Douglas B-66 Destroyer
Douglas B-66 Destroyer
Description
Role	tactical bomber (also reconnaissance)
Crew	3
First Flight	1954
Manufacturer	Douglas Aircraft Company
Dimensions
Length	75 ft 2 in	22.9 m
Wingspan	72 ft 6 in	22.1 m
Height	23 ft 7 in	7.2 m
Wing area	780 ft²	72.5 m²
Weights
Empty	42,540 lb	19,300 kg
Loaded	57,800 lb	26,200 kg
Maximum takeoff	83,000 lb	38,000 kg
Powerplant
Engines	2 × Allison J71-A-11 or -13 turbojets
Thrust	10,200 lbf	45 kN
Performance
Maximum speed	631 mph	1,000 km/h
Combat range	900 miles	1,400 km
Ferry range	2470 miles	4,000 km
Service ceiling	39,400 ft	12,000 m
Rate of climb	5000 ft/min	1,500 m/min
Wing loading	lb/ft²	kg/m²
Avionics
Avionics	APS-27 and K-5 radars
Armament
Guns	2 × 20mm cannon in tail turret
Bombs	15,000 lb	680 kg

The Douglas B-66 Destroyer was a Strategic Air Command light bomber based on the United States Navy's A3D Skywarrior, and intended to replace the Douglas B-26 Invader. A RB-66 photo-reconnaissance version was ordered simultaneously.

At first, the Air Force thought the conversion would be an easy matter of removing the carrier-specific features, so no prototypes were ordered, just five pre-production RB-66A models (the reconnaissance mission was deemed higher priority). The list of modifications grew, and before long, the easy conversion became a substantially new aircraft. Many of the changes were due to the Air Force's requirement for low-level operations, while the Navy plane was a high-altitude bomber.

The first RB-66A preproduction aircraft flew in 1954, while the first production RB-66B aircraft flew in early 1955. Deliveries to the USAF began in 1956, and 145 of this model were produced. They were used as the major night photo-reconnaissance aircraft of the USAF during this period.

Meanwhile, 72 of the B-66B bomber version were built, 69 fewer than originally planned. Thirteen B-66B aircraft were modified into EB-66B electronics countermeasures aircraft for the Vietnam War.

The RB-66C was a specialised electronic reconnaissance and ECM aircraft with a crew of seven; 36 were built. The additional crewmembers occupied what was the camera/bomb bay of other variants. RB-66C aircraft had distinctive wingtip pods. They were used over Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis, and later over Vietnam. In 1966, they were redesignated EB-66C.

The final B-66 variant was the WB-66D weather reconnaissance aircraft, 36 of which were constructed.

The B-66 had left USAF service by 1970. One RB-66B is at the USAF Museum.

References

• USAF Museum. DOUGLAS RB-66B "DESTROYER". http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/modern_flight/mf31.htm
• J. Baugher. (2001). Douglas B-66 Destroyer. http://home.att.net/~jbaugher2/b66.html