Served as Radar tech at Yokota AFB from 63 thru 65. Loved the B-57s. Went to K8 alert pad and froze my arse off. I now am retired and want drawings specs etc. so that I can build an EDF version for my RC club.
James Colovin, e-mail, 01.11.2012 08:46
8th Bomb 61 to 63. Yokota AB. Started out as third wiper. Ended up as crew chief on Yellow Quebec. Lots of TDY. Anybody out there remember K8 during the Cuban crisis?
Hello Ken Ester
Yes, I was there off and on at K8, also during the Cuban Crises. Did you go to Clark Air Force Base as well? Was your name on the form of Yellow Quebec? Do you have any pictures of Yellow Quebec? Do you remember the numbers on Yellow Quebec? Do you, by chance, remember Major Kenny?
James
Bill Preston, e-mail, 14.07.2012 00:27
Johnson AB 54-58 8TH SQD aNY OF YOU GUYS STILL ALIVE? Dick Garcia Glen Pearson,Col JIM Sedberry Fred Briggs Remember the new 1957 Cadillac.I HAVE A MODEL B-57b tail #33894.Had a great time in Japan.I would like to hear from anybody from that time.
Steven Beeny, e-mail, 16.06.2012 02:47
Dear all,
I am writing a book on the Canberra aircraft in international service, and would love to talk to you about your memories of working or flying the B/RB-57 Canberra. Certainly many of the stories posted on here would be perfect for the book, and any contributions would be fully credited. Please contact me if you are interested and would like more details at my email address (replace the '=' with an @). Kind regards, Steven Beeny
Ray Sorrell, e-mail, 01.05.2012 18:03
While working as an engineer at The Glen L. Martin company one of my assignments was finalizing the installation design for the Power Rudder Boost System. I have a fond memory of trying to get inside of the plane with a mockup of a part of the "Boost" system and encountering factory workers (a man and a woman) in the way "having fun"! Whoops.
Ken Ester, e-mail, 10.01.2012 02:52
8th Bomb 61 to 63. Yokota AB. Started out as third wiper. Ended up as crew chief on Yellow Quebec. Lots of TDY. Anybody out there remember K8 during the Cuban crisis?
Gordy054@gmail.com, 08.01.2012 04:16
I Was Crew Chief On B57B 533894 From 56 Thru 59 She Was Wiped Out In Nam In 64 She Won The Bombing Contest In 58 & was The Sqdn COs ACFT She Was A EASY Ac To Keep In Commison I have a picture of Her & was Able to Get It Redone In Colar My Tour At Johnson Air Base Was The Best Four Years Of My 24 in The 8th bomb & the air force I Wood Do It Again In aHeart Beat Pardon My Spelling
Don Hawthorne, e-mail, 15.11.2011 01:26
Trained as a B-57/B-66 Bomb/Nav at Mather AFB. Trained in B-25's, map reading at 1500 feet to sense high speed over the ground. Graduated and sent to the first squadron of RB-57's at Shaw AFB. First flight in the 57 was at 30'000 feet. Sure didn't look like it did at 1500 feet. 'Doc' Auble was my AC. Would like to hear from anyone who might know his where abouts
J Farrenkopf, e-mail, 28.10.2011 22:09
My father was crew chief on a B57 that was part of Operation Red Wing in the Pacific in 1956. I think his plane flew in or around the atomic cloud to get radiation samples. He never talked much about it and all I remember is that he "disappeared" for about 9 months when I was little. He also had a plane involved in Operation Dominic in 1962 at Christmas Island. He didn't talk about this much either. I think the pilots name when he was in the pacific was Capt W.L. Mitchell. If anyone knows any more about this I would like to hear more. He also had a B57D that flew out of Dayton Ohio and had targets painted on the wings (I think it was for some kind of photo reconnaisance). The pilot did some kind of maneuver he shouldn't have (according to my dad) and pulled a wing off. The plane crashed in a school yard in Beavercreek Ohio. The pilot's name was Levere (I think) and the tail number was 53-3973. My dad spent most of his career working on B-57's and always really loved the planes.
