RB-57A CMI Package_2025_signed.pdf
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This document is a Color, Markings, and Insignia (CMI) Package for a Martin RB-57A Canberra aircraft at the Hill Aerospace Museum, dated January 2025. The package details the historical significance of the specific aircraft (serial number 52-1492), which participated in three Cold War-era photo reconnaissance programs: Project HEART THROB (Soviet territory overflights), Project SHARP CUT, and Project SWITCH BLADE. The document proposes a paint scheme transitioning from the aircraft's current semi-gloss black configuration to a white over black scheme representative of its final operational appearance.
The proposed paint scheme includes specific requirements for fuselage, wing, and stabilizer coloration, with gloss black on bottom surfaces and gloss white on top surfaces, featuring a "scalloped" demarcation line. Detailed specifications cover USAF markings, including insignia red lettering for "USAF" and "U.S. AIR FORCE", national insignia in full color, and precise placement of aircraft data blocks and warning indicators. The document is signed by the Director of the Hill Aerospace Museum and the Director of History & Heritage Directorate at HQ Air Force Materiel Command, indicating official approval for the restoration and painting project.
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Hill Aerospace Museum Martin RB-57A Canberra - CMI Package, January 2025
Hill Aerospace Museum
Color, Markings, and Insignia Package
Martin RB-57A Canberra
I. BACKGROUND.
The Martin B-57 Canberra was a medium, twin-jet bomber based on the original Canberra design by the English-Electric Company of Great Britain.
Hill Air Force Base maintained and, for a short time (1955-56), supported B-57 operations with the 461st Tactical Bombardment Wing.
The RB-57A assigned to the Hill Aerospace Museum participated in three different photo-reconnaissance programs from 1955 to 1962:
- Project HEART THROB: Overflight of Soviet territory in Eastern Europe and Eastern
Soviet Union
- Project SHARP CUT: Peripheral photo reconnaissance mission using 240in focal-length camera in the bomb bay
- Project SWITCH BLADE: Peripheral photo reconnaissance missions using the same bomb bay camera as SHARP CUT but in the North Korea/China area of operations
The RB-57A assigned to this Museum (52-1492) is even more unique for the following reasons:
- Last RB-57A to come off the assembly line, 1955
- First HEART THROB-configured RB-57A to be delivered to the 7407th Support
Squadron (USAFE), 1955
- Only RB-57A HEART THROB modified to the SHARP CUT standard for USAFE,
- Only RB-57A modified/overhauled for SWITCH BLADE standard (PACAF, 6091st
Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron), 1962
II. CURRENT CONFIGURATION.
Currently, this airframe is painted as it served with the 7407th Support Squadron/7499th Support
Group in 1955 for Operation HEART THROB. It is overall semi-gloss black with insignia red lettering and full-color national insignias. See figure 1 on following page.
Figure 1: Overall view of current RB-57A configuration
III. PROPOSED PAINT SCHEME.
Because this RB-57A has such a unique history (the only SHARP CUT aircraft), we propose that the aircraft be presented in its final operational paint scheme of white over black as seen in figure
2.
Overall Scheme:
Fuselage:
- Bottom (fuselage, horizontal stabilizers, wings) gloss black (see figures 2, 3 & 4)
- Top (fuselage, horizontal stabilizers, wings) gloss white (see figure 2) o “Scalloped” demarcation line (see figures 3 & 4)
- Anti-glare panel, forward of canopy, flat black (see figure 6)
- Aircraft data block: (as per figure 6, callout B) o US AIR FORCE RB-57A
AF SERIAL NO. 52-1492
SERVICE THIS AIRCRAFT WITH
GRADE JP-4 FUEL
- Crew entry door right side nose (see figure 9) insignia red
Vertical Stabilizer and rudder:
- gloss black (both sides)
Other USAF Markings (see figures 5, 6 & 7):
- Insignia Red: “USAF” top and bottom of wings
- “U.S. AIR FORCE” (both sides of forward fuselage)
- Warnings and walkways
- Tail number
National Markings (see figures 5 & 6):
- Full color (insignia red, insignia white, insignia blue)
Figure 2: Proposed scheme from Project SWITCH BLADE (History of Big Safari)
Figure 3: Representative overall paint scheme graphic showing “scalloped” demarcation line on
Republic of China Air Force RB-57D (letletlet-warplanes.com)
Figure 4: Additional underside view of proposed paint scheme on RB-57D (USAF photo)
Figure 5: Wing top walkway placement (USAF photo)
Figure 6: National insignia and US Air Force marking locations (note turbine warning stripes on engine nacelles)
Figure 7: Markings locations and color reference
NOT USED
FS 11136
Figure 8: Forward fuselage markings
Figure 9: Crew entry door markings
Figure 10: Standard lettering style used on USAF aircraft, from USAF T.O. 1-1-4
Mr. Aaron Clark Date
Director, Hill Aerospace Museum
Hill AFB, UT
Mr. R. Ray Ortensie Date
Director, History & Heritage Directorate
HQ Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
5 Feb 2025
5 Feb 2025
References:
1. Gordon, Doug, “Tactical Reconnaissance in the Cold War, 2006, Pen & Sword Books
Ltd.
2. Grimes, Bill Colonel, USAF. The History of Big Safari, 2014, Archway Publishing.
3. Hopkins, Robert III, Spyflights and Overflights: US Strategic Aerial Reconnaissance
Volume I, 1945-1960, 2016, Hikoki Publications.
4. National Reconnaissance Office, Early Cold War Overflights Symposium Procedings, Volume I 1955-1956, 2003, US Government Printing Office.
5. United States Air Force, T.O. 1-1-636 Exterior Finishes, Insignia, and Markings
Applicable to USAF aircraft, 1956.
6. http://www.letletlet-warplanes.com/ /2019/02/09/martin-b-57, Accessed January 2025.
File details come from the government source that posted it. Updated .