Yes indeed, I liked my Cranberry a lot better than the F-4. I must admit, though, it might have been jealousy. I've always had a low blood pressure, I couldn't take the G's in the Phantom. Did get to play with one a couple of times, had I been assigned to drive the things I would probably have loved them too. Yes, the B-57 (USA versions) of all types except the D and F models would wipe the back of an F-4 with no effort, if you could keeep the Ghost in a turning contest. If the F-4 got to fighting speed, 400-450, you were toasted in the Canberra. BUT if you had a D model '57, and a five minute head start, the Phantom might be able to take one "Zoom" pass before you got to 65,000 feet, still climbing. Once you got UP, all you had to worry about was the rising stall speed and the lowering Mach speed. Sometimes it was like a tight rope. Stay above stall, and below Mach. It was worse with the "F" model, which was a four engined variant. Just about the only thing I really liked about the "Sled," the YF-12 just kept going. Mach? Never noticed it. Stall? Wuzzat? Something to eat? But the thing would not turn. You've heard about the supertankers taking 100 miles to turn around? Same thing. The only way to approach a rapid turn was roll to 90, yank, and wait. That's the way you do the Phantom also, of course without the wait, the Phantom would come right around. BUT, if you did too much your speed went to zilch, you and your Ghost became real ghosts. The sled didn't slow down, the Cranberry also kept going and wiped the F-4.
I am sure you are right, Easytiger, there are probably several Sleds still operational, hidden somewhere, the SR versions.
David Gladwin, A little birdie told me that you quit "Eating Cranberries" and became a fancy bus driver. Any truth in that? And did you ever get a chance to play with a Martin '57, or were yours all EE?

Twins are IN!

WLR