Corgi AA34702 Martin RB-57A Canberra United States Air Force 21457 363rd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, Shaw AFB, South Carolina, USA 1954

This item has a limited edition certificate included.

The first operational unit to re-equip with the RB-57A was the 363rd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing (TRW) which was stationed at Shaw AFB in South Carolina. The 363rd TRW reached initial operational capability in July of 1954. The 363rd TRW's operational readiness was short-lived. A problem soon appeared with the J65-BW-5 engines, which tended to burn oil and fill up the cockpit with smoke. This problem caused an additional production delay, and for a while in 1954, many completed B-57s were sitting on the ramp at Middle River awaiting engines. Production of the engine finally reverted back to the Wright Aeronautical Corporation as the J65-W-1. The last of 67 RB-57As was accepted by the USAF in September of 1954. Operationally, they were hampered by their high accident rate, which caused the RB-57As to be grounded for much of 1955. The service of the RB-57A with the USAF was destined to be relatively brief. Beginning in April of 1957, the 10th TRW began to re-equip with the the Douglas RB-66B Destroyer. However, it was not until November 1958 that the final RB-57A was relinquished by the 10th TRW. 1:72 scale Martin RB-57A features detailed livery, clear canopies, working bomb bay doors with authentic bomb load and fully detailed crew.