English Electric Canberra B Mk 1
A first generation British jet-powered medium bomber, the English Electric Canberra was designed by W. E. W. 'Teddy' Petter. It could fly at a higher altitude than any other bomber throughout the 1950s and by 1958 it had set nineteen point-to-point speed records and three height records, including one of 70,310 ft (21,430 m) in 1957 - See table below.
It all began in 1944, when the Air Ministry issued a requirement for a successor to the De Havilland Mosquito 'with no defensive armament and a high-altitude capability to evade interceptors'.
A number of British manufacturers submitted proposals and amongst those short-listed was Lancashire-based English Electric Company. At the time, the company had little experience in the design of military aircraft, having spent most of their formative years during WW2 building aircraft for the likes of Handley Page and De Havilland. This all changed when Petter arrived from Westland Aircraft and he immediately set up his own Design Team.
Initial designs produced a centrally-mounted, single-engine concept, although this was quickly replaced by a two, wing-mounted engine concept and on 7th January 1946. The Ministry of Supply issued Specification B.3/45 for the further development and production of 4 aircraft, project named EE A.1.
After numerous post-war political and economic delays, the initial A.1. prototype (VN799) flew on 13th May 1949, by which time the Ministry had actually pre-ordered 132 production aircraft in various configurations. The aircraft continued on as the A.1 until it was formally named Canberra on 19th January 1951, by The Rt Hon R.G Menzies, Prime Minister of Australia and the first export customer for the new jet.
The addition of a glazed nose (for a bomb-aimer), twin Rolls-Royce Avon R.A. 3 engines and teardrop wing tip fuel tanks resulted in the Canberra B.2, which took to the air at Warton on 21st April 1950 in the hands of EE Chief Test Pilot Roland (Bea) Beamont.
English Electric Canberra B(I)56 of the Peruvian Air Force, formerly a B.2 with the RAF
Such was the ease of transition from propeller aircraft into the English Electric Canberra, that the first aircraft was delivered to RAF101 Squadron at Binbrook on 25th May 1951.
The success and adaptability of the design was such that it was built in over 40 versions and equipped 65 RAF squadrons. It was exported to 15 countries: Australia, Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Ethiopia, France, India, New Zealand, Peru, Rhodesia / Zimbabwe, South Africa, Sweden, USA, Venezuela and West Germany. A total of 925 English Electric Canberra aircraft were built in the UK.
451 'Canberra' aircraft were also built under licence in the USA: 403 in the USA by the Glenn L Martin Company and designated as the B-57 ‘Canberra’ in many versions. A number of these were transferred from the USA to Pakistan as well as the Republic of China (Taiwan).
A further 48 English Electric Canberras were built under licence by the Government Aircraft Factory, Australia as the Mk.20.
In total 1,376 English Electric Canberra aircraft were built.
The aircraft was eventually retired by its first operator (the RAF) in June 2006, some 57 years after its first flight. Meanwhile, 3 of the Martin B-57 variants remained in service, performing meteorological work for NASA.
