90-763: The Martin B-57 Canberra is an American-built, twin-engined tactical bomber and reconnaissance aircraft that entered service with the United States Air Force (USAF) in 1953. The B-57 is a license-built version of the British English Electric Canberra , manufactured by the Glenn L. Martin Company . Initial Martin-built models were virtually identical to their British-built twinjet counterparts; Martin later modified
180-439: A bomber aircraft designed specifically for the primary role of tactical bombing, even though many other types of aircraft ranging from strategic bombers to fighters, interceptors, and helicopters have been used in tactical bombing operations. Tactical bombing is employed for two primary assignments. Aircraft providing close air support attack targets in nearby proximity to friendly ground forces , acting in direct support of
270-592: A chain reaction that destroyed 10 other Canberras, 11 Douglas A-1 Skyraiders , and one Vought F-8 Crusader . Due to combat attrition, in October 1966, B-57Bs were transferred to Phan Rang where they supported operations in the Iron Triangle along with Australian-built Canberra B.20s of No. 2 Squadron RAAF . The aircraft also continued to fly night interdiction missions against the Ho Chi Minh trail. Of
360-680: A Chinese Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17 on 18 February 1958 and the pilot killed. In 1959, two RB-57Ds were delivered to replace the A-types; one of them was shot down over China by a SA-2 Guideline missile, marking the first successful operational engagement of surface-to-air missiles. Two other RB-57As were used by the Federal Aviation Administration to plan high-altitude airways for the upcoming jet passenger aircraft. Starting in 1959, Martin began to modify retired RB-57As with electronic countermeasures (ECM) equipment in
450-515: A KA-1 left oblique camera. The modified aircraft were redesignated RB-57E. The 2nd Air Division was desperate for tactical intelligence and on arrival the pilots that ferried in the RB-57Es were immediately assigned to the Division as combat crews and briefed on missions by Divisional intelligence officers on the reconnaissance flights they would make. The first mission was flown on 7 May 1963 by
540-468: A VC mortar attack in November of the same year. Low level sorties designated as training flights were conducted with the hope of it having a psychological effect. As a result, the first combat mission was only flown on 19 February 1965. The first excursion into North Vietnam took place on 2 March as part of Operation Rolling Thunder . The aircraft typically carried nine 500 lb (227 kg) bombs in
630-488: A flat-panel windshield and a tandem seating arrangement, providing for greater transparency and an improved view for both the pilot and navigator, as well as allowing for a gunsight to be equipped. The corresponding glazed bombing nose of the B-57A was deleted along with the starboard crew entrance to the cockpit. The B-57B introduced several other major changes. In terms of armaments, a total of four hardpoints attached to
720-430: A lengthy upgrade program. These aircraft received an entirely new nose section containing an AN/ANQ-139 forward-looking radar, a low-light television system, and an AN/AAS-26 forward-looking infrared detector. A laser rangefinder/designator was also installed, and the wing pylons modified to accommodate laser-guided Paveway bombs, while all the guns were removed to save weight. During the production run from 1953 to 1957,
810-714: A low-drag rotating door originally designed for the XB-51. As a result of these changes, the bomb bay of the US-built aircraft was slightly smaller than its UK-built counterparts in order to allow the American aircraft to carry more fuel; however, the overall external shape of the Canberra remained unchanged. In early July 1953, the first US-built production aircraft (52-1418) rolled out; it conducted its maiden flight on 20 July 1953. One month later, this initial production aircraft
900-580: A major disruption of the overall IAF effort. The then unknown Pakistani pilot, 8-Pass Charlie , (Squadron Leader Najeeb Ahmad Khan, Sitara-e-Jurrat) was named by his adversaries for making eight passes in the moonlight, to bomb different targets with each of the B-57's bombs. During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 , the PAF again made use of the B-57. On the first night , 12 IAF runways were targeted and
990-485: A result of enemy action), along with one RB-57F electronic intelligence aircraft. During the war, the bomber wing of the PAF attacked the concentration of airfields in north India. To avoid enemy fighter-bombers, the B-57s operated from several different airbases, taking off from and returning to different bases. The B-57 bombers would arrive over their targets in a stream at intervals of about 15 minutes, which led to achieving
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#17327723410181080-588: A scientific mission tracking the solar eclipse on 8 April 2024. They flew approximately 5 to 6 miles apart at 460 mph along the path of the eclipse, starting off the coast of Mexico, with around 6 1/2 to 7 minutes of time within the shadow of the eclipse. Although intended as a bomber and never before deployed by the USAF to a combat zone, the first B-57s to be deployed to South Vietnam were not operated in an offensive role. The need for additional reconnaissance assets, especially those capable of operating at night, led to
