Luftwaffe Canberras

[Akrotiri bad boy]

I was tootling past Lossie last week and my mind drifted back to my formative years there. I spent the late '70's tinkering on the Jags of 226 OCU, polishing Prince Andy's Bulldog, (I don't think that's legal anymore), and watching various aircraft pass through the hands of the chaps on VASS: Nord Noratlas; A3 Skywarrior; and orange Canberras.

These German Canberras were regular visitors but I never found out what role they were employed in. Does any fellow Ppruner know what these aircraft were up to and indeed, do thay still operate?

Thanks in advance :8

[Actuals]

ABB

If memory serves... there were three such Canberra operated by the Luftwaffe until at least the mid 1980's by a geo-survey mapping unit.
(Militarische Geographisches).

The aircraft were B.2 /B.6 conversions which were delivered following R.A.F.retirement and painted in a dayglo scheme.

Hope this helps...

[By George]

That makes sense, there is a bright orange Canberra on a pole at the Sinsheim Museum Southern Germany in Luftwaffe markings ( 99 +36 ). It has tip tanks and looks like a B2 to me.

[Entaxei]

http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae142/Entaxei2/PRUNE/HPIM0267.jpg?t=1272286597Disclaimer - this is a first try - please be a'patient!

http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae142/Entaxei2/PRUNE/th_HPIM0291.jpg


As you may have guessed the first two are testers !! :ok:


http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae142/Entaxei2/PRUNE/LUFTWAFFECANBERRABOSCOMBEC198512-1.jpg?t=1272285145

[Entaxei]

Try again!!

http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae142/Entaxei2/PRUNE/th_LUFTWAFFECANBERRANOSEBOSCOMBEC19-1.jpg

[proteus6]

If I remember correctly they were employed on transport to golf course duties and whisky export:ok:

[proteus6]

I was there from 1979 to 1982, I remember them about 81

[tornadoken]

E-Stelle 61, Manching, Bavaria (1987: WTD61) is Germany's "Boscombe Down". Marshall's of Cambridge converted ex-RAF Canberra B.2s for them in 1966:
- WK130 as YA+152, delivered 10/66; later, 00+01, D9569 DFVLR, Oberpfaffenhofen, FRG's "Farnborough", 1972 for high-altitude research, atmospheric research, antennae and remote sensing; then with the Mil.Geographisches Amt. Wahn, then back to E-61 as 99+36; from 1984 displayed at Sinsheim Museum;
- WK137 as YA+152, 00+02, D9566; 1976: E-61 as 99+34, active to 1993, current at Schwenningen Museum;
- WK138 as YA+153,00+03, D9567; 1976: E-61 as 99+35, active to 1991, current at Gatow Museum.

(shocking WT error corrected 3/5 at prompting of BB,#15 with apologies)

[Tim Mills]

My first job as a civilian after leaving Her Majesty's employ was flying dayglow painted Canberras for Rheinflugzeugbau, based at Cologne airport, which had been RAF Wahn in earlier days. While on my CPL course someone came round looking for ex Canberra pilots, and it sounded more interesting than the air taxi or instrucional flying then in the offing.
We then had two British pilots, the navigators all being Luftwaffe, as was the boss. Later first one, then myself, were replaced by German civilian pilots. But not before I had managed another few hundred happy hours of Canberra flying, on photo survey within Germany, radar calibration for the military radars, and several trips to such places as Yeovilton, St Mawgan, Deccimammanu (if I remember correctly), Naples, and a Greek military airfield, never, though, do I remember going to Lossie.
Great fun, and we all got on very well. Then when I had to make way for a German pilot, I had to upgrade to ATPL, and get a proper job on the Falcon 20 and HS 125 flying out of LHR, and occasionally managing to get back to Cologne and visit my old friends. Those were the days.

[Hedgestumbler]

There was an incident over Aberdeen in 1980 involving a F27 and a Luftwaffe Canberra. I happened to be looking out of the window at the time, and I clearly remember the orange-painted Canberra passing at low level in a steep bank. As far as I remember, questions were asked in Parliament about this one. Anyone know where to find a copy of the air-miss report ?

