Martin B-57 Canberra Bomber

Martin B-57E Canberra, S/N 55-4274, Tail Code JO, at the Pima Air & Space Museumin Tucson, Arizona

In the early 1950s the U.S. Air Force identified a need for a jet-powered medium bomber to quickly replace the aging, propeller-driven Douglas B-26 Invader.

Thus, in March of 1951, the Air Force contracted with the Glenn Martin Company to build the British Canberra in the United States under license. The Martin-built B-57 made its first flight in July 1953, and when production ended in 1959, a total of 403 Canberras had been produced for the USAF.

A total of 29 Canberras have survived and are on display (see photographs below).

B-57 Canberra Specifications

Armament: Eight .50-cal. M3 machine guns or four 20mm M39 cannons and approx. 7,500 lbs. maximum of internal and external stores
Engines: Two Wright J65-W-5 turbojets of 7200 lbs. static thrust each
Maximum speed: 570 mph
Cruising speed: 450 mph
Range: 2,000 miles
Ceiling: 49,000 ft.
Span: 64 ft.
Length: 65 ft. 6 in.
Height: 15 ft. 6 in.
Weight: 58,800 lbs. maximum

EB-57A Canberra, S/N 21461, Scott AFB, 1969 (USAF Photo)

 

Photos of Surviving B-57 Canberras

EB-57B Canberra, S/N 0-21548, South Dakota Air & Space Museum, Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota

B-57 Canberra bomber, S/N 0-21519, "The Green Mountain Boys", at the March Field Air Museum in California

B-57 Canberra S/N 52-1516 at the U.S. Air Force Armament Museum at Eglin AFB, Florida

B-57 Canberra S/N 5-21516, Buzz Number BA-539, Eglin AFB, Florida

B-57 Canberra S/N 52-1516

Martin B-57 Canberra, Pima Air Musem, Tucson, Arizona

U.S. Air Force B-57E, S/N 55-4244, Strategic Air Command and Aerospace Museum, Ashland, Nebraska

USAF EB-57E, S/N 0-21505, on display at Malstrom Air Force Base, Montana (photo by Michael Hoschouer)