Canberra PR.7 WH779

[WH779]

Hi All,

I'm trying to find Ex or present aircrew that flew In Canberra PR.7 WH779... Any stories that your willing to share will be a Great Help with her history.

Best Regards,

Darren Green (owner of 779's cockpit)

www.wh779.webs.com (http://www.wh779.webs.com)

[NutLoose]

Would just like to say what an excellent site, you have done it proud.

[Molesworth]

Hi Darren,
Replied on your 'contact me' page on your website.

[goudie]

Lovely job. Well done!

[John Farley]

I only flew the PR7 prototype but a range of 1000nm looks very low.

JF

[Rossian]

...but does anyone know if Bruce Bull is still with us? I'm sure he'd have flown it, as he seemed to have flown every Canberra the RAF ever had.

The Ancient Mariner

[A2QFI]

Having not flown a PR3 or 7 since 1961 my memories are hazy at best! However, with the front 1/2 of the bomb bay converted to an extra fuel tank it certainly went further than the bomber. It is not clear whether figures being mentioned include the use of wing tip tanks. However, the figures I have found for range are 1000 miles and 2000 miles! This seems to me to be 1000 miles out and back or 2000 miles A to B.

[Vick Van Guard]

If I am reading the movement card correctly, it became a GI airframe in 1971, but then was declared effective again, five years later, and re-entered service for another ten years. That must be pretty unusual?

[Lima Juliet]

Now you've fitted the nose wheel, just the wings, fuselage, tail and main wheels to go then :ok:

[spectre150]

If my failing memory serves me correctly this is one of the 2 (or 3?) PR7s that were transferred to tatty ton when 13 Sqn disbanded (around 1982?). I remember flying a few sorties in those jets before they were scrapped/sold to friendly countries. My log books are in boxes but I will see what I can find - we had them right at the end of their RAF flying careers.

[Tinribs]

Nice to see Canberra bits being kept for the interested to see

I flew most of the Canberra types by being on squadrons and as the TP at Aldergrove were major servicing was done. I then went to RAE for my last 4 years. The story gets a bit more tricky

Many of the RAE aircraft were made up fom bits and used for specific trials before components and re-used
For example 774 was used on harpoon trials

All the early Canberras could be split at the transport joint and joined with other components. The 9 did not have a transport joint and so was outside this area but was used in the SC9 which was not a conversion but especially manufactured for the role

You may find on examination that lots of bits of 779 are arround on other frames

[Antimony]

PR7 St Athan to Akrotiri. 5.05 2100 nms. Don't remember being pushed for fuel.

[WH779]

NutLoose Would just like to say what an excellent site, you have done it proud.


Thank You :)

[WH779]

spectre150If my failing memory serves me correctly this is one of the 2 (or 3?) PR7s that were transferred to tatty ton when 13 Sqn disbanded (around 1982?). I remember flying a few sorties in those jets before they were scrapped/sold to friendly countries. My log books are in boxes but I will see what I can find - we had them right at the end of their RAF flying careers.




http://i535.photobucket.com/albums/ee359/aeropark/779movementcard003.jpg

[WH779]

Hi All...

For all you Ex Canberra guys this is a great Forum for you Canberra Crazy (http://www.canberracrazy.co.uk)

I'm on this forum as WH779 were I post all my updates on 779... :)

[MMHendrie1]

It's good to see that the memory of the faithful PR7 is alive and well and that WH779 is being cared for in such good hands. I flew WH779 from RAF Luqa on a number of occasions during my tour with XIII (PR) Squadron. I'll dig out my logbook. Many happy memories of a great tour and so many distant places.

My longest sortie in a PR7 (not WH779) was from KAF Eastleigh (Nairobi) to Cairo, a distance of about 5200 miles, taking 5 hours and 5 minutes. Then a quick aircrew turnround and back to Malta. XIII Squadron did not operate the PR7 with tip tanks in those days. No autopilot either!

Keep up the good work WH779!

[MMHendrie1]

Ooops! Of course I meant 2200 miles. Apologies all....