English Electric Canberra Records
| Point-to-Point Records | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Date-Serial
(Type)
|
Event | Crew | Speed | Time |
| 21/02/1951 WD932 (B.2) |
Atlantic crossing Aldergrove - Gander |
Sqn Leader A. Caillard Flt Lt Haskett Flt Lt A. Robson |
Unofficial | 4 Hours 37 Mins |
| 31/08/1951 WD940 (B.2) |
Atlantic crossing Aldergrove - Gander |
Wing Comm. R. Beamont DA Watson R. Rylands |
481.12 | 4 Hours 18 Min |
| 18/02/1952 WD962 (B.2) |
London - Tripoli | Sqn Leader L. Devigne Flt Lt P. Hunt |
538.12 | 2 Hours 41 Min 49.5 Secs |
| 26/08/1952 VX185 (B.5) |
Atlantic double crossing Aldergrove - Gander and back |
Wing Comm. R. Beamont Peter Hillwood Dennis Watson |
411.99 | 10 Hours 3 Mins 29 Secs |
| 26/08/1952 VX185 (B.5) |
Atlantic crossing Gander - Aldergrove |
Wing Comm. R. Beamont Peter Hillwood Dennis Watson |
605.52 | 3 Hours 25 Mins 18 Secs |
| 25/09/1952 | UK - Luqa (Malta) and back | AVM Dermot Boyle Fg Off R. Brownlow Sgt T. Cramp |
Unofficial | 6 Hours 5 Mins |
| 28/09/1952 WD987 (B.2) |
London - Nairobi | Wing Comm. H. Connelly Sqn Leader D. Clare ACM Sir Hugh Loyd |
427.30 | 9 Hours 55 Mins 16 Secs |
| 27/01/1953 VX181 (PR.3) |
London - Karachi | Flt Lt M Whittington Flt Lt J. Brown |
441.80 | 8 Hours 52 Mins 28 Secs |
| 27-28/01/1953 VX181 (PR.3) |
London - Darwin | Flt Lt M Whittington Flt Lt J. Brown |
391.20 | 22 Hours 0 Mins 21 Secs |
| 08/10/1953 WE139 (PR.3 |
London - Iraq (Basra) during NZ Air Race |
Flt Lt R. Burton Flt Lt D. Gannon |
554.30 | 5 Hours 11 Mins 5 Secs |
| 8-9/10/1953 WE139 (PR.3) |
London - New Zealand Air Race | Flt Lt R. Burton Flt Lt D. Gannon |
494.48 | 23 Hours 50 Mins 42 Secs |
| 8-9/10/1953 WH773 (PR.7) |
London - Ceylon (Sri Lanka) | Wing Comm. L. Hodges Sqn Leader R. Currie |
519.50 | 10 Hour 25 Min 21 Secs |
|
17/12/1953
WH699 Aries IV (B.2)
|
London - Capetown | Wing Comm. G. Petty Sqn Leader T. McGarry Sqn Leader J. Craig |
486.6 |
12 Hour
21 Min
3 Secs
|
| 19/12/1953 WH699 Aries IV (B.2) |
Capetown - London | Wing Comm. A. Humphrey Sqn Leader D. Bower Sqn Leader R. Powell |
452.8 | 13 Hour 16 Min 25 Secs |
|
14-15/10/1954
WH699 Aries IV (B.2)
|
Norway - Canada
1st British jet flight over the North Pole
|
Wing Comm. A. Humphrey Sqn Leader D. Bower Flt Lt F. Wood |
N/A | 6 Hour 43 Min |
| 28/02/1955 | Scampton - Cyprus (Nicosia) | AVM J. Whitley | Unofficial | 4 Hours 13 Mins |
|
28/06/1955
WH699 Aries IV (B.2)
|
Ottawa - London | Sqn Leader I. Broom | 496.82 | 6 Hours 42 Mins 12 Secs |
| 23/08/1955 WT528 (PR.7) |
London - New York | Capt J. Hackett Peter Moneypenny |
461.12 | 7 Hours 29 Mins 57 Secs |
| 23/08/1955 WT528 (PR.7) |
New York - London | Capt J. Hackett Peter Moneypenny |
550.35 | 6 Hours 17 Mins |
| 23/08/1955 WT528 (PR.7) |
London - New York - London | Capt J. Hackett Peter Moneypenny |
481.52 | 14 Hours 21 Mins 45 Secs |
| 24/10/1955 WT504 (PR.7) |
Wyton - Khormaksar | Sqn Leader E. Holloway Fg Off Broom |
Unofficial | 7 Hours 45 Min |
| 16/02/1956 WT329 (B.(I)8) |
London - Cairo | Peter Hillwood Dennis Watson |
551.80 | 3 Hours 57 Mins 19 Secs |
| 25/05/1957 WT528 Aries V (PR.7) |
Tokyo - London | Wing Comm. W. Hoy Flt Lt P. Lageson Flt Lt J. Denis |
335.70 | 17 Hours 42 Mins 2 Secs |
| 22/02/1958 2.E-39 (T.4) |
Washington - Caracas Delivery flight |
Capt J. Hackett Peter Moneypenny FAV officer |
492.95 | 4 Hours 10 Mins 59 Secs |
| Altitude Records | ||||
| 04/05/1953 WD952 (B.2 |
Bristol Olympus engines | W.F. Gibb | 63,668 ft | |
| 29/08/1955 WD952 (B.2) |
Bristol Olympus engines | W.F. Gibb | 63,668 ft | |
| 28/08/1957 WK163 (B.2) |
Scorpion Rocket Motor | Scorpion Rocket Motor | 70,310 ft | |
Variants
Aircraft variants have been split to distinguish new build production from later conversions. Note that refurbished ex RAF aircraft that did not change mark number have been excluded from the lists.