Richard Dabney, e-mail, 10.09.2011 18:29
I arrived at CLark AB, RPI, Sep 67. Assigned to the 8th TBS. The 8th was at Phan Rang AB, Viet Nam; we connected within 4 days. The 8th & 13th would rotate from Clark to Phan Rang every 56 days (2months combat pay), and finally went PCS to Phan Rang Jan 68, just before TET!!! The B-57 was a genuine threat to the VietCong! Often returning with tree limbs and body parts on the engine cowlling. There was no mistaking the low roar of the J57 which had such a low rpm. Starter Breach Caps became shrapnel, pennetrating revenment walls. As Crew Cheif, I did have one memorable flight over Phan Rang (back seat). Sam Miller, Charlie Scott, Vega, James Day, Marty Daniels...I'll always remember Maj Zok's mustach! In 68, we had the "oldest Navigator" in the USAF! We were a unique squadron, the 8th/13th, and the B-57 was a unique, formidable aircraft! So many names have escaped me. The memories are cristyl clear! Thank!
Jack Murphy, e-mail, 01.06.2011 22:28
Worked the B57B/C at Hill AFB Utah 461st Bomb Wg, 765th BS went PCS to Blytheville AFB Arkansas with the same a/c went tdy to eglin firepower demo grounded because of the snatch units not being cocked killed a lot of great Korea Era pilots and AOBs. Ferried a pilots car back to his widow in SC killed at Wendover AFB Utah. part of the arm-disarm crew tdy to Wendover as it was illegal to land armed at Hill AFB...Funny watching the a/c start at Wendover and the Fire Guys chasing it thinking it was on fire..Worked on the first 18 aircraft at Hill. Sure was a beauty. Flew in the Tow version at Wheelus AFB Libya loved it for comfort..... Worked as a Weapons Mechanic loaded "THE BOMB" went to school on the B/C at Lowery AFB Co on de bomb...Many fine memories great a/c to work except playing with the drop tank squibs hated doing that pulled at least a hundred ejection seats back seat to get the shoran reciever out scared as I was the first mech to remove the seat many frinds got burns from the lap belt seat initiator cable was very short a very clean probably the cleanest aircraft except the RR RB-211 on the L1011s I worked on at Pan Am...Many great memories it was a very slippery plane to walk on the wings fell quite a few times
Bob Baxter, E-4 retired, e-mail, 29.05.2011 16:44
I was a crewchief, 8th bomb suad stationed Yakota Japan supporting missions at the K-8 base in south korea until the base was closed in 1963. Overnight we moved the 8th, 13th & 90th bomb suardons to Clark AFB and TDY'd planes and crew to Bien Hoa, Viet Nam. This was our home flying shorties into the north as well as cambodia. In 1965 our base got hit with an attack over 40 mechanics and destroying over 30 aircraft. My two year tour was up after this and was transfered to Egland AFB to be trained on the F-4's that were being delivered fron the factory. Not a fun duty with no extra combat pay we were considered TDY and noy part of the war in Viet Nam.
deaftom, e-mail, 28.05.2011 01:32
Bombardier, Martin did propose a B-57 version with swept wing and swept tail surfaces. However, USAF didn't show enough interest and it went no further than an artist's impression. A VIP transport version was also proposed, with a fattened fuselage carrying a few passengers in what was originally the bomb bay area. This version also got nowhere.
bombardier, e-mail, 20.05.2011 16:04
An excellent aircraft.Imagine it with swept wings.
Glenn Wilder, e-mail, 13.05.2011 10:21
I was stationed at Yokota AB Japan 1960 – 1961 serving as engine mechanic. My unit was the 3rd Field Maintenance Squadron. We supported the 8th, 13th and 90th Bomb Squadrons, 6091 Recon Squadron. Aircraft were RB57A, and B57B and C models. After Japan I went to 1211 Test Squadron (Sampling), later 58th WRS at Kirtland AFB, Albuquerque, NM from 1961 - 1963. We had RB/WB57B, C and D. Visited Christmas Island and Barber’s Point NAS Hawaii. The squadron received the F models after I was discharged. I will never forget the first time I saw a J65 start –up.