1170-515: A short period Republic of Vietnam Air Force (RVNAF) personnel operated four B-57B aircraft. The RVNAF never officially took control of the aircraft, and, after accidents and other problems, including apparent claims by RVNAF pilots that the B-57 was beyond their physical capabilities, the program was terminated in April 1966, and the aircraft were returned to their original USAF units. A total of 58 B-57 Canberras were recorded as having been lost during
1260-702: A single RB-57F would be deployed to Udorn, RTAB in an attempt to gather information about North Vietnamese SAM sites, first under project Greek God and then under project Mad King . In December another RB-57F would be deployed for this purpose, under project Sky Wave . Neither project garnered useful results and they were terminated in October 1965 and February 1966 respectively. The deployment of actual combat capable B-57Bs from 8th and 13th Bomb Squadrons to Bien Hoa Air Base in August 1964 began with two aircraft lost and one damaged in collisions on arrival. An additional five aircraft were destroyed with another 15 damaged by
1350-508: A slightly higher maximum gross weight than the RAF's operating practices. Several other minor differences were also present between early US-built and UK-built Canberras. These changes included the canopy and fuselage windows being slightly revised, the crew being reduced from three to two, the adoption of wingtip fuel tanks, engine nacelles were modified with additional cooling scoops, and the conventional "clamshell" bomb bay doors were replaced with
1440-511: A small optical glass window cut for the viewfinder. The plane's J65-BW-5s were replaced by higher-thrust J65-W-7s. The aircraft was referred to as RB-57A-1. The weight reduction program shaved 5665 pounds off the weight of the RB-57A, and the ceiling was increased by 5000 feet. Two RB-57A-1s were used by the Republic of China Air Force for reconnaissance missions over China; one was shot down by
1530-553: A tendency for engine oil to enter the bleed air system, filling the cockpit with smoke. The problems were ameliorated when Wright took over engine production in 1954. RB-57As also suffered from a high accident rate caused in part by poor single-engine handling. This resulted in the entire fleet spending much of 1955 on the ground. By 1958, all RB-57A craft were replaced in active service by the Douglas RB-66B and McDonnell RF-101A . Air National Guard (ANG) units extensively used
1620-616: A total of 183 bombs were dropped rendering the Indian airfields useless for 6 hours to 6 days. As the war progressed, PAF B-57s carried out many night missions. There was a higher attrition rate than in 1965, with at least five B-57s being put out of service by the end of the war. PAF's B-57 Squadron was the first to form a regular formation aerobatics team of four such aircraft. They were retired from PAF service in 1985. Data from Quest for Performance , Jet Bombers. General characteristics Tactical bombing Tactical bombing
1710-409: A total of 403 B-57s were built. The B-57A was not considered combat-ready by the USAF and the aircraft were used solely for testing and development. One of the aircraft was given to the U.S. Weather Bureau which fitted it with a new nose radome and used it to track hurricanes . The aircraft was placed into limited production. Particularly contentious were the cockpit arrangement and the lack of guns,
1800-420: Is aerial bombing aimed at targets of immediate military value, such as combatants , military installations , or military equipment . This is in contrast to strategic bombing , or attacking enemy cities and factories to cripple future military production and enemy civilians' will to support the war effort , to debilitate the enemy's long-term capacity to wage war. The term " tactical bomber" only refers to
1890-478: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador Gander is a town located in the northeastern part of the island of Newfoundland in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador , approximately 40 km (25 mi) south of Gander Bay , 100 km (62 mi) south of Twillingate and 90 km (56 mi) east of Grand Falls-Windsor . Located on
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#17327723410181980-462: The 2021 Canadian census conducted by Statistics Canada , Gander had a population of 11,880 living in 5,068 of its 5,424 total private dwellings, a change of 1.6% from its 2016 population of 11,688. With a land area of 104.53 km (40.36 sq mi), it had a population density of 113.7/km (294.4/sq mi) in 2021. As of the 2021 census, the population of Gander was found to be 89.7% white with all visible minorities totalling 2.7% of
2070-758: The Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre on 12 March 2017, and is scheduled to return to the Royal Alex in Toronto on 13 February 2018. In the year 2017, at the 71st Tony Awards , the musical was nominated for seven Tony Awards , alongside other musical award nominations, ultimately winning one for Best Direction of a Musical by Christopher Ashley . In 1991, the International Astronomical Union 's Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature (IAU/WGPSN) officially named
