I guess it could be considered the A-10 of its time...
B-57 Canberra Units of the Vietnam War (Combat Aircraft) Paperback – January 18, 2011
by T. E. Bell (Author), Jim Laurier (Illustrator)
Osprey's examination of B-57 Canberra Units during the Vietnam War period (1955-1975). While not receiving as much publicity as the F-105 and F-4 fighter-bombers, which took the fight into the heart of North Vietnam,
the B-57 Canberra was nevertheless the first jet-powered American attack aircraft committed to the conflict. It was involved in day-to-day interdiction missions against traffic coming down the Ho Chi Minh Trail, shooting up trucks and bombing and strafing sampans in the Mekong Delta. And, not least, the aircraft flew classified 'black' missions over the border into Laos and Cambodia.
The B-57B medium bomber began hitting targets in North and South Vietnam at the beginning of 1965. Although B-57B crews had already made a name for themselves during the hair-raising night missions during Op Rolling Thunder, late in the war many aircraft were upgraded to the then-state-of-the-art B-57G Night Intruder, which became one of the most valuable weapons in the USAF inventory.
The B-57E, in its electronic eavesdropping and countermeasures roles, starred in the so-called Patricia Lynn missions, parts of which are still classified today. Also operating alongside the USAF B-57 units, were the Canberra B 20s of the Royal Australian Air Force,attached to the USAF's 35th Bomb Wing - the exploits of the Australian Canberras will be fully documented in this book. The unit flew interdiction missions in support of troops in the field from 1967 to 1971. At the time the Canberra was called to action, the USAF, which considered the aircraft too slow, limited in its mission and not 'sexy' enough, was attempting to phase it out of the inventory. In the event, the B-57 continued to serve for another 20 years, echoing the story of the A-10 Warthog.
The author has obtained scores of previously unpublished photographs from the first deployment of the B-57s to Bien Hoa, all the way up to very rare photos of the B-57G being armed and readied for night combat missions. The story of the B-57 in Vietnam has never been told in detail, and since the aeroplane served in virtually every role for the duration the US involvement in Vietnam, the story of the B-57 is, in effect, the story of that war.
https://www.amazon.com/Canberra-Units-Vietnam-Combat-Aircraft/dp/1846039711
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Top Customer Reviews
I was there...
By Paul S on January 20, 2011
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
I was a weapons loading specialist on the B-57s in 1965-66 in Vietnam. Mr. Bell's description of the operations from Bien Hoa, Tan Son Nhut and Danang are descriptive and accurate. I witnessed some of these events. (I'm in the white T-shirt on page 26 at Danang.) Many missions flown by the 57s were classified at the time and us ground crewmen did not know on what or where our ordinance was being used. Bell describes these missions in great detail and the difficulty of striking targets (usually trucks) on the Ho Chi Minh Trail at night in all types of weather. In addition, the 57s frequently provided combat air support to ground units and special forces camps under attack. Some of these missions were flown in extremely poor weather, in the mountains and at night. The large bomb load and endurance of the Canberra made it a favorite of forward air controllers and could strike multiple targets and/or loiter in the area for an extended period unlike fighter aircraft.
The bravery and skill of the aircrews flying the 57s under very difficult and dangerous conditions are described in riveting detail. During the long war, 60 airplanes were lost along with 39 crew members and 2 POWs. Toward the end of the war, the remaining aircraft were withdrawn and sent back to the states. They were heavily modified (G model) with the latest, classified sensor equipment. These returned to Vietnam and served as test bed aircraft for the development of these sensors and laser-guided, smart bombs that would play such an important role in the Iraq. The B-57's contributions in Vietnam have been largely overlooked. Mr. Bell's book sets the record straight on the important role it played in that war and toward the development of today's smart weapons.