[WH779]

MMHendrie1It's good to see that the memory of the faithful PR7 is alive and well and that WH779 is being cared for in such good hands. I flew WH779 from RAF Luqa on a number of occasions during my tour with XIII (PR) Squadron. I'll dig out my logbook. Many happy memories of a great tour and so many distant places.

My longest sortie in a PR7 (not WH779) was from KAF Eastleigh (Nairobi) to Cairo, a distance of about 5200 miles, taking 5 hours and 5 minutes. Then a quick aircrew turnround and back to Malta. XIII Squadron did not operate the PR7 with tip tanks in those days. No autopilot either!

Keep up the good work WH779!

Hi there, PM Sent :)

[TheWestCoast]

For example 774 was used on harpoon trials

Harpoon trials? As in the AGM?

[spectre150]

WH779

Maybe my memory is not as good as I thought - that card suggests that the airframe was returned to 100 Sqn (notwithstanding stints with MOD(PE)) and was still on their books until at least 1986. I was pretty sure we did not have the PR7s for long but I left the sqn in 1983. On reflection, it was perhaps some ex-39 Sqn PR9s that were delivered to a friendly South American country around that time, not our PR7s.

[phantomstreaker]

WH779,

Must have worked on this baby at RAF Wyton 89 -90 in Canberra Serving Flight, will have to check my engineering record in the loft

[nazca_steve]

Hello all,

With absolutely no intention of hijacking this superb thread from WH779 whom I know from Canberra Crazy, I do have a similar request for Canberra-related stories or anecdotes, and have been directed here as a possible source.

I'm looking for former aircrew/groundcrew who flew/worked on all marks of Canberra in all air forces that operated her. So from Argentina to Zimbabwe and everything in between, please check out the thread below for details:

http://www.pprune.org/aviation-history-nostalgia/474740-ee-canberra-book-contributor-request.html

Best regards to all,

Steve

[WH779]

Hi All :)

I am also trying to find more Info from WH779's time on 360 Sqn we don't seem to have much Info from those day's...

Cheers Daz...


http://i535.photobucket.com/albums/ee359/aeropark/canberrapr7_wh779_bp_930720.jpg
www.wh779.webs.com (http://www.wh779.webs.com)

[WH779]

Hi All :)

The Aircrew Page on my website has been updated with comments left by former crews that have flown WH779...

Aircrew - EE Canberra PR.7 WH779 (http://wh779.webs.com/aircrew.htm)

[WH779]

Hi All :)

More Info added Aircrew - EE Canberra PR.7 WH779 (http://wh779.webs.com/aircrew.htm) I have more copy's from your log books to add in the coming weeks...

All the Best Daz...

[Quietplease]

I first flew 779 6th Jan 1960 when it came out of the hangar after a Minor Service on arrival at Akrotiri. First two flights were 20 minute airtests for, from very rusty memory, trim in the event of stab runaway. It obviouly failed the first one.
It was one of our four aircraft so flew it regularly until 18th Nov 1960 when I took it to Cambridge via Luqa. Left it with Marshalls for night photo mods.
Picked it up again 27 Mar 1961 and returned to Akrotiri.
We never flew with tip tanks as the loss of climb performance and added drag for 6 hours would offset the extra fuel. The added weight would have made hot and high takeoffs even more interesting than they already were.

Some of the figures on your website are in error.
MTOW 55,000lbs
Max IAS 450ktsto 15000ft
.79M 15000- 25000ft
About .84M limited by by nose up trim change, aileron snatching and loss of control.
At low level it would easily exceed 450kts
Range was about 2400nms, we would do Nairobi-Akrotiri in just over 6hours at M.72 at 50,000ft.

[WH779]

Quietplease....Thank's for your reply PM sent :)

[WH779]

Hi All :) New page added to website

Aircrew Page 2 - EE Canberra PR.7 WH779 (http://wh779.webs.com/aircrewpage2.htm)

[Enecosse]

Bruce Bull (Sqd Ldr) would of flown almost certainly, I think he had over 4000 hours on the Canberra. I believe he passed away a few years ago, although not 100% sure. He taught me to fly in the mid 80's and he was in his mid 60's then. A fine chap who could give dogs abuse in the aircraft (when you weren't doing it right) and on the ground be an absolute gent.
One night on our first night flight famil, over Milton Keynes he pointed out the blue? lighted pyramid shape as a distinctive night time landmark. We were in a Slingsby (bubble canopy), I made the mistake of saying "no", whereupon he said "are you blind 'surname'", promptly turned the aircraft upside down and said "now can you see the f***g pyramid". Still chuckle at the memory.

