RB-66C S/N 54-451 (or -541) Shot down March 10, 1964

[CrewDawg]

I need some help from the WIX brain trust. I'm trying to find out which tail number it was and any other info or photos that might be available. Joe Baugher's website says 54-451 and this new http://www.millionmonkeytheater.com/B-66.html says it's 541.

My dad was the crew chief on this aircraft and experienced the sick feeling when your plane doesn't come back from a mission. It was shot down by an East German Mig-19 after it crossed over the border due to an instrument malfunction. It was assigned to the 10th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, 42nd Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (although some sources say it was assigned to the 19th TRS) based at Toul Rosieres Air Base in France. The three crew members, David Holland, Melvin Kessler and Harold Welch ejected and were guests of East Germany for a few days until they were released.

From the 42nd TRS Wikipedia page:

The parent 10th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing was assigned to RAF Alconbury. A shortage of facilities at Alconbury led to the 42d being stationed at RAF Chelveston, about 20 miles west of Alconbury, where it remained as a detachment of the 10th TRW. In 1962 the runway at Chevelston was closed, and the squadron operated out of Toul-Rosieres AB, France, where it operated for a few years as Det #1, 10th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing. On 10 March 1964, a 42d TRS RB-66C deployed to Toul was shot down over East Germany after it crossed over the border due to an instrument malfunction. The crew ejected and were taken prisoner briefly before being released.

I believe that it was assigned to the 42nd TRS, since my dad was based at Toul, in fact my oldest sister was born there. Unfortunately my dad is no longer around so I can't pick his brain on this little piece of history. I'm just curious if there might be any chance of determining which tail number it really was and getting any photos of this plane or any other information on it. I've looked all over the web and I can't even find a veterans group for the 10th TRW or the 19th TRS.

The moral of the story is to talk to the vets you know (especially if they're your dad) and learn their story and their history because once they're gone, it's gone.

Thanks in advance.

[Mark Allen M]

A quick google search has some info here ...

http://www.spyflight.co.uk/rb66.htm

[CrewDawg]

Thanks so much! Your Google works better than mine! Great information!

[Mark Allen M]

Your much welcome. I'll post a few photos of 541 tomorrow when I fire up the PC. Too much of a pain with my IPad right now.

M

[CH2Tdriver]

The crew ejected?

Wasn't the B-66 the same as the A3D which did not have ejection seats? Was this an AF mod?

[Cubs]

The crew ejected?

Wasn't the B-66 the same as the A3D which did not have ejection seats? Was this an AF mod?

The B-66 series aircraft all had upward firing ejection seats.
The top of the fuselage had 3 hinged hatches.

[JohnB]

Wasn't the B-66 the same as the A3D which did not have ejection seats? Was this an AF mod?

Not a mod (the modification of an existing airframe)...no, the B-66s were built with ejection seats.
Despite similar looks, the B-66 was a very different airframe than the A-3.