Alvin Press, e-mail, 12.04.2011 02:14
to james abel learn to spell and you remind me of ass hole .So i made a mistake but the choice of words you use are something else it been over 40 years and peope do make mistake
deaftom, e-mail, 05.04.2011 04:59
My father, Roger D. Harrington, was assigned to fly the B-57B with the 13th Bomb Squadron, flying out of Johnson Air Base, Japan, with frequent TDY to South Korea, 1957-1960. Upon return from this deployment, he flew a pair of B-57Es that had had their target-tug equipment removed and were assigned to Andrews AFB under "Project Flagstaff" for "VIP transport" duties. Colonels and generals assigned to the Pentagon or elsewhere in the Washington area, who needed to keep up their flying hours, would come to Andrews, sit in the front seat of the B-57E while my father sat in the back seat to make sure they didn't push a wrong button or flip a wrong switch, and shoot a few touch-and-goes to earn their monthly flight pay. One time I got to sit on the flight line among the ground crew for one such "mission"; the engine starts using black-powder cartridges was most impressive! These special B-57Es had a unique paint job, overall gloss white with black engine pods and orange cheat lines down the fuselage sides outlined in black. I also remember a plaque-holder on the right front fuselage side, into which they would slide a metal plate painted with the rank insignia of whichever high brass was riding in the front seat. Some day I'm going to build a model of one of these unique B-57s.
Bob Manns, e-mail, 08.03.2011 20:39
Loved the aircraft! Johnson/Yokota '60-'63. Best of all I had Chuck Ramsey as my pilot--renowned as the best 57 driver of all time (some might argue for Cox, Terry, Lince. Russell but I go with Chuck) who else could score 104% on the guns target? We won "To Gun" several times 'cause he max'e all the events. Great memories.
Dick Bendtzen, e-mail, 19.02.2011 00:15
Crew chief assigned the first 57 that arrived in Blytheville Arkansas (think it was in 54-maybe 55?). Great airplane, great times, great memories. Martin gave me a silver model one month (Crew Chief of the month) and it was a great honor. Still remember the first time I had to taxi down the active runway to take the plane to a remote bomb loading spot & some joker in the tower asked me if I was taxiing or taking off, & if the former, get the nose wheel on the ground (scared me half to death.)
Terry Doppler, e-mail, 01.02.2011 19:31
My affair with this wonderfull bird was at Johnson AB from 58 to 60. Assigned to field maint. sq in the hyd shop. Was always a kick to take newbies out to the line and see them wet their pants when they started engines. They would all run for the fire extingushers. Going to K-9 was a blast to.
James R. Bean, e-mail, 01.02.2011 06:04
I was at Langley AFB from 1956 to 1959. I was in the 499th BS on B-57s. I went to Kadena AFB in Okinawa in 1959 TDY during that crisis with Formosa Island, known as Taiwan now. My commander was Maj. McCloud, and 1st sgt was Leake.
Charlie C.Garza (CMSGT) Ret, e-mail, 22.01.2011 01:10
My first aircraft at Langley AFB,Va I was assigned to the 500th Bomb Sq as a comm/nav technician. Beautiful aircraft to work on fond memories. We went to Enewetok Atoll for atomic bomb tests and I worked on them there.
Vance Giovanni, e-mail, 18.01.2011 00:29
I was a crew chief on B57's at Holloman AFB, New Mexico 1964-1965. If I recall, the tail numbers were 1505 and 1510. I was lucky enough to fly back seat when our pilots didn't want to fly alone and did so at every opportunity. I loved the airplane. I also had a runnup and taxi license for B-57 and F-100 acft. I look back on those days fondly.
BOB DECK, e-mail, 02.01.2011 18:42
766 bs.BLYTHEVILLE ARK.1957-500th bs. LANGLEY VA 58 90th bs. JOHNSON AFB JAPAN AUG.57-JAN 60...met a lot of great guys in japan love to here from all...B-57 was a great aircraft.
james abel, e-mail, 15.11.2010 06:09
Alvin; having been at Stweart from 9/63 through 2/65, with a runnup and taxi lic. do you not thing we ddnot have b-57-d's .quit your lies!
Bob Travaille AKA Stretch, e-mail, 14.11.2010 22:12
Oops Forgot this was the 8th TAC Bomb Sq, and the reason the wing was Kind of glowing---Tailpipe had fell out during TakeOff!!!! Ya Lucky to get this one down!!
Bob Travaille AKA Stretch, e-mail, 14.11.2010 19:21
I was a Crew Chief on the C, D, and E Model at Phan Rang AB 30 Sept 68-27 Sept 69! Had Many "Interesting" experiences there. One night had one take off and they Immediatley got a Fire Lite. They got back ok but the Rt Wing was kind of Glowing Red!! So Fire Dept hit it with Water!! I got down there and went up on wing to dearm drop tanks and well the skin Just Snapped, Crackled and Popped!! Yep had to have a wing change! Had one shipped in from DM, Az and got to looking at it---hummmm Very Interesting! So now we had a B-57 with 50 Cals on one wing and 20MM on the other!!! Oh well it Flew!! Used to get Great Discrepancy also--Left Eng doesn't Woo, Woo like Rt. Engine--Corrective Action Lt Eng Woo, Woo Adjusted!! Brings back some memories!