New Build:
|
Canberra B.1
4 Built |
Prototypes for type development work and research, at first known by the company designation A.1.
|
|
Canberra B.2
418 Built |
First production version, 3 crew (addition of bomb-aimer) Avon R.A.3 engines, wingtip fuel tanks. Built by English Electric (208), Avro (75), Handley Page (75) and Short Brothers & Harland (60). RAF and export to Venezuela (6) plus Australia (2) and USA (2) as pattern aircraft for licence production.
|
|
Canberra PR.3
36 Built |
Photo-reconnaissance version of B.2 with 14" added to the fuselage for Camera Bay - 2 crew. RAF
|
|
Canberra T.4
75 Built
|
Trainer variant, RAF and export to India. 16 additional aircraft converted from B.2
|
|
Canberra B
1 Built |
Prototype of second-generation with fuel tanks in the wings and Avon RA7 engines. Intended for the specialist role of target marking with bomb aiming radar. No production orders placed. Converted to B(I)8 prototype.
|
|
Canberra B.6
104 Built
|
Based on B.2 with new features introduced on the B.5, including RA7 engines and wing integral fuel tanks. Built by English Electric (55) and Short Bros & Harland (49) RAF and export to Ecuador (6) and France (4).
|
|
Canberra B(I) 6
24 Built |
Interim interdictor variant for RAF based on B.6 with a detachable ventral pack in the bomb bay housing four 20 mm Hispano cannons
|
|
Canberra PR
74 Built |
Photo-reconnaissance variant of B.6, similar equipment to the PR.3 but uprated engines of the B.6 and increased fuel capacity. RAF and export to India (3)
|
|
Canberra B(I) 8
106 Built |
Interdictor derived from B.6 with a new forward fuselage with offset teardrop canopy and navigator station ahead of pilot. 4 Hispano cannons in bomb bay gun-pack, single hard-point under each wing for bombs or unguided rockets, LABS (Low-Altitude Bombing System) for nuclear and / or conventional bomb delivery. 12 of the 106 built were by Shorts. RAF and export to India (11), Peru (9) and Venezuela. (8)
|
|
Canberra PR.9
23 Built |
Photo-reconnaissance version with fuselage stretched to 68 ft, wingspan increased by 4 ft and Avon R.A.27 (Avon 206) engines. Offset canopy with a hinged nose to allow fitment of an ejection seat for the navigator. Built by Short Brothers & Harland. RAF.
|
|
Canberra B(I) 12
16 Built
|
B(I)8 with autopilot and enhanced navigation equipment built for New Zealand and South Africa. Plus one converted from ex RAF B(I)8 for New Zealand
|
|
Canberra T.13
1 Built
|
Version of the T.4 for New Zealand , one built new and one conversion from RAF T4.
|
|
Canberra Mk.20
48 Built
|
Licence built B.2 in Australia by Government Aircraft Factory with wing integral fuel tanks and improved navigation equipment.
|
|
Canberra PR.57
5 Built
|
PR.7 upgraded for India with autopilot, additional navigation equipment, radio altimeter and re-worked electrics. Plus conversions from RAF and Indian PR.7s
|
|
Canberra B(I) 58
38 Built
|
B(I)8 upgraded for India with autopilot and additional navigation equipment. Plus conversions from Indian B(I) 8s pre- and post- delivery
|
|
B-57A/B/C/E
RB-57A/D Canberra
403 Built
|
Licence built aircraft in USA by Glenn L. Martin Co. Many converted to further versions. Some aircraft transferred to Pakistan and Republic of China (Taiwan).
