Canberra hours
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: NSW Australia
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Goodness, what a wealth of information and load of experience with 'the queen of the skies' here. Makes my 1200 odd hours and only four varients, T4, B2, B15 and 16, look very hum drum, but I have to say, very enjoyable.
But I was very impressed with the site mentioned by Beeayeate, 11 April, with all the variants, and the foriegn users. I was specially interested in the German aircraft, and delighted to see that 9935 is still looking good. After leaving Her Majesties employ I had a couple of enjoyable years flying those aircraft on photo survey and radar calibration flights, out of Cologne/Bonn. In my time we had a couple of English pilots, with German Luftwaffe navigator/photo operators, until eventually ex Luftwaffe pilots took over from us. I notice that I flew D9567 back from Decimommanu on 30Nov76, and flew it again as 9935 on 17Dec67 on radar calibration. Interesting job, and good mates.
But I was very impressed with the site mentioned by Beeayeate, 11 April, with all the variants, and the foriegn users. I was specially interested in the German aircraft, and delighted to see that 9935 is still looking good. After leaving Her Majesties employ I had a couple of enjoyable years flying those aircraft on photo survey and radar calibration flights, out of Cologne/Bonn. In my time we had a couple of English pilots, with German Luftwaffe navigator/photo operators, until eventually ex Luftwaffe pilots took over from us. I notice that I flew D9567 back from Decimommanu on 30Nov76, and flew it again as 9935 on 17Dec67 on radar calibration. Interesting job, and good mates.
Join Date: May 2006
Location: UK
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My Dad claims:-
3627 hours and flew:-
Conversion Unit: B2, PR3, T4, PR7, PR9, TT18, T19 and T22. [Note: the T22 was borrowed from the R Navy for a special task from Wyton]
3627 hours and flew:-
Conversion Unit: B2, PR3, T4, PR7, PR9, TT18, T19 and T22. [Note: the T22 was borrowed from the R Navy for a special task from Wyton]
Join Date: Oct 2003
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Canberra hours
I can't compete on this basis. But I might have a chance on 'How many automatic landings performed' on the Canberra.
At BLEU I always considered the Canberra as the most impressive aircraft to demonstrate this. What a pity it never entered service, might have saved some lives!!!
At BLEU I always considered the Canberra as the most impressive aircraft to demonstrate this. What a pity it never entered service, might have saved some lives!!!
Join Date: Mar 2003
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Canbera help - as you are the officionados, can you help identify these types please? They were photographed between 1953-56 and apologies for the reproduction.
Were external tanks common?
And what does the P signify below? Prototype?
The one below is either WH713 or WD952 and photographed at Filton
Were external tanks common?
And what does the P signify below? Prototype?
The one below is either WH713 or WD952 and photographed at Filton
Join Date: Aug 2007
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Canberra identities for GK430
I only just saw your post dated June 2007. Maybe someone has already identified the Canberras you ask about, but just in case:
WE137 is an early PR3 (tip tanks were often carried).
WD933 is the B2 Sapphire test-bed, hence the P for Prototype.
Both WH713 and WD952 were B2 Olympus test beds used at Filton. Your photo is I think of WH713, as WD952 had the standard black and grey bomber colours. WD952 was the holder of the world altitude record in 1953.
WE137 is an early PR3 (tip tanks were often carried).
WD933 is the B2 Sapphire test-bed, hence the P for Prototype.
Both WH713 and WD952 were B2 Olympus test beds used at Filton. Your photo is I think of WH713, as WD952 had the standard black and grey bomber colours. WD952 was the holder of the world altitude record in 1953.
Join Date: Jul 2006
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98 Sqdn Canberras
27mm
Have just found this thread on account of it being bumped up to the top, and can remember 98 Sqdn's other Canberra E15s as WH948, WH957, WH964 and WH972. There was also WH973, but it crashed on approach during night flying shortly after I arrived on the squadron in 1971 (Crew ejected safely).
I can remember these because I provided the references for the Modeldecal sheet for WH957, to be used on the Airfix Canberra.
I was a Corporal Electrician on 98 from 1971 until it disbanded in 1976 and before that was on 16 Sqdn with B(I)8s at Laarbruch.
Loved those Canberras. A couple of years or so ago one flew over where I live. Nearly stood to attention and saluted it!
Polecat
Have just found this thread on account of it being bumped up to the top, and can remember 98 Sqdn's other Canberra E15s as WH948, WH957, WH964 and WH972. There was also WH973, but it crashed on approach during night flying shortly after I arrived on the squadron in 1971 (Crew ejected safely).
I can remember these because I provided the references for the Modeldecal sheet for WH957, to be used on the Airfix Canberra.
I was a Corporal Electrician on 98 from 1971 until it disbanded in 1976 and before that was on 16 Sqdn with B(I)8s at Laarbruch.
Loved those Canberras. A couple of years or so ago one flew over where I live. Nearly stood to attention and saluted it!
