(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.

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: reserveima@yahoo.com

B-57 D model

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

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

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

NOTE from Tom Barrett:

Here is what Warner-Robins says on the web site: 

www.museumofaviation.org/home.htm 
Go to the "collection" link

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.

Results of Lee Madison's encounter with trees while coming off target.

Still More Photos