|
Conversions
|
Canberra B(I)2
|
Interdictor version of the B.2 for Venezuela
|
|
Canberra B.6(BS)
25 Conversions
|
B.6 aircraft fitted with Blue Shadow sideways-looking radar.
|
|
Canberra B.6(RC)
4 Conversions
|
B.6 converted for Radar Countermeasures - Specialist ELINT aircraft with enlarged nose and Side Looking Airborne Radar (SLAR)
|
|
Canberra U.10 / D.10
18 Conversions |
Remotely controlled target converted from B.2 Utilised for missile trials at the Weapons Research Establishment, Woomera, Australia.
|
|
Canberra T.11
9 Conversions
|
B.2s converted with nose radome. Trainer for pilots and navigators of all-weather interceptors to operate the Airborne Intercept radar, crew of four. Also Target Facilities.
|
|
Canberra U.14/ D.14
6 Conversions |
Remotely controlled target converted from B.2 for Royal Navy.
|
|
Canberra B.15
39 Conversions |
Upgraded B.6 for low level tactical strike. Fitted with underwing hard-points for bombs or rockets and updated avionics and camera fittings. LABS (Low-Altitude Bombing System)
|
|
Canberra E.15
8 Conversions
|
B.15 Converted with enhanced electronics fit as interception targets for air defence training and radar calibration.
|
|
Canberra B.16
19 Conversions |
Low level tactical strike role converted from B.6(BS). LABS (Low-Altitude Bombing System)
|
|
Canberra T.17
24 Conversions |
B.2 converted as electronic warfare training variant for surface-based missile operators, airborne fighter and airborne early warning (AEW) crew training of handling jamming aircraft.
|
|
Canberra T.17A
6 Conversions |
Updated T.17 with improved navigation aids, a spectrum analyser and a powerful communications jammer
|
|
Canberra TT.18
22 Conversions |
Target tug conversion of B.2 for the RAF and Royal Navy.
|
|
Canberra T.19
8 Conversions
|
T.11 with radar removed for Target Facilities.
|
|
Canberra Mk.21
7 Conversions
|
Trainer conversions from B.2 and Mk.20 in Australia
|
|
Canberra T.22
7 Conversions
|
Conversion of PR.7 for Royal Navy Fleet Requirements and Air Direction Unit with Buccaneer S.2 radar and avionics. Used for training Buccaneer navigators
|
|
Canberra B.52
4 Conversions
|
Refurbished ex RAF B.2 bombers for Ethiopia
|
|
Canberra B(I) 56
6 Conversions
|
Refurbished ex RAF B.2 and B.6 bombers converted to Interdictors
for Peru
|
|
Canberra B.62
10 Conversions
|
Refurbished (ex-RAF) B.2 bombers for Argentina.
|
|
Canberra T.64
2 Conversions
|
Refurbished (ex-RAF) T.4 trainers for Argentina.
|
|
Canberra B(I) 66
10 Conversions
|
Refurbished (ex-RAF) B.15 & B.16 bombers converted to Interdictors for India.
|
|
Canberra PR.67
2 Conversions
|
Refurbished and upgraded ex RAF PR.7s for India.
|
|
Canberra B(I) 68
12 Conversions
|
Refurbished ex RAF B(I)8 bombers for Peru. 11 supplied by Marshalls of Cambridge, 1 by BAC.
|
|
Canberra B.82
8 Conversions
|
Refurbished and upgraded Venezuelan B.2s
|
|
Canberra B(I) 82
4 Conversions
|
Refurbished and upgraded Venezuelan B(I)2s
|
|
Canberra PR.83
1 Conversion
|
Refurbished and upgraded Venezuelan PR.3
|
|
Canberra T.84
2 Conversions
|
Refurbished and upgraded Venezuelan T.4s
|
|
Canberra B(I) 88
5 Conversions
|
Refurbished and upgraded B(I)8 for Venezuela
|
|
Canberra B.92
|
Ex-RAF B.2 for Argentina. One aircraft ordered but not completed.