[WH779]

Hi All :)

New Page added to my website regards a New book called "Winged Warriors" The Cold War from the Cockpit" by Paul McDonald.

"Winged Warriors" - EE Canberra PR.7 WH779 (http://wh779.webs.com/wingedwarriors.htm)

[WarmandDry]

PR7s were used for chaff laying and for radar (ground site) calibration. 360 took over the PR7s and those roles when 100 Sqn converted to Hawks.

[MMHendrie1]

WH779 & XIII Squadron RAF Luqa, Malta 1976-78: PM sent.

[WH779]

MMHendrie1 PM Sent :)

[WH779]

New update's on WH779's website :)

David Coleman, I was a pilot on 13 Squadron at Akrotiri from March 1960 until May 1962 and flew just over 73 hours in WH779 until we converted to the PR9 in October 1961.

Aircrew Page 2 - EE Canberra PR.7 WH779 (http://wh779.webs.com/aircrewpage2.htm)

[WH779]

Hi All :)

I'm still trying to find as many Ex or present aircrew that flew In Canberra PR.7 WH779 to build on her history...

Best Regards

Darren Green (owner of 779's cockpit)

www.wh779.webs.com (http://www.wh779.webs.com)

[WH779]

New Update's on the Aircrew Page 2 (see link) :) Since I put a post on hear looking to hear from any Aircrew that have Canberra PR.7 WH779 in there log books I have been able to log 398Hrs to her history so far..

Many Thanks for this.

I always look forward to hearing from anyone regards any Info on WH779 :) Can anyone help with her 360 Sqn back ground...

Aircrew Page 2 - EE Canberra PR.7 WH779 (http://wh779.webs.com/aircrewpage2.htm)

All the Best..

Darren Green :)

[spectre150]

FWIW I flew in WH779 eight times between Feb and Oct 1982. The sorties were a standard mix of 100 Sqn target facilities fare - West Drayton PIs (yawn), Ex BROWN FALCON with Haircut 100 (aka OC 100 Sqn), an 8 Sqn MINIADEX, banner towing for 56 Sqn and 23 Sqn in Cyprus and a transit from St Mawgan to Wyton after a Wembury sleeve det.

[WH779]

Spectre150 PM Sent :)

[WH779]

Hi All,

I'm still trying to find out the date and crew of WH779's last flight... Any Info will be a Great Help.

Best Regards,

Darren Green (owner of 779's cockpit)

www.wh779.webs.com (http://www.wh779.webs.com/)

[WH779]

Hi..

Some more Info has come to light regards WH779's Last flight...

It's looking like it was a transit flight from Wyton to Marham Possibly 1994/95. with a heavy duty scab patch over the port main spar part way through a cat 3 repair for corrosion. The repair was finished and the minor completed when corrosion was found in the rear spar.....end ex .

Could you have been the crew of this flight..

[WH779]

Hi All,

I'm Still trying to find Ex or present aircrew that flew In Canberra PR.7 WH779... Also any Info on the post above will be Fantastic.

Merry Xmas

Darren Green (owner of 779's cockpit)

Home - EE Canberra PR.7 WH779 (http://www.wh779.webs.com)

[WH779]

http://i535.photobucket.com/albums/ee359/aeropark/AB506FA9-889A-4EEF-B281-6017BD643050_zpsklpslava.jpg (http://s535.photobucket.com/user/aeropark/media/AB506FA9-889A-4EEF-B281-6017BD643050_zpsklpslava.jpg.html)

Next month mark's the 60th Anniversary of Canberra PR.7 WH779...

We are planning to mark this at Cockpit-Fest 2014 at Newark Air Museum on the 14th & 15th June...

It's already shaping up to be a Great turnout with some of her former Air & Ground crews coming along to help mark her 60th over the weekend and keep the Canberra story alive...