[Amos Keeto]

On the subject of colour these Canberras wore, they were initially silver overall, but repainted orange (not dayglo, just plain orange) overall in the mid '70s. Towards the end of their careers, spares were getting short and the RAF donated a set of wings from a former Canberra TT.18 once operated by 100 Squadron. If their role wasn't confusing enough, this German Canberra continued to fly with its new set of wings, still with the target-tug yellow/black stripes painted beneath them, but the aircraft had nothing to do with target-towing! :rolleyes:

[By George]

Thanks Tim, that was an interesting post. English aeroplane with an English pilot, German nav and a Luftwaffe colour scheme flying to the UK! One of my prime destinations with my employer is Frankfurt where I fly them home from their Asian holidays. My dear old Dad used to bomb them and I am married to one. What a funny funny world.

[goudie]

Simple question. Why were they painted in such a distinctive orange?

[Brewster Buffalo]

My reference book has the three as B2s WK 130, WK 137 and WK 138?
WK 130's role from 1968-70, when transferred from Erprobungstalle61, was "special duties" ;)

[Less Hair]

German MoD/Luftwaffe link with pictures:

This link gets changed to their opening page all the time. So please copy and paste the adress between the arrows from below.


<<http://www.geschichte.luftwaffe.de/portal/a/geschlw/kcxml/04_Sj9SPykssy0xPLMnMz0vM0Y_QjzKLNwyL9_AIAMmB2e5eTvqRcNGglFR9 X4_83FR9b_0A_YLciHJHR0VFALXgZws!/delta/base64xml/L3dJdyEvd0ZNQUFzQUMvNElVRS82XzFWX0hIUQ!!>>

or you just search for "Sonderflugzeuge" and "Canberra" at "Waffen und Technik".

[Tim Mills]

Yes 'By George', as you say, funny old world. My father was boss of a Wimpey squadron at the beginning of the war, so he did the odd sortie to Heligoland and the like.
And Amos, I used dayglow loosely, the orange seemed to match the colour of the bands around the booms of our Vampire T11s, and the nose if I remember right, which we called Dayglow Orange, but maybe that was more reflective when first applied. The Canberras were orange when I first flew them in mid 1973.
Goudie, hello again, I think the orange colour was to show up better than silver, for instance, particularly in low visibility, like the dayglow orange on training command aircraft at the time. Had to behave yourself though, could be recognised anywhere!

[goudie]

Thanks for that Tim. Guessed it was for good recognition purposes, was rather surprised that it was an all over job rather than distinctive bands on wings and fuselage.
Trust you're keeping well.

[Jig Peter]

That shot of a Luyftwaffe Orange B2 shows just how smoooooooth the Canberra was - the last RAF aircraft I flew, and leaving great memories (of crews and freinds too ... ) Specs misted up, signing off
Jig Peter

:):):)

[Tim Mills]

I agree, Jig Peter, they don't make them like that any more! It was the last military aircraft I flew, and as I have said, I was very glad to have the chance to have another go eight years after my real Canberra tour in Cyprus.
I notice we are of similar vintage, a good one, so may have crossed paths at some time.
My other favourite was the Hunter, though I only managed a few hours on that, owing to Duncan Sandys and his axe.

[Nimman]

Just to add to post 9, GAF Canberra B2 99+35 made its last flight on 27 May 1993 from its home base at Manching and landed at RAF Gatow. According to the then Dep Stn Cdr, it was the first touch down of a non transport military aircraft at Gatow since 1949. (Air Int Aug 1993 refers).

[wdecker]

I used to work from beginning of 1972- end of 82 at Rheinflugzeugbau Moenchengladbach and Cologne-Bonn Airport. The 3 Canberra's were operated and maintained from Cologne-Bonn Airport. We also maintained our Sea Fury's at Cologne-Bonn. Our OV 10 B's and Pembroke were maintained in Moenchengladbach. I was an Electrician. The Canberra's were used for Aerial Mapping and Electronic Surveilance along the East German Border. We used the Fury's and OV 10's for Tow Targeting. I spend some great times with the OV 10's at Decimomannu, Sardinia. Live now for 30+ in Vancouver, Canada. I think the last Canberra of the 3 was retired in the early nineties.
I worked here in Avionics at Vancouver Airport For CP Air and Canadian Airlines.
Thanks,
Wolfgang Decker