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Pretty Lady to Screaming Bird: Why Perfect Wasn't Good Enough - The Martin B-57 Canberra

Aviation Republic

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This is Part Three of the Canberra story, this is not your usual story of the B57, this is a story of how two institutions. one optimised for compliance and capability, the other for simplicity and sustainability

In February 1951, a British aeroplane arrived at Andrews Air Force Base and beat every American medium aircraft in service. The USAF bought it—then spent twenty-eight months implementing 2,800 engineering changes before putting it into production.

Every modification made sense in isolation. Every requirement was rational.

The result was more capable on paper and unsustainable in Vietnam.

At Phan Rang Air Base, 94 American B-57s and 8 Australian Canberra Mk.20s flew missions against the same enemy in the same climate.

One variant with 2,800 modifications needed factory-like facilities to keep flying.

The other completed nearly 12,000 missions over four years with a simpler aircraft.

The difference wasn't courage or competence—it was complexity.

Sometimes the problem isn't that an aircraft needs improvement.

Sometimes improvement has costs institutions don't measure.

00:00:00 - Intro
00:02:40 - Chapter 1: Martin B-57 Canberra - The Indignity
00:14:47 - Chapter 2: Martin B-57 Canberra - Getting it to Work
00:31:23 - Chapter 3: Martin B-57 Canberra - Meet Pat Tibbs
00:37:13 - Chapter 4: Martin B-57 Canberra - Translation Costs
00:39:41 - Chapter 5: Martin B-57 Canberra - Immediate Obsolescence
00:48:31 - Chapter 6: Martin B-57 Canberra - B’s are good
01:01:37 - Chapter 7: Martin B-57 Canberra - The Night Belongs to Us
01:11:04 - Chapter 8: Martin B-57 Canberra - Dirty Birds
01:23:20 - Chapter 9: Martin B-57 Canberra - The Australians War

Sources:
Mesko, Jim. B-57 Canberra in Action (Squadron/Signal, 1986)
Mikesh, Robert C. Martin B-57 Canberra
Mikesh, Robert C. B57 Canberra at War
Jones, Barry. English Electric Canberra & Martin B-57 (Crowood Press)
Gunston, Bill. Bombers of the West
Beamont, Roland. Testing Years
Beamont, Roland & Reed, Arthur. English Electric Canberra
Darling, Kev. B-57 Canberra, Warpaint No. 45

VIDEO SOURCES:
Philip Dunn - B-57 Canberra Mission in Vietnam 1960s
B-57Canberra Mission in Vietnam 1960s

Bill Wise - Yellowbirds Last Day 1969
Yellowbirds Last Day 1969

2Sqn Vietnam
Credit: Stuart Ritchie
2Sqn Vietnam

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Original footage and recreated scenes may not be 100% accurate to the event being described but has been used for dramatic effect.

This is because there may not have been original footage of a particular event available, or copyright prevents us from showing it.

Our aim is to be as historically true as we can be given the materials available.

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20 Comments

@AviationRepublic Creator 8 months ago Pinned

Click here for your copy of "The Book" from Hungry Minds: https://mdsh.io/aviation - Use Code "AVIATION" for a 10% Promo

Thank you to Hungry Minds for supporting the channel and keeping the tea flowing.🍜

@mickshannonshaw1963 5 months ago

That gloss black finish absolutely made the Canberra look AWESOME!!!🤩🤩

@JClarkeCT1334 8 months ago

77 years old and there are still some jobs nothing else can do as well. Excellent documentary.

@johnhudghton2287 8 months ago (edited)

Exercise Peacekeeper Summer 1995 completing my IOT at Cranwell's satellite, RAF Barkston Heath, there was an earth shattering roar as we were faced with a simulated low level atrack by one of the few Canberras left in service. Lordy this high altitude job was almost cutting the grass on the airfield. Came out of nowhere and scared the crap out of us. What a gorgeous sight and sound - and smell - lots of dark clag but so brilliantly flown.

Took me back to my time in the Air Cadets while gliding at RAF Sealand. It had rained and we were given the "job" of sweeping out a hanger. Came accross piles of crated wings for Canberras.