|
|
Canberra T.94
|
Ex RAF T.4 for Argentina. One aircraft ordered but not completed.
|
|
Short SC.9
1 Conversion |
Modified PR9 by Shorts, fitted with an AI.23 radar and IR installation in the nose for Red Top air-to-air missile trials.
|
|
Short SD.1
1 Conversion
|
Modified PR3 by Shorts as a launch vehicle carrying 2 variants of the Beech AQM-37A high-speed target missile in trials for the Royal Aircraft Establishment
|
|
Canberra Tp52
2 Conversions
|
Ex RAF B.2 aircraft modified with extended T.11 style nose for ELINT duties with the Royal Swedish Air Force
|
Specification (Canberra B.2)
|
Powerplant
|
2 × Rolls-Royce Avon RA3 engines of 6500 lbf (28.9 kN) each
|
|
Wingspan
|
63 ft 11 in (19.49m)
|
|
Length (MOVED UP)
|
65 ft 6 in (19.96 m)
|
|
Weight
|
Max take off 46,000 lb (20,860 kg) Max payload 6,000 lb. (2,720 kg)
|
|
Crew
|
3
|
|
Length
|
65 ft 6 in (19.96 m)
|
|
Max speed
|
518 mph (833 km/h) at sea level, 570 mph (917 km/h) at high altitude
|
|
Normal maximum range
|
2,660 miles (2,310 nm, 4,280 km)
|
Number built
|
925
|
Built in the UK: English Electric (631), Short Brothers & Harland (144), Avro (75), Handley Page (75) [Delivered: 1951-64]
|
|
403
|
Built in the USA by Glenn L. Martin Co. [Delivered: 1953-57]
|
|
48
|
Built in Australia by the Government Aircraft Factory [Delivered: 1953-58]
|
|
1376
|
Total Built
|
Survivors
|
Canberra B.2
(WH725)
|
Imperial War Museum, Duxford, Cambridgeshire, UK www.iwm.org.uk |
|
Canberra B.2
(WJ677)
|
Fleet Air Arm Museum, Yeovilton, UK www.fleetairarm.com |
|
Canberra B.2
(WK138)
|
West German AF Museum (Luftwaffenmuseum) Berlin-Gatow, W Germany www.mhm-gatow.de |
|
Canberra B.2
(WK163)
|
Classic Flight (now defunct), Air Atlantique, Coventry Airport, Warks, UK |
|
Canberra B.(1)8
(WT327)
|
AirPlatforms Inc, Lakeport, California, USA |
|
Canberra B.(1)8
(WT333)
|
Bruntingthorpe Aerodrome, Bath Ln, Lutterworth LE17 5QS |
|
Canberra B.(1)8
(WT346 )
|
New Zealand Warbirds Association, Ardmore, Aukland, NZ https://nzwarbirds.org.nz/ |
|
Canberra B.(1)8
(WV787)
|
Newark Air Museum, Newark, UK www.newarkairmuseum.org |
|
Canberra B.20
(XM264)
|
Alex Campbell Park, Brymaroo, Queensland, Australia www.monumentaustralia.org.au |
|
Canberra B.(1)8
(XM264)
|
Flugausstellung Aircraft Museum, Hermeskeil, Germany www.flugausstellung.de |
|
Canberra B.20
(A84-223)
|
Temora Aviation Museum, Western Australia www.aviationmuseum.com.au |
|
Canberra B.20
(A84-226)
|
A84-226 - Heritage Centre, RAAF Wagga, Australia www.airforce.gov.au |
|
Canberra B.20
(A84-225)
|
Queensland Air Museum, Australia www.qam.com.au |
|
Canberra B.20
(A84-230)
|
Air Force Association Museum, Bull Creek, W Australia www.raafawa.org.au/museum |
|
Canberra B.20
(A84-236)
|
RAAF Museum, Point Cook, Victoria, Australia www.raafmuseum.com.au |
|
Canberra B.20
(A84-238)
|
RAAF Base Amberly, Australia www.airforce.gov.au/displays/raaf-museum |
|
Canberra B.20
(A84-240)
|
Royal New Zealand Air Force Museum, Christchurch, NZ www.airforcemuseum.co.nz |
