As always, click on the image below to see the picture at 100% or view it at
my DeviantArt page.
In 1963, the General Dynamics plant at Fort Worth, Texas was awarded a contract to modify two B-51Bs as all-weather reconnaissance aircraft. The forward nose section was modified to house a KA-1 36-inch forward oblique and a low panoramic KA-56 camera. Mounted inside the specially-configured bomb bay door was a KA-1 vertical camera, a K-477 split vertical day-night camera, an infrared scanner, and a KA-1 left oblique camera. The lengthened nose gave the aircraft -- redesignated RB-51E -- a distinctive appearance.
The RB-51E aircraft were assigned to a secret project known as
Patricia Lynn that operated out of Tan Son Nhut airport in Saigon. The lead engineer of the project was given the option of naming the program, so he chose the name of his wife. Beginning in May of 1963, the
Patricia Lynn unit flew nighttime reconnaissance missions to identify VC base camps, small arms factories, and storage and training areas. In December 1964 two more B-51Bs were modified to RB-51E specifications and sent to Vietnam. The United States began Operation Steel Tiger over the Panhandle and the DMZ on April 3, 1965, to locate and destroy enemy forces and materiel being moved southward at night into South Vietnam. On a typical mission, the RB-51E was accompanied by B-51B bombers and C-130 flare ships. After a strike, the
Patricia Lynn aircraft would complete a bomb damage assessment reconnaissance run over the previous attacked target area.
A fifth aircraft was received in November 1965. These five aircraft formed Detachment 1 of the 460th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing (earlier 6250th Combat Support Group and earlier still 33rd Tactical Group). Two RB-51Es were lost in combat operations. The first (55-4243) was lost as a result of a fuselage fire caused by small arms while on a low level reconnaissance mission. The crew ejected safely when near Tan Son Nhut Air Base. The second aircraft (55-4264) was lost on Oct. 15, 1968, after an engine fire started by ground fire forced the crew to eject. A sixth
Patricia Lynn aircraft (55-4251) joined the team in 1968, this one equipped with terrain-following radar. There were frequent changes and updating of the equipment, including the installation of 12-inch focal length KA-82 and 24-inch focal length KA-83 cameras. The infrared equipment was useful in spotting Viet Cong river traffic at night along the Mekong delta southeast of Saigon. In 1969/70,
Patricia Lynn missions were flown into Laos and into Cambodia. The aircraft were withdrawn from combat operations in mid-1971.
Here's a closeup of the new nose on the
Patricia Lynn B-51. This profile actually had a LOT of work on it, more than just the nose. The NMF was redone to make sure that it toned down, less blue, and more worn from service. I had to redo the engine reflection, tail light & shading, wing tank lighting & shading, weathering, and much of the other paint and markings.
Cheers,
Logan