2160-518: The Ho Chi Minh trail . Deployed along the "trail" for much of their eight years in Vietnam, Canberras participated in truck hunting campaigns during operations Barrel Roll, Steel Tiger , and Tiger Hound , gaining reputations with their "Centurion Club" which consisted of Canberra crews which attained 100 truck kills. On 16 May 1965, an armed B-57B exploded on the runway at Biên Hòa, setting off
2250-765: The Martin XB-51 , the North American B-45 Tornado and AJ Savage . To expedite the process, only projects based on existing aircraft were considered and unusually, the service considered foreign aircraft. These included the Canadian Avro Canada CF-100 and the Canberra, which had not yet officially entered service with the Royal Air Force (RAF). Aviation authors Bill Gunston and Peter Gilchrist commented that "It seems likely that this first batch of trials convinced
2340-550: The RB-57A Canberra. In place of the curtailed B-57A, a more refined bomber variant, the B-57B , was developed. Having a more lengthy development time, this model incorporated the structural and system changes that had been recommended by WADC, which resulted in the aircraft being more adaptable than its B-57A predecessor. Of the external changes, the most significant was the adoption of a fighter-style canopy accompanied by
2430-802: The Seattle Repertory Theatre , and opened in San Diego on 29 May 2015. The show saw a production in Washington, D.C. , at Ford's Theatre , from September to October 2016, then, prior to opening in Toronto , staged a pair of shows in Gander. It opened at Toronto's Royal Alexandra Theatre , running from November 2016 to January 2017, where it set a ticket sales record for the 109-year-old venue. It opened in New York on Broadway at
2520-582: The Seventh and Thirteenth Air Forces and others as the decision had been made in August 1971 to return the B-57G squadron to the U.S. in early 1972, leaving insufficient evaluation time. Project Pave Gat was terminated 21 December 1971. The B-57G was removed from Thailand in May 1972. Plans remained for the continuation of the B-57G program but post-conflict spending cuts forced the abandonment of these plans. For
2610-605: The Vietnam War , missions were frequently directed by Forward air controllers ( FACs ) flying small propeller -driven planes. The FAC would mark targets with smoke, often in coordination with infantry on the ground. Bombers orbiting overhead would then fly in to hit the target. In the modern era, precision-guided munitions ("smart bombs") can be directed with extreme accuracy. Dedicated tactical bomber aircraft types have largely been supplanted by fighter-bombers and strike aircraft . This military aviation article
2700-423: The air traffic controllers , first broadcast on 11 September 2019. The Town of Gander continues to pursue business opportunities in the aerospace industry. Gander is located 310 km (190 mi) northwest of the provincial capital of St. John's . Ordovician -era shale , slate and greywacke form the underlying bedrock, which is covered by stony loam to silt loam podzolic or gleysolic soil. In
2790-688: The 1980s, by the USAF's more advanced General Dynamics/Grumman EF-111A Raven operated by the active-duty USAF. Strategic Air Command employed 20 RB-57D aircraft from 1956 until 1964. Little is known about their use. The aircraft were retired due to structural fatigue and the advent of the U-2 and SR-71 . Since the early 1970s two WB-57F Canberras (NASA 926 and NASA 928) were flown and maintained by NASA for high altitude atmospheric research. These same two aircraft have also been deployed alternately to Afghanistan for use as communications platforms that fly high over an area linking various communications devices on
Martin B-57 Canberra - Misplaced Pages Continue
2880-635: The 94 B-57Bs deployed to Southeast Asia, 51 were lost in combat and seven other Canberras were lost to other causes. Only nine were still flying by 1969. B-57s returned to Southeast Asia in the form of the Tropic Moon III B-57G, deployed to Thailand in late 1970. Intended as a night intruder to help combat movement along the Ho Chi Minh trail, these aircraft were equipped with a variety of new sensors and other equipment, and were capable of dropping laser guided munitions. The relative kill rates per sortie during Operation Commando Hunt V between
2970-526: The Americans that the Canberra was ideal for the job, but in order to satisfy the US Senate a competitive evaluation of all likely contenders had to be arranged". As part of the USAF's evaluation process, all five aircraft were submitted to a series of fly-offs to determine their performance. On 21 February 1951, a Canberra B.2 (WD932), flown by Roland Beamont , made the transatlantic journey, arriving in
3060-630: The B-57G and the AC-130A/E showed that the former was not as suited to the role of truck hunter. An attempt to combine both led to one B-57G being modified to house a special bomb bay installation of one Emerson TAT-161 turret with a single M61 20mm cannon as a gunship under project Pave Gat . After delays in testing at Eglin AFB , Florida, due to competition for mission time from the Tropic Moon III B-57Gs, Pave Gat tests proved "that
