Someone tell me what aircraft this is.

N/A

[CodeJockey]

Lost my Mom this past week and as is probably a right of passage Dad has passed on a ton of family photographs to me. He had a small album of pictures from when he was in the 352nd fighter squadron in Vietnam around 1967.

Not sure the protocol for posting actual active duty military pictures, but almost 50 years have passed now.

This was one aircraft that was in his album. There were several F-100'S. That was what he wrenched on at the time.

He never spoke of being over there, and I never asked many questions.

[CodeJockey]

Thank you

[Eric in the Ozarks]

More’s the pity Rhodesia was destroyed. I’m not so sure South Africa is a whole lot better. Both have traded one veriety of discrimination for another.

[tcrlaf]

NASA/JSC has a pair of the weather research version, WB-57 flying out of Ellington Field.

This is one of those things that dives me batty about US Government acquisitions.

WHY are we still flying 50 year-old birds that cost an ENORMOUS amount of money to fly operate and maintain, when any number of Civilian platforms could be modified to meet the needs at a far lower cost than these old birds, especially if issued waivers for the 4-minute rule, and MOA’s.

That said, I’m afraid I do understand how this works. Muslim and Gay Outreach Centers, and Global Warming Grants, are far more important to the folks in charge, especially when they get kicked back with a fancy job at 20-year retirement.

And the operations budget comes from different funds than do acquisitions.

[Moonman62]

I think NASA also used them to photograph Shuttle launches.

[tcrlaf]

I assume the pics are from Phan Rang Air Base?

[az_gila]

...
WHY are we still flying 50 year-old birds that cost an ENORMOUS amount of money to fly operate and maintain, when any number of Civilian platforms could be modified to meet the needs at a far lower cost than these old birds, especially if issued waivers for the 4-minute rule, and MOA’s.
...

---

I think the 70,000 ft operational ceiling may have something to do with it...:^)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_RB-57F_Canberra

[ThanhPhero]

Cam Ranh.

[tcrlaf]

Given waivers, and some modifications, such as the to pressure bulheads, the newest generation Gulfstreams, and Dassaults are capable of close to that already.

The only thing limiting them to MOA’s below 50K is the 4-minute rule, and Gov. regs. regarding the pressure bulkhead.

I didn’t say it would be off-the-shelf, but modern platforms could be made just as capable, at FAR less operating costs.

[tanknetter]

WHY are we still flying 50 year-old birds that cost an ENORMOUS amount of money to fly operate and maintain

If there's a cost analysis of flying these aircraft, relative to other options, I'd like to see it. From the looks of it they're existing airframes that use existing powerplants (TF33s) that the USAF has in large quantity and have otherwise had improvements to use existing USAF off the shelf technologies (see the pictures of the third WB-57 at the link I posted earlier, looks like the bang-seats are the current ACES II) or can pull parts out of various existing spares stores.

Also keep in mind that when it comes to platforms newer doesn't necessarily mean cheaper. The B-2A costs more per flight hour than the B-1B does, and the B-1B costs more per flight hour than the 50 year old B-52s in current operational service.

Any "new" platform that can meet the WB-57's operational requirements is going to have to go through all sorts of design and testing phases to make it into operational service. Probably not the best use of money for a very limited number of required airframes (NASA's made due with only two, is now getting a third); my guess is that keeping the WB-57s flying for their remaining expected remaining lifespans is cheaper than the costs of bringing a new platform into service and maintaining it in operation ...

[vetvetdoug]

I was at Bien Hoa when it happened

May 17th, 1965. The USAF lost 18 men that day. T/Sgt. Baldanado of New Mexico lost his life trying to get a pilot and co-pilot out of an exploding B-57 laden with ordnance. Several aircrew members and pilots were lost that day. Their names are in the first block on the Viet Nam Wall.

[billhilly]

Used to see them at Wheelus Air Base in the 50’s,

[DJ Taylor]

That’s a B-57 Canberra and we didn’t see many of them in Vietnam.

The only one I saw providing TAC air support during the war was when I called for air support on a ground operation north of Tay Ninh in early 1966 and all the FAC could bring in for me was a B-57. I don’t know if it was a standard bombing technique with a B-57, but the pilot didn’t make a diving bomb run like a F-100, F-104, or an F-105. The B-57 flew over the target at about 1,500 feet; then he seemed to stall the aircraft and dropped in a floating descent like a big black bat, and at about 500 feet he dropped two 500 pounders, gunned his two engines and climbed rapidly back into the clouds. Needless to say, that big black bat made quite an impression on me.

[jttpwalsh]

My Dad’s cousin was finally laid to rest this month, after crashing in a B 57 Canberra over The Ho Chi Minh Trail in 1968:

http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2013/12/14/at-long-last-farewell.html

Best wishes, to all.

[BwanaNdege]

Mortar Guys say, "Hills, we don't need no stinking hills!"

IIRC, the maximum altitude of a 81mm mortar round is up to about 17,000+ feet.

Of course, the Forward Observer for the mortars appreciates the hills.

;-)

BTW http://www.nasa.gov/missions/research/b-57_feature.html

(This modified version has much larger wings)

http://jsc-aircraft-ops.jsc.nasa.gov/wb57/index.html

Aircraft Performance The WB-57 is a mid-wing, long-range aircraft capable of operation for extended periods of time from sea level to altitudes in excess of 60,000 feet. Two crewmembers are positioned at separate tandem stations in the cockpit. The pilot station contains all the essential equipment for flying the aircraft. The sensor operator station contains both navigational equipment and controls for the operation of the payloads and payload support systems located throughout the aircraft. The WB-57 can remain aloft for approximately 6.5 hours, flying both day and night, so long as separation from hazardous weather can be maintained. With a range of 2,500 miles, the aircraft can be deployed to any continent. Please contact the WB-57 Program Office with any further inquiries.

Operating Altitude:		Sea level to above 60,000 feet
Maximum Flight Duration:		Approximately 6.5 hours
Range:		Approximately 2,500 miles
Maximum Gross Weight:		72,000 lbs
Maximum Payload Weight:		9,700 lbs (including empty weight of pallet, spear pods, & superpods)
Wing Surface Area:		2,000 square feet
Engine Thrust:		15,500 pounds per TF-33 engine
True Air Speed at 60,000+ feet:		~410 knots (Max Mach .78)
Max. Indicated Air Speed at 0 to 35,000 feet:		190 knots

[jmacusa]

Beat me to it.

[Clyde5445]

According to wikipedia, 352d_Tactical_Fighter_Squadron was stationed at Phan Rang Air Base

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/352d_Tactical_Fighter_Squadron

[zeestephen]

I was struck by the same thing.

The land looked completely parched.

Then I thought, well, 1967, maybe they burned everything down or used defoliants to stop infiltration.

I haven’t been to the central highlands, but the hills do resemble the pictures I’ve seen, just minus all the trees and vegetation.

[zeestephen]

I Googled Phan Rang Air Base.

They have a couple thousand references to the Base and Agent Orange, the infamous herbicide.

That explains why the hills look like they are in the desert, not Vietnam.

According to Bing Maps, Phan Rang is a coastal city about 200 miles northeast of Saigon.

It appears to be on a river delta, which sounds unlikely with all those hills, so there may be more than one Phan Rang in Vietnam.

[JaguarXKE]

Yep B-57 Canberra. They used them to fly exercise missions when I was stationed at the 24th NORAD region in Montana back in the early 70s.

[RitchieAprile]

laterite probably. once the soil is removed (by scrapers
or Rome plows) the ground hardens into a red clay that tints everything and is hard as cement. you could tell who was out in the field longest by the redness of their fatigues.