MARTIN B-57
B-57 SERVICE
| Origins: | Developed from the British built English Electric Canberra built by the following manufacturers: English Electric Co. Ltd., Preston, Lancashire, England 823 built, 20 Canberra variants, 1949 - 1963, ff: 13/05/1949. Government Aircraft Factory (GAF), Melbourne, Australia 48 built as the Canberra Mk. 20, 1951 - 1958, ff: 29/05/1953. The Martin Aircraft Co., Baltimore, Maryland, USA 403 built as the B-57, 1952 - 1957, ff: 20/07/1953. |
| Manufacturer: | The Martin Aircraft Co., Baltimore, Maryland, USA (In 1956, became The Martin Co.) |
| Models: | Martin Model 272, 294, 744, 796, 797 |
| Designation: | B-57 |
| Names: | Night Intruder (B-57B), Canberra (RAF) |
| First official flight: | (B-57A) 20/07/1953 |
| Factory production period: | 1952 - 1957 |
| Primary service period: | 1954 - 1974 |
| Last official flight: | (EB-57E) 1982 |
B-57 VARIANTS
| 1953 | Model 272 | B-57A | 8 | |
| 1953 | Model 272A | RB-57A | 67 | Total: 075 |
| 1954 | Model: ? | B-57B | 202 | |
| 1954 | Model: ? | B-57C | 38 | Total: 240 |
| 1955 | Model 294/744 796/797 |
RB-57D | 20 | Total: 020 |
| 1956 | Model 272E | B-57E | 68 | Total: 068 |
|
Grand Total: 403 |
B-57 PRODUCTION
| Canberra B.Mk. 2 | 1950, s/n: 51-17352 ex.(RAF)
WD940, 51-17387 ex.(RAF) WD932. 2 pattern aircraft for US production, flown from England to USA in 1951 to establish a production line in Baltimore. |
B-57A
As B.Mk. 2, twin-engined light tactical bomber,
engine upgrade, various changes for US
production techniques.
Produced 1952 - 1953
Martin Baltimore, Maryland (MA)
| 52-1418 / 52-1425 | ? | 8 | Total: 008 |
| 33 additional airframes cancelled. | |||
RB-57A
As B-57A, photo reconn. version.
Produced 1953 - 1954
Martin Baltimore, Maryland (MA)
| 52-1426 / 52-1492 | ? | 67 | Total: 067 |
B-57B Night Intruder
As B-57A, redesigned forward fuselage
with tandem 2-seater cockpit, armament
upgrade, various improvements.
Produced 1954 - 1956
Martin Baltimore, Maryland (MA)
|
52-1493 / 52-1594 - 1 to NASA as 809. |
? | ||
| 53-3859 / 53-3935 | ? | ||
| 53-3937 / 53-3939 | ? | ||
| 53-3941 / 53-3943 | ? | ||
| 53-3945 / 53-3947 | ? | ||
| 53-3949 / 53-3962 | ? | 202 | Total: 202 |
B-57C
As B-57B, trainer with dual controls.
Original designation was TB-57B.
Later redesignated as TB-57C.
Produced 1954 - 1956
Martin Baltimore, Maryland (MA)
| 53-3825 / 53-3858 | ? | ||
| 53-3936, 53-3940 | ? | ||
| 53-3944, 53-3948 | ? | 38 | Total: 038 |
RB-57D
As B-57B, high-alt. reconn. version,
engine upgrade, larger wings. Four
versions built with minor variations.
Produced 1955 - 1956
Martin Baltimore, Maryland (MA)
| (Model 294) RB-57D-1 | |||
| 53-3977 / 53-3982 | ? | 6 | |
| (Model 744) RB-57D-2 | |||
| 53-3970 / 53-3976 | ? | 7 | |
| (Model 796) RB-57D-3 | |||
| 53-3963 | ? | 1 | |
| (Model 797) RB-57D-4 | |||
| 53-3964 / 53-3969 | ? | 6 | Total: 020 |
B-57E
As B-57C, general purpose version,
bomber / trainer / target tug convertible.
Produced 1956 - 1957
Martin Baltimore, Maryland (MA)
| 55-4234 / 55-4301 | 336 / 403 | 68 | Total: 068 |
|
Grand Total: 403 |
B-57 CONVERSIONS
USAF
| EB-57A | 12 | RB-57A, ECM upgrades for electronic warfare. |
| NRB-57A | 1 | RB-57A, permanent conversion for tests. |
| EB-57B | 22 | B-57B, ECM upgrades for electronic warfare. |
| JB-57B | 4 | B-57B, conversions for testing missile tracking systems, 2 originally had the non-standard designation MSB-57B (Missile Simulator). |
| NB-57B | 4 | B-57B, permanent conversions for various tests. |
| RB-57B | 1+ | B-57B, photo reconn. conversions. |
| (NRB-57B) | 1 | RB-57B, permanent conversion for tests, later redesignated as one of the NB-57B's. |
| WB-57B | 1+ | B-57B, weather reconn. conversions. |
| RB-57C | 1+ | B-57C, photo reconn. conversions. |
| WB-57C | 5 | TB-57C, weather reconn. conversions. |
| EB-57D | 9 | RB-57D, conversions with redesigned, stronger wings. |
| EB-57E | 1+ | B-57E, ECM upgrades for electronic warfare. |
| JB-57E | 1 | B-57E, temporary conversion for tests. |
| NB-57E | 4 | B-57E, permanent conversions for various tests. |
| RB-57E | 1+ | B-57E, photo reconn. conversions. |
| TB-57E | 1+ | B-57E, conversions as operational trainers. |
| RB-57F | 21 | 3 RB-57A / 14 B-57B / 4 RB-57D, 1963-1974, major conversion program for strategic reconn. aircraft. Extended nose for electronic equipment, extended wings, engine upgrade plus 2 aux. jet pods. 3 later to NASA as 925, 926, 928. Conversions by General Dynamics Corp., Texas. New s/n: 63-13286 / 63-13302, 63-13500 / 63-13503. 82 additional conversions cancelled. |
| (WB-57F) | 19 | RB-57F, 1968-1974, weather reconn. conversions. |
| B-57G | 16 | B-57B, 1969-1974, avionics upgrades in chin radome for night missions. Prototype was designated as the YB-57G (52-1581). |
FOREIGN MILITARY SERVICE
- B-57's in service with the air forces of Pakistan, South Vietnam and
Taiwan.