|
Canberra B.2
(WK165)
|
South Australian Aviation Museum, Port Adelaide, South Australia www.saam.org.au |
|
Canberra B.20
(A84-245)
|
D.S.T.O. (Fisherman's Bend), Melbourne, Australia |
|
Canberra B.20
(A84-247)
|
Defense Munitions Depot, Kingswood, NSW, Australia www.users.tpg.com.au |
|
Canberra B.(1)58
(IF907)
|
Indian Air Force Museum, Palam, New Delhi, Delhi 110010, India |
|
Canberra B.62
(B-102)
|
Olivia City Railway Station, Cordoba Province, Argentina |
|
Canberra T.4
(WD954)
|
South Australian Aviation Museum, Port Adelaide, South Australia www.saam.org.au |
|
Canberra T.4
(WE188)
|
Solway Aviation Society, Carlisle www.solway-aviation-museum.co.uk/ |
|
Canberra T.4
(WH840)
|
Norfolk & Suffolk Aviation Museum, Flixton, Suffolk www.aviationmuseum.net |
|
Canberra T.4
(WH846)
|
Yorkshire Air Museum, Elvington, N Yorkshire www.yorkshireairmuseum.org |
|
Canberra T.4
(VN799)
|
Classic Flight (Now defunct), Coventry Airport |
|
Canberra T.4
(457)
|
South African Air Force Museum, SAAFB Swartkop, South Africa
|
|
Canberra T.17
(WD955)
|
Norwegian Aviation Museum, Bodoe, Norway www.luftfartsmuseum.no |
|
Canberra T.17
(WH740)
|
East Midlands Aeropark, East Midlands Airport, UK www.eastmidlandsaeropark.org |
|
Canberra T.19
(WH904)
|
Newark Air Museum, Newark, UK www.newarkairmuseum.org |
|
Canberra Tp.52
(001)
|
Ugglarp Museum, Sweden www.svedinos.se |
|
Canberra Tp.52
(002)
|
Swedish Air Force Museum, Linkoeping, Sweden www.flygvapenmuseum.se |
|
Canberra TT.18
(WJ574)
|
Valiant Air Command Museum IN Titusville Florida, USA www.valiantaircommand.com |
|
Canberra TT.18
(WJ639)
|
North East Aircraft Museum, Sunderland, UK www.nelsam.org.uk |
|
Canberra TT.18
(WJ680)
|
Temora Aviation Museum, Australia www.aviationmuseum.com.au |
|
Canberra TT.18
(WK126)
|
Jet Age Museum, Meteor Business Park, Gloucester, UK www.jetagemuseum.org |
|
Canberra PR.3
(WE139)
|
RAF Museum, Hendon, London. UK www.rafmuseum.org.uk |
|
Canberra PR.3
(WF922)
|
Midland Air Museum, Baginton, UK www.midlandairmuseum.co.uk |
|
Canberra PR.7
(WH773)
|
Royal AF Museum Laarbruch, Flughafen-Ring 6, 47652 Weeze, Germany. www.laarbruch-museum.net |
|
Canberra PR.7
(WH791)
|
Newark Air Museum, Newark, UK www.newarkairmuseum.org |
|
Canberra PR.7
(WJ821)
|
WJ821 - Bassingbourn Barracks, Royton, Hertfordshire, UK www.towermuseumbassingbourn.com/ |
|
Canberra PR.9
(XH166)
|
National Air and Space Museum, Cerrillos Santiago de Chile. www.museoaeronautico.gob.cl |
|
Canberra PR.9
(XH171)
|
RAF Museum, Cosford, Shifnal, Shropshire, UK www.rafmuseum.org.uk/cosford |
|
Canberra PR.9
(XH173)
|
National Air and Space Museum, Cerrillos Santiago de Chile. www.museoaeronautico.gob.cl |
Several ex-RAF machines and RB-57s remain flying in the US for research and mapping work. It is believed that 10 airworthy aircraft are in private hands today and are flown at air displays. The list above does not include nose sections, full or part fuselages or 'Fire Training airframes'.