3150-479: The B-57G could hit stationary or moving targets with its 20mm gun, day or night. Loaded with 4,000 rounds of ammunition, the Pave Gat B-57G could hit as many as 20 targets, three times as many as the bomb-carrying B-57G. The Pave Gat aircraft could avoid antiaircraft fire by firing from offset positions, while the bomb carrier had to pass directly over the target." Deployment to SEA was resisted, however, by
3240-622: The British government provide a private demonstration of the English Electric Canberra, a newly developed jet-powered bomber. On 17 August 1950, the Canberra demonstration was performed at RAF Burtonwood in Warrington, Cheshire , England; during the following month, a team of US test pilots and engineers visited English Electric's Warton factory to perform a series of flight tests and a detailed technical assessment of
3330-438: The British pattern aircraft (WD932) was lost in an accident; although this was subsequently discovered to be caused by incorrect fuel scheduling having led to the tail-heavy aircraft exceeding its design limits during a maneuver, the crash jeopardized the entire program and invigorated the anti-Canberra political opposition. The crash did lead to some design changes in the face of political pressure, but these were not implemented on
3420-476: The Canberra having been designed as a high-speed, high altitude bomber rather than for close air support. The definitive B-57B , which introduced numerous improvements, made its first flight on 18 June 1954. The aircraft initially suffered from the same engine malfunctions as the RB-57As and several were lost in high-speed low-level operations due to a faulty tailplane actuator which caused the aircraft to dive into
3510-569: The Compass Eagle program, gave the back-seater a video display to monitor the IR scanner system. This allowed the crew to call in strikes on targets in real time, instead of having to return to base to get imagery developed, by which time the enemy would have likely moved on. There were frequent changes and updating of the equipment, including the installation of 12-inch focal length KA-82 and 24-inch focal length KA-83 cameras. The infrared equipment
3600-664: The James Paton Memorial Health Centre, on the Trans-Canada Highway . The hospital opened in May 1964 and has undergone many changes since then, making it a prominent hospital in the central region. The hospital has a rated beds capacity of 92. The Steele Community Centre , previously named the Gander Community Centre , is a multi-purpose venue located on Airport Boulevard. The community centre, owned and operated by
3690-695: The Laos Panhandle and the Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on 3 April 1965, to locate and destroy enemy forces and materiel being moved southward at night into South Vietnam, and to fly bomb damage assessment reconnaissance runs over targets attacked in the secret war the United States fought there. These flights teamed with B-57B bombers operating out of Bien Hoa Air Base and a C-130 Hercules flare ship. Three more aircraft were subsequently modified in 1964/65 bringing
Martin B-57 Canberra - Misplaced Pages Continue
3780-681: The Planes Came , by Caroline and David Stafford , dealing with the effect on Gander of the 11 September passengers was first broadcast in June 2008 on BBC Radio 4 and was repeated in October 2009. A TV movie, Diverted , was made in 2009. In February 2010, NBC aired a report by Tom Brokaw covering Gander's part in the grounding of hundreds of planes on 9/11 during coverage of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver . A musical by Irene Sankoff and David Hein , Come from Away , which retells
3870-573: The RB-57A for photographic surveys of the United States until 1971. A number of modified RB-57As were used by the 7499th Support Group at Wiesbaden AB , West Germany in Operation "Heart Throb" reconnaissance missions over Europe. Ten aircraft were pulled off Martin's production line and modifications were performed in August 1955 by the Wright Air Development Center and by Martin. All equipment not absolutely essential for
3960-571: The RB-57D and RB-57F projects and turning the B-57 into a high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft. The forward nose section of the B-57Es were modified to house a KA-1 36-inch forward oblique camera and a low panoramic KA-56 camera used on the Lockheed U-2. Mounted inside the specially configured bomb bay door was a KA-1 vertical camera, a K-477 split vertical day-night camera, an infrared scanner, and
4050-603: The Town of Gander, is used to host trade shows, conferences, sporting events and special events. It is home to the Gander Flyers of the Central West Senior Hockey League . During Operation Yellow Ribbon , the people of Gander and surrounding communities donated large amounts of food and other supplies for the unexpected visitors. The Gander Community Centre became a giant "walk-in fridge" for
