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Shaw Recon Record
Friday,
22 February 1957
"Shaw Aircraft Breaks Transcontinental Record"
"Flight From
McClellan to Shaw AFB
Completed Non-Stop Without Refueling" "A
crew of the 9th TRS made the fastest recorded non-stop flight of an RB-66 without
inflight refueling, from McClellan AFB, Calif., to Shaw AFB while on a routine
training mission.
The
aircraft making the flight is a sister ship to the "City of Sumter,"
the first RB-66 to arrive at Shaw.
Powered by two Allison J-71 turbo-jet engines,
the RB-66 is the reconnaissance a version of the B-66 tactical jet bomber. It
is classed in the 600-700 mile-per-hour category and has an operational altitude
of over 40,000 feet.
The RB-66 mission is to obtain visual, electronic and
photographic intelligence for use by air and ground commanders in a theater of
operations. This includes information about enemy installations, line of communications
and deployment of forces and equipment, and other intelligence vital to the successful
conduct of air and ground warfare.
The RB-66 is equipped for both day and
night operations in any kind of weather. It has a wing span of 72 feet long, is
75 feet long, and is armed with twin 20mm cannons in a tail turret.
The reconnaissance
version of TAC's newest bomber, with Capt Arthur F. Smith, as aircraft commander,
completed the 2,300 mile coast to coast flight in three hours and 27 minutes,
according to Lieutenant Colonel Robert G. Williams, squadron commander.
The
aircraft took advantage of tail winds of a high-altitude jet stream in setting
the new speed record. Navigator on the flight was Scott E. Wilson of the 363rd
TRG.
Also on the flight were Captain R. Rodriguez, First
Lieutenant Paul E. Duplessis,
S/Sgt Joseph L. Melton, A/2C
James G. Wills, and A/2C Richard L. Jackson
electronic technicians. Crew Chief is T/Sgt Tyrus Newman."
Record Breaking Crew
Left to right:
T/Sgt Tyrus Newman, Capt Arthur F. Smith, S/Sgt Joseph L. Melton,
A/2C Richard
L. Jackson, A/2C James G. Wills, 1/Lt Paul E. Duplessis,
Capt R. Rodriguez,
and Capt Scott E. Wilson.
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