Pilot Nat Hagger has offered to spend the weekend with us to help show the public in 779's cockpit and tell the story of flying this Great Aircraft...
http://i535.photobucket.com/albums/ee359/aeropark/D68BD771-AA63-45E7-89CD-1E7A2DB67B19_zpswhkcaxwx.jpg (http://s535.photobucket.com/user/aeropark/media/D68BD771-AA63-45E7-89CD-1E7A2DB67B19_zpswhkcaxwx.jpg.html)

Pilot Ken Norman will be along over the weekend to visit the Aircraft he also once flew...

http://i535.photobucket.com/albums/ee359/aeropark/B79571ED-5FB0-4C62-ACA4-8E9C02A8C5F3_zpsf0lvs6m1.jpg (http://s535.photobucket.com/user/aeropark/media/B79571ED-5FB0-4C62-ACA4-8E9C02A8C5F3_zpsf0lvs6m1.jpg.html)

Engine guy Paul Anderson (Chunky) has worked on 779 many times Ex-13 And 100 Sqn...
http://i535.photobucket.com/albums/ee359/aeropark/128.jpg (http://s535.photobucket.com/user/aeropark/media/128.jpg.html)

Pilot Paul McDonald​​, Author of Winged Warriors - The Cold War from the Cockpit...
http://i535.photobucket.com/albums/ee359/aeropark/9A4BCFB9-4DAC-488A-A10E-F5AB9C68A5E1_zpso5uqmgpp.jpg (http://s535.photobucket.com/user/aeropark/media/9A4BCFB9-4DAC-488A-A10E-F5AB9C68A5E1_zpso5uqmgpp.jpg.html)

You can meet the Author alongside 779 over the weekend... If you already have the book bring it along with you and get it signed by the Author...

779 is featured in his book and tells the story of the first sortie flown by XIII Squadron to locate and photograph Kiev and her two escorts, a Kara Class cruiser and a Krivak Class destroyer. Kiev had entered the Mediterranean from the Atlantic following her launch in 1977. This sortie confirmed that the Forger aircraft was operational from Kiev. The sortie is described in Chapter 4 of Winged Warriors – The Cold War from the Cockpit and the book also contains some of the photographs taken during this sortie.

He's flown Thirty sorties totalling 63 hours 35 minutes in WH779....

Winged Warriors: Home (http://www.wingedwarriors.co.uk)

http://i535.photobucket.com/albums/ee359/aeropark/Winged_Warriors_Front_Hi-Res.jpg (http://s535.photobucket.com/user/aeropark/media/Winged_Warriors_Front_Hi-Res.jpg.html)

http://i535.photobucket.com/albums/ee359/aeropark/917895A8-6B62-4A5C-81B0-F38D671BB4A6_zpsjeq93v7s.jpg (http://s535.photobucket.com/user/aeropark/media/917895A8-6B62-4A5C-81B0-F38D671BB4A6_zpsjeq93v7s.jpg.html)

John Sheehan and his team from IPMS UK Canberra Special Interest Group are planning on putting a great display of Canberra models together to display alongside 779.
http://i535.photobucket.com/albums/ee359/aeropark/126.jpg (http://s535.photobucket.com/user/aeropark/media/126.jpg.html)

[goudie]

Just finished reading 'Winged Warriors' and jolly good it was too.
I was ground crew on the Canberra for 7 years. 4 at Bassingbourn and 3 in Cyprus. I was also fortunate enough to fly in them on several occasions.
Hope to make it to Newark on the 14th & 15th June.

[WH779]

goudie...

That's Great to hear... If you do make it over the weekend you are most welcome... Remember to bring your book and Paul will sign it for you.

All the Best. Darren

[gr4techie]

Had a look at WH779's website. The photoshoot with the owl looks amazing.

http://wh779.webs.com/iphone%20photos%20097.JPG

[dragartist]

oddly enough a good friend sent me a link to a video on Youtube this morning


WARHORSE The English Electric Canberra - YouTube


He said I was in it but I don't recognise myself. I do remember being there on the day and recognise so many faces. Some sadly no longer with us.