4140-560: The U.S. and Afghanistan. At the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950, the USAF found itself in dire need of an all-weather interdiction aircraft. The existing inventory of piston-engined Douglas B-26 Invaders had been dispatched in this capacity at the very start of the conflict; within a few months in the theatre, the B-26 had suffered a very high rate of attrition and successes with the type were typically limited. The USAF requested that
4230-556: The USAF designation B-57A (Martin internally designated the type as the Model 272). On 3 April 1951, English Electric and Martin both signed a formal licensing agreement to cover the Canberra's production. During August 1951, a second British-built Canberra (WD940) was flown to the US to act as a pattern aircraft for Martin, as well as to perform assorted trials and to support performance validation of airframe changes. On 21 December 1951, one of
4320-604: The USAF found the B-57A lacking, the photo reconnaissance RB-57A saw some operational use. First flying in October 1953, RB-57As fully equipped the 363rd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at Shaw Air Force Base by July 1954. The aircraft were also deployed with USAF squadrons in West Germany, France and Japan. However, operational readiness was poor and the aircraft suffered from significant production delays because of engine problems. Wright had subcontracted production of J65 engines to Buick , which resulted in slow deliveries and
4410-486: The United States to participate in the competition; by making this journey, the Canberra became the first jet aircraft to perform a non-stop unrefueled flight across the Atlantic Ocean, travelling from Warton, England, to Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador , Canada, in the record time of 4 hours 37 minutes. On 26 February 1951, the flyoff took place at Andrews Field , Prince George's County, Maryland ; each aircraft
4500-585: The Vietnam War; of these, 26 were lost to ground fire, five were lost to mortar fire and ground attack, four were lost to mid-air collision, ten were lost to airfield accidental bomb explosion, seven were lost to operational causes, and six were lost due to unknown causes. The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) was the other main user of the B-57 and made use of it in two wars with India. In the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 , B-57s flew 167 sorties, dropping over 600 tons of bombs. Three B-57s were lost in action (only one as
4590-403: The aircraft. On 16 September 1950, the USAF formally issued a request for a jet-powered bomber; the sought aircraft had to possess a top speed of 630 mph (1,010 km/h), ceiling of 40,000 ft (12,000 m), and range of 1,150 mi (1,850 km). Full all-weather capability and a secondary reconnaissance role also had to be included in the design. The American contenders included
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#17327723410184680-573: The battlefield and to other airborne assets, they were known as the Battlefield Airborne Communications Node system (BACN). In 2011 it was determined that a third aircraft was needed to satisfy mission requirements and an additional WB-57 was removed from the 309th AMARG after over 40 years at Davis-Monthan AFB and returned to flight status in August 2013 as NASA 927. Two of the NASA WB-57F's were flown in
4770-632: The bomb bay and four 750 lb (340 kg) bombs under the wings. In April, Canberras began flying night intruder missions supported by USAF's Fairchild C-123 Provider or C-130 Hercules flare ships and USN's EF-10B Skyknight electronic warfare aircraft. B-57s were primarily used for dive bombing and strafing, with the early models mounting eight .50 caliber machine guns, four per wing. Later models mounted four 20mm cannons, two per wing, for strafing. These weapons combined with their bomb loads and four hours of flight time made them excellent ground support aircraft, as well as exceptional truck killers along
4860-492: The bomb bay. Redesignated EB-57A, these aircraft were deployed with Defense Systems Evaluation Squadrons which played the role of aggressors to train the friendly air defense units in the art of electronic warfare. Subsequent bomber variants were also modified to fulfill this role. Although initially conducted by active duty Air Force units, the EB-57 mission eventually migrated to selected ANG units. The ANG's EB-57s were replaced, in
4950-472: The call-sign "Moonglow". Some missions were flown at low-level over single targets, others consisted of 4–6 specific targets. At night RB-57Es flew the canals and rivers in the Mekong Delta and southern part of South Vietnam. The sampans were easy to spot with the "real time" IR if the crew could keep over the canal which was difficult in the darkness. The United States began Operation Steel Tiger over
5040-501: The day and had been unable to locate from the air. The existing RF-101s in 1963 could only photograph a few kilometers (they had to fly very low) per flight with their cameras. The RB-57Es could image the whole border with Cambodia in 2 1/2 flights at 16,000 feet (4,900 m) to 17,000 feet (5,200 m) with superior results. From then on, Patricia Lynn crews flew both night and day missions over South Vietnam, Laos , Cambodia and areas of North Vietnam until 1971. The RB-57Es carried
