B-57 Canberra Units of the Vietnam War

by T. E. Bell, Jim Laurier (Illustrator)

Overview

The B-57 Canberra was the first jet-powered American attack aircraft committed to the Vietnam War. Involved in day-to-day interdiction missions as well as in classified “black” missions and a starring role in Operation Rolling Thunder; the B-57 evolved to become one of the most valuable weapons in the USAF inventory. The B-57E was involved in the Patricia Lynn missions, parts of which remain classified. This book also fully documents the role of the Australian Canberra B-20 in working alongside the B-57. Featuring scores of previously unpublished photographs; the story of the B-57 is the story of the Vietnam War.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781472800275
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date:	01/20/2013
Series:	Combat Aircraft , #85
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	96
File size:	13 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

T.E. Bell has been a journalist for 30 years, working as an investigative reporter for newspapers, wire services and magazines. He has been an aviation writer and historian for more than 20 years. He has written regularly on the subject for, among others, The Houston Chronicle and United Press International, and has contributed to a number of aviation magazines. An avid modeller, Bell is currently North America Editor for the British magazine Scale Aircraft Modelling. He has also worked as an archivist and researcher for two aviation museums. A private pilot, Bell lives in New York City. Jim Laurier is a native of New England and lives in New Hampshire. He attended Paier School of Art in Hamden, Connecticut, from 1974–78, and since graduating with Honors, he has been working professionally in the field of Fine Art and Illustration. He has been commissioned to paint for the US Air Force and has aviation paintings on permanent display at the Pentagon.
Jim Laurier is a native of New England and lives in New Hampshire. He attended Paier School of Art in Hamden, Connecticut, from 1974–78, and since graduating with Honours, he has been working professionally in the field of Fine Art and Illustration. He has been commissioned to paint for the US Air Force and has aviation paintings on permanent display at the Pentagon.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Hot War, Cold Beginning 6

Chapter 2 At Long Last, Flying in Anger 15

Chapter 3 Da Nang 29

Chapter 4 The Doom Pussy 40

Chapter 5 Phan Rang 62

Chapter 6 Raaf Canberras Join the Fight 74

Chapter 7 Enter the Dragon 82

Appendices 91

Colour Plates Commentary 91

Index 96

Editorial Reviews

...rich in events and anecdotes which take us not only through the history of the American experience with the B-57 but also through the Vietnam War itself. The book also fully documents the story of the Australian-crewed Canberra's as well as the brief but interesting use of the B-57 by the VNAF.” —Bart Cusumano, IPMS/USA

“This volume ... includes a chapter on the Vietnam deployment of No. 2 Squadron, RAAF, with its Canberra B20s, which were attached to the US 35 TFW from 1967-71. The author has relied heavily on oral history and declassified sources to provide the story of an aircraft and the crews that contributed so much to that conflict, but which has been largely overlooked by historians until now.” —Thomas Robertson, Model Aircraft (April 2011)

“The Canberra is currently a very popular modeling subject, with recent well-received kits put out by Airfix, Classic Airframes and Italeri. The B-57 underwent numerous pint scheme changes during the course of the Vietnam War, many of which are detailed in specially commissioned plates, which will be of particular interest to aviation modelers.” —Flying Models (April 2011)

“B-57 Canberra Units of the Vietnam War should be of great interest to enthusiasts of the early jet age and especially welcome among veteran crew members seeing their hitherto-unsung deeds finally getting their due.” —Vietnam (June 2011)

From the Publisher