The Queen of Tarhuna

[95i]

I found this awesome photo of an EE Canberra with the name "The Tarhuna Queen" on the nose.
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m236/95iwarzukurz/Canberra_Bi8_Tarhuna_Queen_zps3ffbe567.jpg
Has anyone got anymore information about this particular aircraft? Where was the photo taken?

I know Tarhuna is in Libya, near Tripoli.
Maps (http://goo.gl/tYmKKH)

[chevvron]

There was an RAF base at El Adem until the Wilson government decided it wasn't necessary; maybe that's near Tarhuna?

[Herod]

I think it was actually Col Gadaffi who decided the Brits didn't need El Adem any more; after his coup in '69.

[chevvron]

Probably. I recall Wilson decided our NEAF and FEAF weren't necessary and I got the timescale mixed up.
Anyway bang goes my theory; according to googlearth, El Adem is just south of Tobruk and nowhere near Tarhuna!!
It's now called Gamal Abdul El Nasser Airbase.

[Pom Pax]

Built by Mussolini's regime 1938 > Castel Benito (1938-1943) > R.A.F. Castel Benito (1943-1952) > R.A.F. Idris (1952-1956). Also known as Tripoli Idris Airport became Tripoli International Airport when Graddafi overthrew King Idris.
It was also used in the 1950s as a base for aircraft using the Libyan desert bombing ranges (Tahuna) for practice.
All info courtesy of Wiki.

[bvcu]

Serial under port wing is 'XM27 ? , XM270 to XM279 are possibilities then

[brokenlink]

Am I correct in thinking its a B(I)8?

[Brian Abraham]

Not much help in identifying the particular aircraft, but a list of B(1)8 serials, squadrons and fates.

List of B(I)8 Canberras (http://www.bywat.co.uk/b8list.html)

Photos and history of each airframe (5 pages)

http://www.bywat.co.uk/gallb8.html

[lauriebe]

Fairly sure this is a 16 Sqn aircraft. The squadron's marking, a band (black edged in yellow), is just visible on the rear fuselage. The white circle under the cockpit, which displayed the cross keys emblem also seems to point to 16 Sqn.

Most of the XM27? serialled frames appear to have been on the strength of 16 at some time or other so not much help there in pinning down the aircraft in the photo.

Have no info on the name or location unfortunately.

[A A Gruntpuddock]

Might be worth asking this question on the Canberra website - Canberra Crazy - Home (http://canberratalk.conforums.com/index.cgi)

[95i]

Just found something in the 16 Sqn F540s.

In Oct 1960 the squadron was detached to Idris and did live bombing on Tarhuna Range with three Bi8 Canberras.

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m236/95iwarzukurz/1960_10_F540_Tarhuna-range_16Sqn_zpsca10c432.jpg

[RobPatchett]

I know this is an old thread, but if anybody is still interested, I was just looking through my father's log books and came across a photo labelled "The Targuna queen" it was serial XM275 and operated by No16 Sq at RAF Laarbruch.