Ellsworth Air Force Base in Pennington County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
EB-57B Canberra
The Friendly Enemy
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 20, 2026
1. EB-57B Canberra Marker
During the Cold War, this plane pretended to be the enemy. Its bomb bay held electronics that made it appear on radar like a Soviet bomber trying to sneak into U.S. airspace. An Electronic Warfare Officer in the back seat jammed signals and dropped chaff to disguise its position. On training missions, Air Force or Air National Guard radar operators and interceptor pilots practiced locating this "friendly enemy." American and Canadian Ground Intercept Controllers interpreted rate data and dispatched interceptors.
WHY IS IT NAMED AFTER THE CAPITAL OF AUSTRALIA?
A British company, English Electric, designed the Canberra as a light bomber, and sold versions around the world. They named the plane in honor of their first export customer: Australia. In America.. B-57s were built under license by the Glenn L. Martin Company. Americans had their own nickname for it: the "Cranberry."
The Canberra was famous for flying extremely high. This Royal Australian Air Force Canberra is showing how low it can go.
American and Canadian Ground Intercept Controllers interpreted radar data and dispatched interceptors.
Our
this page online
DATA CARD
Top Speed · 610
Crew · 2
Range · Continental
Payload · Electronic transmitters and jammers
Erected by South Dakota Air and Space Museum.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Communications • War, Cold • War, Vietnam. In addition, it is included in the South Dakota Air and Space Museum series list.
Location. 44° 8.044′ N, 103° 4.328′ W. Marker is in Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, in Pennington County. Marker and aircraft are on static display at the South Dakota Air and Space Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2890 Davis Drive, Ellsworth AFB SD 57706, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in West River, in the Badlands, and in Greater Rapid City. It is also in the American Lewis & Clark Corridor, on the prairies, and on the Northern Plains. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 20, 2026
2. EB-57B Canberra and Marker
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A-26A/B-26K Counter Invader (within shouting distance of this marker); C-47 Skytrain (within shouting distance of this marker); F-86H Sabre (within shouting distance of this marker); C-131D Samaritan (within shouting distance of this marker); T-33A Shooting Star (within shouting distance of this marker); UH-1F Iroquois (within shouting distance of this marker); F-101B Voodoo (within shouting distance of this marker); F-84F Thunderstreak (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ellsworth Air Force Base.
Regarding EB-57B Canberra. Although an official field museum of the US Air Force Heritage Program and is adjacent to Ellsworth AFB main gate, the museum does not require access onto the base.
B-57 variants served in theater during the Vietnam War, although the EB-57 variant primarily served post-Vietnam.
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 20, 2026
3. EB-57B Canberra
Credits. This page was last revised on October 7, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 7, 2026, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 6 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 7, 2026, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
