On the Ground

An airplane is meant to be in the air, but most photos are of earthbound birds. Here is a collection of individual photos from around the world.
They were taken by crew members, maintenance men and those who just like the looks of airplanes.
In those instances where no, or improper credit is given, please

Crewed B-57�s at Eglin AFB in the mid-60�s and flew several missions in B-57B, 52-.
Eglin was a fun place to be in the mid-60�s and I enjoyed every minute of it.
My daughters favorite pic of me long ago! Great aircraft, great memories.

1967/68 8th TBS, Phan Rang Vietnam, Nose Art
photo by Joe Schwarzer

B-57B: Oct 5, 1968 8th TBS, Phan Rang Vietnam, Crashed while attempting to land
with one engine out due to battle damage. photo by Joe Schwarzer

Bone Yard near Bien Hoa Vietnam

B57B-PY498: 8th TBS, Phan Rang Vietnam, photo by Joe Schwarzer
[9/22/1968: Ditched into the Gulf of Tonkin due to battle damage]

B-57F - 2013 October in Kandahar

NB-57E - was B-57E Converted to NB-57E for test work
10/1971: Put into storage at the AMARC bone yard
3/1976: Scrapped by Allied Aircraft Sales of Tucson, AZ

Tony Aquaro - Kunsan, Korea

Kunsan, Korea

John Harris - France

Bob Mikesh - Phan Rang, VN

(Photo by John DeCillo 1967)

Mafia Nose Art - Note the Black Hand.

Photo - Tom Hildreth
Stewart AFB, NY 4713

Stewart closed in September, 1969. The 4713 Defense Systems Evaluation Squadron moved to Otis AFB, MA.
After 2 years, it moved again to Westover, MA, then was disbanded with the aircraft going to the Air National Guard.

B-57A model - Robins AFB, GA (photo Mark Witt)

Davis- Monthan AZ storage facility.


SAC Museum: Offutt AFB, NE.	Chuck Ramsey provided these three photos showing the results of an oil fire.


B-57 D model	Results of Lee Madison's encounter with trees while coming off target.

460th Tactical Recon Wing from approx. 1967 time frame, in front of the 460th TRW HQ at Tan Son Nhut, South Vietnam. Detachment 1, 460th TRW had the RB-57's flying the Patricia Lynn missions, the Det 1 Commander was a RB-57 pilot, and the Det had EC-47s, C-47, U-3B, C-118, VC-123, and T-39s. I'm currently working on a similar web site/virtual museum on the VC-123, 56-4375, known as "the White Whale". My dad was her crew chief during his year in Vietnam, Feb 68-Feb 69.

Scott Tagg, Lt Col, US Air Force Reserve email:

Eviscerated B-57s stand in museums. The worst I've seen is at Ogden, Utah where many B-57 pilots got their training. Only one-half of one sentence is dedicated to the mission of the B-57 and the base participation.

The best is at the Air Force Museum. The Smithsonian has one at Dulles -- but I haven't seen them all.

NASA F model tail number 293 - Robins AFB, GA Museum

NOTE from Tom Barrett:

"On the Robins AFB Museum photo pages "NASA 293" is shown is listed as a "D" model. The aircraft is a USAF RB57F. NASA never owned 293; their aircraft were in the 500 series (501, 502, etc.) I flew 293 as a 58th WRS aircraft and 501 as a NASA Earth Resources aircraft."

From Mark Witt:

In 1955, Martin developed a high altitude version of the B-57 attack bomber to back-up and later supplement the still secret U-2. In Europe and the Far East, RB-57Ds were used for high altitude and electronic reconnaissance until grounded in 1963 due to metal fatigue in the wings. To fill the gap, a more advanced high altitude version, the RB-57F was developed and reportedly carried a heavy load to altitudes well over 100,000 feet. A total of 21 B-57Fs were modified by General Dynamics between 1964 and 1966. Like its predecessor, the RB/WB-57F was used to gather intelligence worldwide. In the hands of the 58th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, the WB-57Fs collected air samples looking for evidence of Soviet and Chinese nuclear weapon tests. The U. S. Air Force retired the last of its WB-57Fs in 1974, but three aircraft continued to fly with NASA for high altitude research and earth resources missions.

The Warner Robins Air Logistics Center was responsible for the world-wide management of all B-57 variants, including the WB-57F, from 1955 until its transfer to San Antonio in 1990. The aircraft on display, originally built as a B-57B, was converted into its current configuration in 1964 and served with the 58th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico until its retirement in 1972. It came to the Museum of Aviation in 1985 from the Military Aircraft Storage and Disposition Center, Davis Monthan AFB, Arizona.

Click to enlarge

Burlington AP, VT. Display of B-57B 500 and 3804
Photos by L/C Don Jones, USAF (Ret)

� Copyright Marquis G. Witt, 1998,1999, 2000, 2001,2002,2003,2004,2005,2006,2007,2008, 2011
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