At the dawn of the Cold War, in an unprecedented move, the United States Air Force chose to license a foreign aircraft for its front-line bomber fleet. The aircraft was the revolutionary British-designed English Electric Canberra. Re-engineered for American production by the Glenn L. Martin Company, it was reborn as the Martin B-57 Canberra, an aircraft destined for a long and storied career that would take it from the battlefields of Vietnam to the edge of space.This Dronescapes documentary explores the incredible versatility of the B-57. We begin by examining its role as a potent tactical bomber and night intruder, particularly during the Vietnam War. Flying low and fast through the dark, the B-57 became a feared presence, pioneering night attack missions and serving as a testbed for advanced munitions and sensor systems. Its rugged airframe and powerful performance made it a reliable and effective warhorse in one of the most demanding conflicts of the 20th century.However, the Canberra’s greatest contributions were often made in complete secrecy. Its remarkable high-altitude performance made it the perfect platform for the next evolution in warfare: strategic reconnaissance. We delve into the development of the specialized spy variants, the RB-57D and the extreme, long-winged RB-57F. These aircraft flew clandestine missions at altitudes above 60,000 feet along the borders of the Soviet Union and China, gathering priceless photographic and electronic intelligence. They were a crucial, but often overlooked, bridge between the converted bombers of the past and the purpose-built spy planes of the future. The WB-57 variant continues this legacy even today, serving with NASA as a high-altitude research aircraft.** SPECIAL BONUS FEATURE: DECLASSIFIED U-2 & AREA 51 DOCUMENTARY **The story of high-altitude espionage reaches its zenith with the aircraft that replaced the RB-57: the legendary Lockheed U-2 “Dragon Lady.” To give you the complete picture of Cold War spy plane development, we are proud to include a RARE, RESTORED, AND UPSCALED documentary from the era at the conclusion of our B-57 feature.This declassified film is a time capsule, offering an unprecedented look inside the world’s most mysterious and secret military installation: AREA 51, located at Groom Lake, Nevada. Produced in the 1950s to document the ultra-secret “Project AQUATONE,” this film showcases the earliest days of the U-2 program, led by the brilliant Kelly Johnson and his legendary “Skunk Works” team.This is a two-part historical journey, from the battlefields of Vietnam with the B-57 to the top-secret birthplace of the U-2 at Area 51.If you are a fan of aviation history, Cold War espionage, and the secrets of military technology, please LIKE this video and SUBSCRIBE to Dronescapes.What do you find more fascinating—the B-57’s combat versatility, or the top-secret development of the U-2 at Area 51? Let us know in the COMMENTS below!