Ronald Ostendorf, e-mail, 07.11.2010 20:19
My brother Lt. Louis Ostendorf was killed piloting a B57 on Dec 4 in Texas or so we were told. Can anyone shed light on this? Many thanks if you can.
Gene Simon, e-mail, 31.10.2010 23:10
This was my first A/C when I joined in 1968. I had the pleasure of working comm/nav on this airplane. It was extremely intersting removing and replacing equipment in the "hell hole" in the rear of the aircraft. The E model also holds some memories. I once lost a screwdriver in the cockpit and we had to pull the seats and floor to retrieve it. The ARC-27 was located behind the cockpit. What a pain to remove it and reinstall it. What great memories I have of that airplane.
Mike Conner MSG RET, e-mail, 27.10.2010 00:12
Crewed RB-57A's from 67-72 with the ANG in Battle Creek,MI. What a aircraft although changing #1 left boost pump was a chore(especially in winter!)and tailpipe inspections were fun too.
George Cilek, e-mail, 12.10.2010 16:43
I operated all models of the B-57 i.e. B,E,G,D-O, D-1, D-2, but not the F, and also provided training to pilots bound to SEA (Hill AFB)(See Paul above) I checked out in the A/C at Yokota, tdyed to Korea-- SIOP mission with MK-7, flight and accepted tested the B-57G at Eglin and Martin Plant Md,respectively and also the G Pave Gat--belly mounted 20MM Gatling Gun I deployed with the first bunch to Bien Hoa which was a FIASCO ( a 20+ hour day that started at Clark at 4 AM--I landed at Siagon instead because of an aircraft collision on the runway at BH, caused by pilots unexperienced in landing combat-loaded Aircraft i.e. 4 x 750s external and 9 x 500s internal. One pilot became disorientated during penetration and went in approximately 30 miles short of BH! The bird excelled in the CAS and Interdiction missions (day and night) i.e. 4:30 HR flights to the Laos road system where we dropped 500lb delayed-fuzed and 750lb-contact-fuzed GPs and back to BH. The mission in SVN was conventional-- guns, nape, 260-frag,and 500/750GP loadouts. I deployed with the 13TH in the G to Thailand. The mission was night interdiction with IR/LLTV, MK82 LGB exterior-, MK35 interior-loaded. The Hill mission (other than training was in support of the CONUS air defense i.e. Alaska, Canada, Bermuda, and both coasts of the US. We were continuosly at Tyndall to assist in training ADC pilots in high altitude/ECM intercepts. The B gave you BIG bicepts (blow-back flight controls) and you had to be "diligent" during single engine landings. I also flew FCF flights--never had an engine fail to restart. "Shot down" many friendly A/C in air-to-air "combat" including an Army C-7(100 kts)!!! Had about 3000 hrs, 250 combat sorties, and lots of really exciting experiences--good,reliable, and tough SOB!!!
Charles Srull, Col., retired, 07.10.2010 07:12
My first assignment as a brown bar was with the 17th Tow Target Sqdn, ADC at Yuma AFB. I flew the E model dragging 9'x45'rags for ADC units to punch holes in with their 2.75" rockets. When off range, we occasionally would tangle in a furball with the visiting F-86Ds, F-94s or the F-89s. The "cranberry" could more than hold its own with its outstanding maneuvering capability. The only aircraft I have ever floww with no-lift, high-drag flaps. That problem area over 55K was known as "coffin corner". Been there, done that, no fun.
Alvin Press, e-mail, 06.09.2010 15:06
I was in USAF 1960 to 1966 and after jet aircraft school i got station at Stewart Air Force Base Newburgh N.Y. and work on B57 d and e models we had it sure brings back memories
David Stryker, LtCol, ret, e-mail, 06.09.2010 07:34
Richard Flagg must have been flying stretched wing model because I know from experience the standard RB-57A which I flew was a 'handful' above FL 450. At FL500 the aircraft was just about maxed out because the IAS and limiting Mach were at stall speed or close to it. The plane wallowed thru the air and it was definitely 'hands on.' Also, what nobody has talked about is the pressure breathing and deterioration of electrics at very high altitude. In the RB-57A, the ADI would wobble between 10 or 12 degrees at very high altitudes so your level reference was the horizon. Two or three hours of pressure breathing and 'hands on' flying was exhausting.
