The B-66 was developed for the United States Air Force (USAF) and is derivative of the United States Navy's A-3 Skywarrior, a heavy carrier-based attack aircraft. Officials intended for the aircraft to be a simple development of the earlier A-3, taking advantage of being strictly land-based to dispense with unnecessary naval features.

DAYTON, Ohio -- Douglas RB-66B Destroyer at the National Museum of the United States Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo) The B-66 was developed from the U.S. Navy A3D Skywarrior as a tactical light bomber and photo reconnaissance aircraft.

Jul 13, 2018 · The Douglas B-66 Destroyer was developed during the early 1950s for the US Air Force as a jet-powered replacement for the World War II-vintage Douglas A-26 Invader, the North American B-45 Tornado, and the Martin B-57 Canberra.

Oct 3, 2023 · Requiring a successor for their aging Douglas A-26 Invader fleet, the United States Air Force (USAF) contracted with the Douglas Aviation Company to secure a land-based light tactical bomber variant of the carrier-based A-3 Skywarrior in …

Jul 1, 2020 · Before the U.S. military had satellites or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) such as the RQ-4 Global Hawk surveillance drone to keep an eye on its adversaries, it relied on aircraft such as the...

The Douglas B-66 Destroyer was a light bomber developed by Douglas Aircraft Company. Introduced in 1956, it was primarily built for the United States Air Force (USAF) and mainly derived from the jet-powered strategic bomber A-3 Skywarrior. The B-66 was powered by twin Allison turbojet engines rated at 10,200 lbf…

Apr 23, 2024 · Named “the Destroyer” (despite never destroying anything), the Douglas B-66 was a light bomber derived from the A-3 Skywarrior and built for the U.S. Air Force. While the A-3 was a carrier-based...

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- Former B-66 Destroyer aircrew members and pilots came together for a reunion here, Aug. 30. Retired Lt. Col. James Weir, former B-66 navigator, arranged a tour for approximately 100 veterans to see the changes that …

The US Air Force acquired a derivative, the "B-66", which also served with distinction in bomber, reconnaissance, and electronic warfare roles. This document provides a history and description of the A3D and B-66 -- as well as of the A3D's predecessor in …

May 8, 2023 · A lineal descendant of one of the largest naval carrier-borne aircraft ever made, the B-66 went through a wasteful re-design project before being accepted into the United States Air Force service during the 1950s.