The Canberra

Image courtesy of Chris Cannon

The Canberra is undoubtedly Great Britain’s greatest aviation achievement, even if a handful were built in Belfast.

The Canberra prototype was first flown by Wing Commander Roland Beamont on 13th May 1949. The first squadron to re-equip with the Canberra was 101 Squadron at Binbrook in Lincolnshire.

The Canberra was such a versatile aircraft that over fifteen different Mks were either built or converted, with variations being used all over the world with the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the United States Air Force (USAF) being the main operators. Other countries also used the Canberra including Argentina, Australia, India and Pakistan and Germany to name a few. The Canberra served with the RAF until July 2006 when the last three PR9 aircraft left RAF Marham for their new home at Kemble in Gloucestershire.

As of July 2009 to our knowledge there are only four flying examples of the Canberra in the world, three WB57 aircraft with NASA and TT18 WJ680 now painted to represent an Australian B20 Canberra in Australia.

Image courtesy of Joe Ciliberti

Finally what became of the three PR9s, XH131 is on static display at a museum in Ireland, XH134 is still at Kemble airfield, and XH135 was cut up, with the cockpit section being mounted on a trailer and kept for exhibition purposes

Image courtesy of Darren Headleand

Image courtesy of John Sheehan

After the Canberra PR9s returned from their last detachment in July 2006, things became very busy, with the run-up to the PR9’s retirement and the squadron’s disbandment. Numerous practice displays were flown by Sqn Ldr Terry Cairns and Sqn Ldr Roger Newton in readiness for their display at RAF Waddington, RIAT at Fairford and the RAF’s final Canberra display at Marham’s Families Day.

Image courtesy of Jim Baker