B-57 Canberra
| B-57 Canberra | |
|---|---|
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| B-57A in flight over Chesapeake Bay, Maryland | |
| Role | Tactical bomber |
| Manufacturer | Martin |
| First flight | 20 July 1953 |
| Introduction | 1954 |
| Retired | 1983 (USAF) 1985 (Pakistan) |
| Status | Retired (3 still used by NASA) |
| Primary users |
United States Air Force Pakistan Air Force Republic of China Air Force |
| Number built | 403 |
| Unit cost |
US$1.26 million (B-57B)
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| Developed from | English Electric Canberra |
| Variants | Martin RB-57D Canberra |
| Developed into | Martin/General Dynamics RB-57F Canberra |
 Documentary on the Martin B-57 Canberra
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Footage of B-57 Canberras in service
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Period film on B-57 Emergency Single-Engine Landing Procedure
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NASA B-57 Canberra at Prestwick, Scotland
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The Martin B-57 Canberra is an American-built, twinjet tactical bomber and reconnaissance aircraft that entered service with the United States Air Force (USAF) in 1953. The B-57 is a license-built version of the British English Electric Canberra manufactured by the Glenn L. Martin Company. Initial Martin-build models were highly similar to their British-built counterparts; Martin later modified the design to incorporate larger quantities of US-sourced components and produced the aircraft in several different variants.
The B-57 Canberra holds the distinction of being the first jet bomber in U.S. service to drop bombs during combat. The Canberra was used extensively during the Vietnam War in a bombing capacity; dedicated versions of the type were also produced and served as high-altitude aerial reconnaissance platforms (the Martin RB-57D Canberra), and as electronic warfare aircraft. The B-57 Canberra was also sold to export customers abroad, further combat use was seen by the Pakistani Air Force during the Second Kashmir War and the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.
In 1983, the USAF opted to retire the type; the B-57 Canberra's retirement marked the ending of the era of the tactical bomber that had its beginning with the British World War I De Havilland DH-4 bomber. The three remaining flightworthy WB-57Fs are technically assigned to the NASA Johnson Space Center, next to Ellington Field in Houston, as high-altitude scientific research aircraft, but are also used for testing and communications in the U.S. and Afghanistan.
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Wikipedia