Col. Dan Farr, C.O. of the 8th Bomb Squadron. MMS load crew (I was one) loading 260 pound fragmentation bomb. I drove the MJ-1 bomb lift truck to place the bombs under the bomb racks. This is Da Nang AB probably early 1966. Most B-57's were repainted into camouflage by then and we had the steel revetments for the aircraft. We rarely got to see combat strike footage like shown here. I remember seeing camera pods loaded on one of the wing stations; these had 16 mm cameras shooting forward and aft to get these views. I loaded #908 many times in 1965-66. My favorite B-57 photo is of 908 before she was painted. She was shot down in June 1967. I can't tell you what I did last week but memories of Vietnam, the B-57s and the work we did are forever vivid in my mind.
No. We were not familiar with the flight crews like an aircraft crew chief was. Col. Farr was the exception; everyone knew him. I rotated back to the States around May 1966 and served out my enlistment at Davis Monthan AFB, Tucson, AZ. After experiencing the Vietnam monsoon in a tent, I wanted someplace dry and I got it. I loved the Arizona climate. DMAFB was a training base for F-4 crews' weapons delivery. They went to Vietnam from there. It was real easy duty loading practice bombs, rockets and gun pods for those training missions flown over the Yuma bombing range.
I was a Load Toad 1980-2000. My first crew chief at Lakenheath AFB, UK was at bien hoa air base and had lost hearing in one ear from this accident: On the morning of 16 May 1965, 4 loaded B-57s were awaiting takeoff at the base for a Barrel Roll mission, when a U.S. Navy F-8 Crusader made an emergency landing and was being inspected on the ramp. The lead B-57 suddenly exploded and burst into flames causing a chain reaction of explosions destroying other aircraft, fuel and pre-armed ordnance. The explosions destroyed 10 B-57s, 2 A-1Es and the Navy F-8, killed 28 Americans and 6 Vietnamese and wounded more than 100 more and damaged 25 RVNAF A-1s in what was described as one of the "worst disasters in Air Force history". At Lakenheath, AFB there were Vietnam vets I worked with and they preferred living in England as to returning to the USA. Many were treated poorly returning from Vietnam and put in to go overseas and planned on retiring there..
Thanks, DG. I missed the explosion by a week. Our crew had rotated back to Clark AB, P.I. Our MMS squadron lost a senior sgt.,with many injuries among the rest. I left the AF in 1967 and went back to college. I considered most of the anti-war protests were fostered by the left. The protests did not address what the Viet Cong/N. Vietnamese were doing only how bad the US was. We were not “choir boys” but nothing like what the left was pushing. I get lots of thanks when I wear my Vietnam veteran hat. Times are a lot different now; some better, some worse. Thanks for your detailed reply.
The B57 was a fine war bird, but it was not designed nor intended to be a strafing and ground attack aircraft like the A4 Skyhawk and A7 Corsair II. It performed well on tactical bombing and reconnaissance missions.
I was stationed at Edwards AFB in 1979 - got a call from the tower that the localizer was down. Drove out to find that a Canberra that was on it's way to a museum or to be part of a static display had issues landing - took the barrier cable and my antenna array out. The guys in the tower were having a good laugh as there was nothing I could do that morning.
Col. Dan Farr, C.O. of the 8th Bomb Squadron. MMS load crew (I was one) loading 260 pound fragmentation bomb. I drove the MJ-1 bomb lift truck to place the bombs under the bomb racks. This is Da Nang AB probably early 1966. Most B-57's were repainted into camouflage by then and we had the steel revetments for the aircraft. We rarely got to see combat strike footage like shown here. I remember seeing camera pods loaded on one of the wing stations; these had 16 mm cameras shooting forward and aft to get these views. I loaded #908 many times in 1965-66. My favorite B-57 photo is of 908 before she was painted. She was shot down in June 1967. I can't tell you what I did last week but memories of Vietnam, the B-57s and the work we did are forever vivid in my mind.
I see 908 with Col. Farr here...my dad was lost in 33910 in June '65
Do you remember Lt. Nist? Bombardier? He came a bit later, but he was in the B57Gs.
No. We were not familiar with the flight crews like an aircraft crew chief was. Col. Farr was the exception; everyone knew him. I rotated back to the States around May 1966 and served out my enlistment at Davis Monthan AFB, Tucson, AZ. After experiencing the Vietnam monsoon in a tent, I wanted someplace dry and I got it. I loved the Arizona climate. DMAFB was a training base for F-4 crews' weapons delivery. They went to Vietnam from there. It was real easy duty loading practice bombs, rockets and gun pods for those training missions flown over the Yuma bombing range.
I was a Load Toad 1980-2000. My first crew chief at Lakenheath AFB, UK was at bien hoa air base and had lost hearing in one ear from this accident: On the morning of 16 May 1965, 4 loaded B-57s were awaiting takeoff at the base for a Barrel Roll mission, when a U.S. Navy F-8 Crusader made an emergency landing and was being inspected on the ramp. The lead B-57 suddenly exploded and burst into flames causing a chain reaction of explosions destroying other aircraft, fuel and pre-armed ordnance. The explosions destroyed 10 B-57s, 2 A-1Es and the Navy F-8, killed 28 Americans and 6 Vietnamese and wounded more than 100 more and damaged 25 RVNAF A-1s in what was described as one of the "worst disasters in Air Force history".
At Lakenheath, AFB there were Vietnam vets I worked with and they preferred living in England as to returning to the USA. Many were treated poorly returning from Vietnam and put in to go overseas and planned on retiring there..
Thanks, DG. I missed the explosion by a week. Our crew had rotated back to Clark AB, P.I. Our MMS squadron lost a senior sgt.,with many injuries among the rest. I left the AF in 1967 and went back to college. I considered most of the anti-war protests were fostered by the left. The protests did not address what the Viet Cong/N. Vietnamese were doing only how bad the US was. We were not “choir boys” but nothing like what the left was pushing. I get lots of thanks when I wear my Vietnam veteran hat. Times are a lot different now; some better, some worse. Thanks for your detailed reply.
Very rare flim,the 8th canberra night fighters and the 13th devils own
The Australian RAAF flew Canberra bombers from phan rang from 1967 to 71 with some success
The B57 was a fine war bird, but it was not designed nor intended to be a strafing and ground attack aircraft like the A4 Skyhawk and A7 Corsair II. It performed well on tactical bombing and reconnaissance missions.
I was stationed at Edwards AFB in 1979 - got a call from the tower that the localizer was down. Drove out to find that a Canberra that was on it's way to a museum or to be part of a static display had issues landing - took the barrier cable and my antenna array out. The guys in the tower were having a good laugh as there was nothing I could do that morning.
It's horrendous how many were lost in Vietnam. Almost all of them, in fact.
Audio?
No sound like it says in the description.
@@JoeBLOWFHB visualy impaired.
Rare footages well compiled. Some kind of music might have helped a better entertainment, though.
Was the Canberra a British aircraft?
Yes, but the USAF primarily used it in Vietnam
The pictures you see are B57s built by Martin in the US. They differ from the British built Canberra.