Polecat
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Wj 674
I was a member of the crash and smash team from 71 MU, RAF Bicester that recovered the remains of Canberra WJ674 (231 OCU) in early Aug 73. It came to rest in a field just East of the A1 on the approach to RAF Cottesmore. We had to dig up the engines as they were completely buried. IIRC the crew ejected safely.
My how time passes.
'We knew how to whinge but we kept it in the NAAFI bar.'
Wj 674
I'm pretty sure WJ 674 crashed at night during a practice asymmetric approach and killed the pilot (John Dennis?); the nav ejected safely. However, I stand ready to be corrected!
Join Date: Aug 2002
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I spent a very enjoyable 3 1/2 years in air traffic control at Wyton in the late 80s/early 90s. I was fortunate enough to amass just over 130 hours of pax flying in TT18s/E15s/B2s and a T4.
During that time I flew with some great people like the SBO, W+9, Zoot, Bad Boy and Grubs to name but a few. To the aircraft and lads on the Ton - thank you for making the early days of my career so much fun.
When I look through my log book that I managed to blag from the nice ladies in SPFS it is tough seeing some names of those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. RIP chaps.
Ekaton
During that time I flew with some great people like the SBO, W+9, Zoot, Bad Boy and Grubs to name but a few. To the aircraft and lads on the Ton - thank you for making the early days of my career so much fun.
When I look through my log book that I managed to blag from the nice ladies in SPFS it is tough seeing some names of those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. RIP chaps.
Ekaton
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Green Flash,
note quite. MRF got its first Canberra in 1957, a B2 WJ582. Around this time it also had briefly WE146, WE147 and WH952. The original aircraft was replaced in 1963 by WE173 for high altitude weather research. After modification, this aircraft had its first sortie for MRF on 7 Apr 64, but this was grounded 31 Mar 81 due to government cut backs.
Snoopy entred RAF service as a standard C Mk1 in 1966 with 48 Sqn in the FEAF at Changi. She was modified by Marshalls 1971-2 and first flew in the WMk2 guise on 21 Mar 73. Last flight MRF operational was 29 Mar 01, returning from Norway where she had been conducting research on Arctic ice.
She is now back at Cambridge being used as the flying test bed for the engines for the Airbus A400M.
note quite. MRF got its first Canberra in 1957, a B2 WJ582. Around this time it also had briefly WE146, WE147 and WH952. The original aircraft was replaced in 1963 by WE173 for high altitude weather research. After modification, this aircraft had its first sortie for MRF on 7 Apr 64, but this was grounded 31 Mar 81 due to government cut backs.
Snoopy entred RAF service as a standard C Mk1 in 1966 with 48 Sqn in the FEAF at Changi. She was modified by Marshalls 1971-2 and first flew in the WMk2 guise on 21 Mar 73. Last flight MRF operational was 29 Mar 01, returning from Norway where she had been conducting research on Arctic ice.
She is now back at Cambridge being used as the flying test bed for the engines for the Airbus A400M.
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MRF
MRF were never based at Bedford. Originally formed from the High Altitude Flight at Boscombe Down moving to Farnborough in the mid-1940s and then to Cranfield as FAAM about 7 years ago.
I'm pretty sure WJ 674 crashed at night during a practice asymmetric approach and killed the pilot (John Dennis?); the nav ejected safely. However, I stand ready to be corrected! 8th April 2008 16:30
He thought the pilot had ejected safely and I think landed near the 'The Fox' on the A1 and 'popped in' for a drink (who could blame him)
Unfortunately the a/c had either rolled too far or was too low for a safe ejection for the pilot,comparatively slow ejection sequence on a canberra.We were all absolutely gutted by it.
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I know that this has been covered on another Thead on PPRUNE, but the in the month that the first USAF casualty of 'GW-1' has been idnetified and repatriated, the Last Aussy MIA in Vietnam (RAAF 2 Sqn Canberra Crew) was also 'found' and laid to rest
Flt Off Michael Herbert (Pilot) & PltOff Robert Carver (Navigator)
...apologies for the thread creep - but those who follow the history of the Canberra, please not forget the contribution to low level bombing / CAS that 2 Sqn and their 'Magpies' made to the Vietnam conflict.
A Purveyor of the history of the jet might find that the RAAF dropped more tonnage 'for real' than any other organisation in the Canberra.- Can't comment on the 'Yield' however...!
'The unit flew a total of 11,963 sorties during the war.'
The RAAF Canberra in Vietnam
No. 2 Squadron - The Royal Australian Air Force in Vietnam
Flt Off Michael Herbert (Pilot) & PltOff Robert Carver (Navigator)
...apologies for the thread creep - but those who follow the history of the Canberra, please not forget the contribution to low level bombing / CAS that 2 Sqn and their 'Magpies' made to the Vietnam conflict.
A Purveyor of the history of the jet might find that the RAAF dropped more tonnage 'for real' than any other organisation in the Canberra.- Can't comment on the 'Yield' however...!
'The unit flew a total of 11,963 sorties during the war.'
The RAAF Canberra in Vietnam
No. 2 Squadron - The Royal Australian Air Force in Vietnam