@Mai353 8 months ago

For me, Your almost 5 hrs of "Canberra trilogy" so far worth each and every minute of time spent on it, and I'm looking forward to your next 5-6 hrs trilogy on RB 57 and other derivatives.

Thank you again for your fine work

@rolanddring-sandberg4432 8 months ago

It's Nice to hear a Real Human Voice, Rather than AI , Also Great to see Relevant "REAL" Images in Video - Flawless in Depth Presentation

@tomswift9542 7 months ago

My father was stationed at Shaw AFB in South Carolina from 1956 to 1957. I was 10 at the time but have vivid memories of the clouds of black smoke that were visible from any point on the base when multiple B57s started up. I got my father in a world of “ sht” when I walked onto the tarmac outside my father’s office just off the flight line. A B57 was parked just outside the hangar with the canopy up and no body around. I climbed up and got into the cockpit. All of a sudden, people started running from all directions. The aircraft I had climbed into had just landed. None of the systems had been safed. I could have fired the guns conceivably. Needless to say there were a lot of red faces over security concerns

@ZETH_27 8 months ago

I've always been fascinated by the Canberra's combination of rugged simplicity and absolute effectiveness. That, combined with how good it looks, really makes it one of my favourite jet bombest ever made.

@ayrplanes 3 months ago

You can't help but admire the airplanes English Electric designed. Hello from the US.

@RaduDucus 1 month ago

No Joe, THANK YOU for telling this story, I for one am in awe of how well you have done justice to this remarcable bird. I am an aviation enthusiast but I never knew how beautiful the story of the Canberra was until I heard it here and this kind of deep dive with all the less known stories and details is in my opinion the best way to tell these stories, to remember the people in a time where getting something done was about imagination, skill and hard work. THANK YOU!

@underpaidoverworked4250 7 months ago

It really is such a shame theres only 3 of these left in airworthy shape

@Mark_Ocain 8 months ago

These long-form treatments have been superb! More, please!!

@phileasfogg1941 7 months ago

Whoa! A barrel-roll? Didn’t expect that!!! Beautiful aircraft!

@chrisgrant845 2 months ago

The Canberra jet bomber and the Hawker Hunter were the two heroic jets of my childhood , and your Canberra documentary was totally fascinating .

@Jack2Japan 4 months ago

Good format. I enjoy hearing about specific operational incidents where you talk about the crews by name.

@jamesroseby3823 7 months ago

Thoroughly absorbing. I’ve gained an increased appreciation of the qualities of our old Canberras. Thank you from Australia.

@mickshannonshaw1963 5 months ago

I used to LOVE THE WEEKENDS !!Cycling from Longridge(nr Preston) to Salmesbury Aerodrome just outside Preston,to warch Canberras(and the occaisional Lightning) coming and going in the70,s..Even camping overnight over the road at a farm to catch the early morning test flights of loads of Canberra variants...Excellent way to spend the weekend while my mates back in Longridge were usually up to kids stuff and getting themselves in trouble!!!!Also my Father worked at both Salmesbury (Preston) and Strand Rd in Preston when He left the Royal Air Force where He served as a Fitter etc at R.A.F. Honiton(U.K)And overseas in Malta...Proud to say my Father worked on Valiants and Canberras(Malta) and Canberras etc at Salmesbury(Preston)Always had a love for the V Force,, Lightnings Canberras and All of the other Great British Aircraft!,,!!!NOT FORGETTING THE T.S.R.2❤❤❤.!!! OUR GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT!! Quashed by Harold Wilson and Dennis Healeys TREACHEROUS CANCELLATION PLANS!!!😡😡🤬🤬🤬

@rodkyle9081 7 months ago

As a young lad I saw them on a daily basis... in the village of Litlington, flying out of RAF Bassingbourn! Then again during my army service in Germany in the early 60s flying as a night spotters during NATO exercises and finally at Maralinga in the Oz outback. As usual... we sold off, failed to upgrade or scrapped, all the good stuff we made.

@Airplane1anthony 8 months ago

Well done Joe on part three love it

@BobBurns-z5s 8 months ago

That was an amazing compilation of the Canberra in American and Australian service.loved the Miss Australia marshalling them home for the last time,bless all the brave crews.