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B-66 Destroyer

Flight Journal, Dec 2002 by Thompson, Warren E

CLASSICS

Very few military aircraft built by any country have proved to be as versatile as the Douglas B-66 Destroyer. It was involved in some of the USAF's most classified missions flown during the height of the Cold War in Europe.

It was originally designed as a fast, low-level medium bomber capable of delivering a nuclear bomb. Initially based in Western Europe, it was one of the first major deterrents against the Soviet Union. It did not have the range to penetrate deep into Russian airspace, though, and as a result, the B-36 and B-47 bombers coming off the assembly lines hastened the -66's demise as a bomber.

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One of its variants was the RB-66, which of its variants was the pacesetter in tactical reconnaissance and earned a reputation as an outstanding Caold War warrior. Another specialized version also taken into the U.S. Air Force's inventory was the WB-66, which was involved in worldwide weather-reconnaissance missions. In early 1958, at the Douglas plant, the final 36 Destroyer air-- frames produced were designated "WB-66D."

Just like a world-class champion, the Detroyer found its niche in the emerging electronic-- warefare-mission arena. As the RB-66's reconnaissance career seemed to ebb, many were converted to the EB-66 configuration and saw yeoman service in the Vietnam War. During the height of its involvement in Southeast Asia, there were two squadrons based at Takhli AB in Thailand: the 41st and 42nd Tactical Electronics Warfare Squadrons.

These EBs accompanied just about every strike that was destined for the more dangerous areas of North Vietnam. Their highly trained personnel were experts at jamming enemy radar and communications to severely reduce the effectiveness of the SAMs that were launched against U.S. bombers. When the EB-66s were phased out, the EA-6B Prowlers and EF-111 Ravens eventually assumed

electronic-warfare responsibilities with newer, state-of-the-art equipment.

-Original Cold War Color-- photo by Ray Pamplin; courtesy of Warren Thompson

-Warren E. Thompson

migalley@bellsouth.net

B-66 Destroyer

Flight Journal, Dec 2002 by Thompson, Warren E

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