Brilliant Heimdall a great piece of work. I have also read that at the start of 1953 while English Electric were producing the Canberra B2. They had a visit from Richard Bissell, who was the CIA's head in charge of overflights. He asked the boffins if they could make the wings longer in the hope that it would increase the cieling. The boffins were pretty sure that their wing design was nigh on perfect, but arranged for six, more powerful engines to be installed on three of the B2's on the production line. To their amasement the cieling went from 48,000ft to 65,000ft These B2's were WH726, WJ573 & WJ574. They converted all thee to a Photo Reconnaissance roll & installed extra fuel tanks in the bomb bay of WH726. WH726 was flown to Hanscom Field in the US & had the 100inch camera fitted. When they got back to England, they did a trial run up the English Channel & took very high quality photographs of the Streets of London !!
A few reports say that WH726 flew to Kaputin Yar at between 46,000 and 48,000ft. Soviet Air Force Lieutenant Mikhail Shulga was vectored to intercept the Canberra & stated that he was flying at 48,000ft & could see the Canberra several thousand feet above him but his Mig-15 was stalling. He said "and nothing came of it". Some other reports say that WH726 was shot at & hit, but this seems to dispell that. I also think that the Canberra was flying at 60,000ft or more. A Russian defector, who in 1953 served as an Air Defence Operator recalls that the Canberra incedent was an absolute farce as some Mig-15's were incorrectly vectored and the Pilots were confused and started firing at each other.