5130-399: The daytime photography role was eliminated. The bomb bay door was removed and the area was skinned over. The seat for the system operator/navigator was removed, and an optical viewfinder was installed in the nose so that the pilot could perform all the reconnaissance duties without the assistance of the navigator. The clear plexiglass nose cone was replaced by an opaque fiberglass cone, but with
5220-472: The deployment of two RB-57E aircraft on 15 April 1963. The USAF had awarded General Dynamics a contract to modify two B-57Es (55-4243, 55–4245) as all-weather high-altitude strategic reconnaissance aircraft. Under project Patricia Lynn these aircraft provided infrared coverage using their Reconofax VI cameras. General Dynamics was chosen to modify the B-57E as it had extensive experience modifying Canberras with
5310-590: The design to incorporate larger quantities of US-sourced components and produced the aircraft in several variants. The B-57 Canberra holds the distinction of being the first jet bomber in U.S. service to drop bombs during combat. The Canberra was used extensively during the Vietnam War in a bombing capacity; specialized versions of the type were also produced and served as high-altitude aerial reconnaissance platforms (the Martin RB-57D Canberra ), and as electronic warfare aircraft. The B-57 Canberra
5400-409: The existing 'finger'-type brakes installed in the wings; the new brakes gave the pilots a greater level of controllability, improving the accuracy of low-level bombing runs. The B-57B was equipped with an APW-11 Bombing Air Radar Guidance System for target approach guidance, as well as an APS-54 radar warning receiver . The engines were also furnished with a new cartridge starting system, eliminating
5490-618: The first 75 aircraft to be produced. Due to the great urgency placed on delivering the B-57A Canberra, the initial phase of manufacturing performed by Martin used a minimum-change formula to expedite production; thus the first B-57As to be produced were largely identical to the Canberra B.2. As such, more than 30 changes that had been requested by the Wright Air Development Center (WADC) were rejected on program schedule or cost grounds. One noticeable exception
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#17327723410185580-675: The first landing at "Newfoundland Airport," now known as Gander International Airport, or "CYQX," in a single-engine biplane , Fox Moth VO-ADE. During the Second World War, as many as 10,000 Canadian, British and American military personnel resided in Gander. The area became a strategic post for the Air Ferry Command of the Royal Air Force , with approximately 20,000 American- and Canadian-built fighters and bombers stopping at Gander en route to Europe. After
5670-400: The food donations. Gander airport features in the Nevil Shute novel No Highway and the film adaptation, called No Highway in the Sky in Anglophone countries other than the UK. in 2006, the miniseries Above and Beyond deals with the Atlantic Ferry Organization , tasked with ferrying aircraft from North America to Europe in the early years of the Second World War. The production
5760-425: The ground operations (as a "flying artillery "). Air interdiction , by contrast, attacks tactical targets that are distant from or otherwise not in contact with friendly units. Tactical bombing was the first type of aerial bombing mission. It began in the Italo-Turkish War when pilots dropped small bombs over the side of their open cockpits onto enemy troops below. One of the earliest examples of tactical bombing
5850-406: The ground. The USAF came to consider the B-57B as being inadequate for the night intruder role and thus Martin put all aircraft through an extensive avionics upgrade in response. Regardless, by the end of 1957, the USAF tactical squadrons were being re-equipped with supersonic North American F-100 Super Sabres . The complete retirement was delayed, however, by the start of the Vietnam War . While
5940-564: The highly classified Patricia Lynn squadron (Detachment 1, 33d Tactical Group , later 6250th Combat Support Group, later 460th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing ) operating from Tan Son Nhut Air Base . The Detachment flew nighttime reconnaissance missions to identify Viet Cong (VC) base camps, small arms factories and storage and training areas. The sorties yielded results that heretofore only had been wished for. The nighttime imagery showed VC training and base camps; small, hidden factories and storage dumps that RF-101 Voodoo crews had flown over during
6030-480: The hours immediately following the September 11 attacks when all of North America's airspace was closed by Transport Canada and the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). As part of Operation Yellow Ribbon , 38 civilian and 4 military flights bound for the United States were ordered to land at the airport—more flights than any Canadian airport other than Halifax International . More than 6,600 passengers and airline crew members —equivalent to 66% of
