Aircraft Profile – Canberra

To most keen aviation enthusiasts, when the words “graceful old lady” are mentioned the faithful old C47 “Dak” would seem to be the logical choice. But not so; in this case we are referring to the reliable although not nearly as old and much less world-renowned English Electric Canberra bomber.

The English Electric Canberra first flew on May 13, 1949 from Warton, the aircraft being designated Canberra A1. Designed to specification B3/45, the Canberra B 1 prototypes all flew in 1949 and were of the two crew version. The B2 follow-on version first flew on April 21, 1950, and was capable of carrying a crew of three. It is easily identified by the now familiar plexiglass nose.

This version, the B2, was subsequently ordered and put into production for RAF Bomber Command, assembly being undertaken by English Electric, Avro, Handley Page and Shorts. Altogether a total of 430 were built, the first deliveries beginning in January 1951 and with the first squadron to become fully operational on the Canberra, No. 101, in May 1951.

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