Douglas B-66 Destroyer

Douglas · United States · first flew 1954 · bomber

The Douglas B-66 Destroyer was a light bomber developed for the USAF from the Navy's A-3 Skywarrior, adapted with different engines, systems, and a lighter structure. It served primarily in reconnaissance and electronic warfare variants.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Mid-mounted, swept
E — Engines	2 × turbojet, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	22.9 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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Spot it by:

Twin pod-mounted turbojets under swept mid-wing
Derived from Navy A3D Skywarrior but lightened for Air Force use
Used mainly as EB-66 electronic warfare aircraft in Vietnam

Similar in profile to the A-3 Skywarrior but with a more slender fuselage and canopy; the two underwing turbojet pods and swept mid-wing are characteristic.

Specifications

The Douglas B-66 Destroyer has a length of 22.9 m (75 ft).
It has a wingspan of 22.1 m (73 ft).
Its maximum speed is 1015 km/h (631 mph).
Typical crew: 3.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

First flown in 1954, the B-66 entered service with Tactical Air Command as a tactical light bomber. While the bombing role was short-lived, the RB-66 reconnaissance and EB-66 electronic warfare variants proved highly valuable, seeing extensive use during the Vietnam War.

Variants

Variants include the B-66B bomber, RB-66B and RB-66C reconnaissance types, and the EB-66C/E electronic warfare aircraft; the WB-66D was used for weather reconnaissance.

Where you'll see it

The EB-66 served prominently in the Vietnam War suppressing North Vietnamese air defences, and the type equipped several USAF tactical wings throughout its service life into the early 1970s.

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