6120-446: The local population at the time—were forced to stay in the Gander area for up to six days until airspace was reopened. Gander received the third highest volume of passengers following Operation Yellow Ribbon, behind Vancouver International Airport , which received 8,500, and Halifax International. Residents of Gander and surrounding communities volunteered to house, feed, and entertain the travellers as part of Operation Yellow Ribbon. This
6210-567: The northeastern shore of Gander Lake , it is the site of Gander International Airport , once an important refuelling stop for transatlantic aircraft. The airport is still a preferred emergency landing point for aircraft facing on-board medical or security issues. When the U.S. closed its airspace after the September 11 attacks , Gander International Airport took in 38 commercial aircraft and four military aircraft, and accommodated nearly 6,700 evacuees from Olympic Airways , Air France , Lufthansa , British Airways , Alitalia and more. Most of
6300-462: The number of aircraft to five. Two RB-57Es were lost in combat operations. The first (S/N 55-4243) was lost as a result of a fuselage fire caused by small arms while on a low level reconnaissance mission in August 1965. The crew ejected safely when near Tan Son Nhut Air Base. The second aircraft (S/N 55-4264) was lost on 21 October 1968, after an engine fire started by ground fire forced the crew to eject. A sixth Patricia Lynn aircraft (55–4257) joined
6390-437: The outer wing panels were installed on this variant, capable of mounting external bombs and rockets . The B-57B was also furnished with a gun armament for strafing attacks. The first 90 aircraft to be produced were equipped with a total of eight 0.50 cal (12.7 mm) Browning machine guns installed within the wings; on later aircraft these were replaced by an arrangement of four 20 mm M39 cannon . A new rotary bomb door
6480-705: The population and the Indigenous population totalling 7.5%. Gander has a cool to cold humid continental climate ( Köppen climate classification Dfb ). It combines moderately warm and rainy summers with cold and very snowy winters. Due to the maritime influence from the Atlantic Ocean , seasonal changes are slightly less pronounced than in Canada's interior, but still substantial given its near-coastal position. Its average frost-free period runs from June 1 to October 16–136 days. Medical services are provided by
6570-452: The reliance on ground start carts . The substantial design changes between the B-57A and B-57B models resulted in delays to the overall program, as well as incurring substantial costs on the fixed-price contract. Gunston and Gilchrist stated of the consequences to the program: "This was clearly not the manufacturer's fault, but the money effectively ran out after 177 of the planned 250-aircraft order had been completed". In 1954, in response to
6660-565: The sound performance offered by the B-57B, the USAF elected to place a large second order; this included a further 100 B-57B bombers, 38 B-57C trainers, and 20 RB-57D high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft. In 1955, a final batch of 68 B-57E target tugs was ordered. In 1969, in response to demands for a capable night interdiction aircraft for combat operations in Southeast Asia, a total of 16 B-57B Canberras were substantially rebuilt during
6750-517: The stories of passengers and Newfoundlanders in Gander after Operation Yellow Ribbon, was mounted on Broadway in 2017. The same year, Come from Away was nominated for seven Tony Awards and won the Tony for Best Direction of Musical. The town was also profiled in Moze Mossanen 's 2018 documentary film You Are Here . National Geographic Episode 9/11: Control The Skies tells the story of
6840-512: The streets in Gander are named after famous aviators, including Alcock and Brown , Amelia Earhart , Charles Lindbergh , Eddie Rickenbacker , Marc Garneau and Chuck Yeager . Gander was chosen for the construction of an airport in 1935 because it is very close to the great circle route between New York and London. In 1936, construction of the base began, and the town started to develop. On 11 January 1938, Captain Douglas Fraser made
6930-403: The team in 1968, as a replacement for the combat losses. This aircraft had a Terrain-following radar designed to allow the aircraft to fly at a constant altitude, which would, in theory, produce better reconnaissance photos. Unfortunately, the aircraft flew so low (500–1000 feet) that the infrared film was used up before the entire assessment area could be photographed. A 1968 update, under
7020-505: The urgent need, particularly in light of there being several rival indigenous aircraft designs. There were also doubts about production availability with English Electric being able to mesh with USAF demands, as well as questions over spare parts. In March 1951, many of these questions were answered; with production lines already at full capacity meeting Royal Air Force orders and those emerging from other export customers, English Electric entered into discussions with Glenn L. Martin Company . It
7110-445: The war, the airbase became a civilian airport, and the location of the town was moved a safe distance from the runways. Construction of the present town site began in the 1950s, and the present municipality was incorporated in 1958; the settlement around the airport was eventually abandoned. After the Second World War, the town grew as the airport was used as a refuelling stop for transatlantic flights , earning its name "Cross-roads of