I have a bit more than 1500 hours in the RB-57 (A,B and C) and I have flown at 50,000 more than once but at the that altitude the cabin pressure was above 28,000 and the stall speed and max speed were about 20 knots apart. The aircraft was very touchy and difficult to fly. I was never able to get above 51000 but without a pressure suit - or the capability to wear one in those models -I had no mission that required risking myself or the aircraft. It was a great aircraft to fly and had a good range ( 4.5 to 5.0 hours)and it was nice to cruise above the normal Commercial flights -above 40,000 - less traffic.
LARRY WELCH, e-mail, 11.08.2010 21:22
Hi a friend of mine acquired what seems to be a B-57a Bomber missing wings ,motors and the tail section. could anyone please tell me where the production id would be located? I found a stamping on the interior panels that read 80000 30 29 #10 Thanks Larry
Roger Gearhart, e-mail, 26.05.2010 11:12
To Carl Cuntz:
Where are you? Reach me at ragearhart@comcast.net. I am in routine contact with 7 of our 4926th Test Squadron (Sampling)
Naim, e-mail, 23.05.2010 21:17
I logged about 1850 hours on B 57 bombers while flying with Pakistan Airforce.While returning from a mission in 1971 india pakistan war i lost one engine as a result of enemy ground fire,but the aircraft was very forgiving and pilot friendly.We flew for another 30 minutes on one engine and landed safely at a make shift base
Bill Morrow, e-mail, 19.02.2010 21:24
I worked on the J-65 engines on these when they were at Johnson AFB and Yokota AFB Japan/Korea. They were noisy little buggers but I thought the B models were always interesting to watch.
Rick Chisholm, e-mail, 07.02.2010 07:04
6091st RECON Jet flight used B57A with pressure suits for ultra high altitude work.
C.J.Walker, e-mail, 02.02.2010 17:22
CC on B-57 at Langley Field 1957-58 time frame. Nice to crew, easy to maintain and very forgiving aircraft. Back again in 1964,65,66 between Clark and VN. Aircraft that paid for it self over and over.
Carl L. Cuntz, Jr., e-mail, 07.01.2010 04:25
I served in the 4926th Air Sampling Squadron (Nuclear) during the 1957 Plumbbob atmospheric nuclear weapons tests in Nevada. The B-57s in our squadron were used to fly through the perimeter of the bomb clouds to collect radio chemistry samples in wingtip tanks. The really great characteristic of the B-57 was its loiter time on station waiting for the device to detonate. As I recall, the B-57 Bs & Cs that were in our squadron had the same engins as the Navy's A-4Ds that were next to us on the flightline at Indian Springs AFB. They both had that distictive throaty hum at low rpm.
Jock Williams Yogi 13, e-mail, 21.04.2009 16:25
I flew the B57 dual when I was flying the CF100 in the electronics warfare role with 414 Squadron. The plane was far bigger than the CF100 and had considerably less power but had the same stable handling characteristics. For me -being used to flying with a stick -it was odd to utilize a "wheel" -but you quickly accomodate to such differences. I really enjoyed the flight -and was proud to log time in such a classic aircraft. This would have been in 1968 or 69 and the "Cranberry" flew on in many guises in many air forces for many more years!
Jock Williams Yogi 13
MARTIN R FURDEK, e-mail, 15.03.2009 23:34
1211Test or 58WRS 62to 66 then 6091RECON in Japan RB57D.D-1 AND D-2 THEN THE RB57F WORK ON THEM ALL HAVE SOME PICTURE IF YOU NEED SOME LET ME KNOW.
Paul Grimmig USAF Ret, e-mail, 30.10.2008 19:41
I flew the B-57 in Vietnam and later in a test program. This aircraft was excellent in close air support. We could carry 8 One thousand pound bombs or several combinations of bombs and napalm. If you talk to any forward Air Controller (FAC) who worked with this aircraft, they will tell you how accurate and reliable the "Yellow and Redbirds" were and they loved the long time on target (over one hour) provided. I found the aircraft to be joy to fly.
Richard Flagg, e-mail, 16.07.2008 00:42
I have flownen in a B Model and have reached 55,000 feet. Many time we forced climed to 48,000 to begin a long range training mission as that conserved fuel. At 55,000 with no pressure suits in a B model we could have gone higher, but did not.
If you want to send an email just replace '(@)' in the address with '@' !