Just thought visitors to this thread may be interested. I am pretty sure I will Not be alone in that I have worked on the same aircraft tail numbers undertaking the same tasks as my Dad did. Anyone claim 3 generations?

[Wander00]

Two minutes in and there is a lot of dust around - first the dedication of the movie - I had known Reg as his new OC Admin for about 3 months when he and his crew sadly died, and he was already one of my favourite people


WD 935 I delivered to Wroughton in about 1967 (need to find log book and check) and it was in much better nick when I got out of it!


Mike Phillips - did my flying scholarship with him at Sywell in 1961, and we were both on 88 Entry at The Towers.


What will the other 26 minutes bring! - Well, more faces I knew, including one from my time on 360, 24 years earlier (AW). Big lump in my throat watching Reg and hearing his voice, and that is 23 years ago this month.


RIP all three

[RAFEngO74to09]

Thanks for posting the video - an interesting reflection on earlier times.

Whenever I watch clips from Farnborough shows of the 1950s and see the spirited way in which test pilots of the day displayed world leading technology I can't help feeling "Where did it all go so wrong ?" in subsequent decades [I know the answer by the way - not intended to start a thread drift - covered previously in many other threads].

Ken Delve was an IOT contemporary of mine in 1975 and is a prolific military aviation historian.

Amazon.com: ken delve: Books (http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=ken+delve&tag=googhydr-20&index=stripbooks&hvadid=32869705709&hvpos=1o1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=128454772067753954&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_41dhfm19h2_b)

The aircraft involved in the 1991 accident was WJ877 - the one painted in blue in the video to represent the prototype during the 40th anniversary celebrations in 1989. Accident summary here:

ASN Aircraft accident 18-MAR-1991 English Electric Canberra T.4 WJ877 (http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=21142)

[dragartist]

RAF Eng O, I believe Ken also painted a picture of a PR9 before they were painted hemp. It always hung in the Ante room in the Mess at Wyton. (well it did two years ago IIRC!)

[WH779]

Pilot Paul McDonald​​, Author of Winged Warriors - The Cold War from the Cockpit...
http://i535.photobucket.com/albums/ee359/aeropark/9A4BCFB9-4DAC-488A-A10E-F5AB9C68A5E1_zpso5uqmgpp.jpg (http://s535.photobucket.com/user/aeropark/media/9A4BCFB9-4DAC-488A-A10E-F5AB9C68A5E1_zpso5uqmgpp.jpg.html)

You can meet the Author alongside 779 over the Cockpit - Fest weekend 14th & 15th June @ Newark Air Museum... If you already have the book bring it along with you and get it signed by the Author...
779 is featured in his book and tells the story of the first sortie flown by XIII Squadron to locate and photograph Kiev and her two escorts, a Kara Class cruiser and a Krivak Class destroyer. Kiev had entered the Mediterranean from the Atlantic following her launch in 1977. This sortie confirmed that the Forger aircraft was operational from Kiev. The sortie is described in Chapter 4 of Winged Warriors – The Cold War from the Cockpit and the book also contains some of the photographs taken during this sortie.

He's flown Thirty sorties totalling 63 hours 35 minutes in WH779....

Winged Warriors: Home (http://www.wingedwarriors.co.uk)

http://i535.photobucket.com/albums/ee359/aeropark/Winged_Warriors_Front_Hi-Res.jpg (http://s535.photobucket.com/user/aeropark/media/Winged_Warriors_Front_Hi-Res.jpg.html)


http://i535.photobucket.com/albums/ee359/aeropark/917895A8-6B62-4A5C-81B0-F38D671BB4A6_zpsjeq93v7s.jpg (http://s535.photobucket.com/user/aeropark/media/917895A8-6B62-4A5C-81B0-F38D671BB4A6_zpsjeq93v7s.jpg.html)

[Wrathmonk]

That's frightening - I was at that anniversary Dining In Night but don't ever recall seeing someone with a camera - must have been putting my E&E skills to good use to avoid the limelight!!! And a good few faces that look considerably older (and chunkier) now! Happy days....

And a fully qualified ATC Plt Off as well....bet you don't see many of them now!

[WH779]

Hi All,

I’d still love to hear from anyone who has WH779 in their Log logbooks...

Cheers