7200-535: The world." Efforts were made to diversify the economy from being dependent on the airport, particularly as new aircraft designs permitted longer-range flights without the need for landing to refuel. Gander was the site of a major aircraft accident, Arrow Air Flight 1285 , on 12 December 1985; 256 people were killed in the disaster, probably caused by ice contamination on the wings, making it the deadliest air crash ever to happen in Canada. In 2001, Gander International Airport played an integral role in world aviation in
7290-481: Was accepted by the USAF, by which point a cessation of hostilities had come into effect in Korea. This was one of only eight B-57A Canberras to be manufactured; the remaining 67 aircraft from this first batch, deemed no longer to be required as bombers, were converted on the assembly line to serve as medium-altitude reconnaissance aircraft while retaining all the basic Canberra features, and were accordingly re-designated as
7380-440: Was adopted on the B-57B, which had originally been designed for the XB-51, replacing the hinged doors; this proved to be faster to open/close and reduced buffeting, which in turn improved accuracy and allowed for faster attack speeds. The redesigned bomb bay also enabled faster turnaround times on the ground. In addition, hydraulically -operated triangular air brakes were installed on the rear fuselage, which worked in addition to
7470-765: Was also sold to export customers abroad; further combat use was seen by the Pakistani Air Force during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 and the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 . In 1983, the USAF opted to retire the type; the B-57 Canberra's retirement marked the ending of the era of the tactical bomber. The three remaining flightworthy WB-57Fs are technically assigned to the NASA Johnson Space Center , next to Ellington Field in Houston , as high-altitude scientific research aircraft but have also been used for testing and electronic communications in
7560-601: Was at the Battle of Neuve Chapelle in 1915 when the Royal Flying Corps dropped bombs on German rail communications. By the time of World War II a number of specialized aircraft were developed to fulfill this role, including various fighter-bombers . During the Korean War tactical bombing missions were sometimes carried out by older piston -powered fighters such as the Vought F4U Corsair . In
7650-529: Was filmed primarily at the Gander airport, and details the development of the airport as a ferry stop. In 2013, Come from Away , a musical by Irene Sankoff and David Hein based on the events in Gander on and after 11 September was first performed at Sheridan College in Oakville, Ontario , following a workshop there the previous year. It became a co-production of the La Jolla Playhouse and
7740-569: Was largely because Transport Canada and Nav Canada asked that transatlantic flights avoid diverting to major airports in central Canada , such as Toronto Pearson and Montréal-Dorval . Lufthansa named one of its Airbus A340 (registration D-AIFC ) aircraft Gander/Halifax to thank both cities for their handling of rerouted travellers on 11 September. A book, The Day the World Came to Town , included several stories about Gander's role during that and subsequent days. A radio play, The Day
7830-467: Was proposed that Martin would receive a license to build the Canberra in the United States. According to Gunston and Gilchrist, the Americanization of the Canberra program proved effective at dismissing much of the political opposition to the project. On 23 March 1951, the USAF issued a contract to Martin, requesting the manufacturing of an initial quantity of 250 Canberras, which had received
7920-477: Was tasked with performing a set sequence of maneuvers within a ten-minute window, directly demonstrating its agility and performance against its rivals. According to Gunston and Gilchrist, the Canberra proved to be significantly superior to any of the competing aircraft, and its selection was beyond doubt by the end of the competition. The Canberra was a foreign aircraft, which meant its superiority in terms of performance did not guarantee political support in spite of
8010-536: Was the adoption of more powerful Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire engines capable of producing 7,200 lbf (32 kN) of thrust, which were license-built in the United States as the Wright J65 . The Sapphire-based J65 powerplant had been selected in place of the British-built Canberra's Rolls-Royce Avons as the USAF had placed an emphasis on operations within hot climates and intended to fly at
8100-505: Was useful in spotting VC river traffic at night along the Mekong Delta southeast of Saigon. In 1969/70, Patricia Lynn missions were flown into Laos and into Cambodia including Operation Barrel Roll strikes in 1969. The Patricia Lynn operation was terminated in mid-1971 with the inactivation of the 460th TRW and the four surviving aircraft returned to the United States. Known RB-57E Patricia Lynn aircraft were: Later in August 1965,
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