply

I worked at 58th WRS from 1963 till 1965, in perodic docks was then transfered to vietNam. Marty Martinez and Ralph Iantosca were transfererd with me. We worked on B57's with the 8th bomb squadron and later were transfered to C130's Had a great time at Kirtland with many fond memories. If you want some ariel photos of the RB57F you can find them on google eath at the Air Force boneyard in Arizona. What a sad fate for such a great aircraft. I'm still in contact with Ralph but lost contact with Marty, I last saw him in Viet Nam.

reply