Country of origin:

United Kingdom

Description:

Long-range tactical bomber

Power Plant:

Two 7,500 lbst Rolls Royce Avon 109 (RA7) axial flow turbojets

Specifications:

Armament:

In bomber role six 454 kg (1,000 lb), or one 1,814 kg (4,000 lb) and two 454 kg (1,000 lb)bombs; or eight 227 kg (500 lb) bombs internally; plus up to 907 kg (2,000 lb) of stores on under-wing pylons

History:

The Canberra, one of the most successful jet bombers of the post-war era, designed by W S W Petter, was chosen by the RAAF for licence production in Australia.

A contract was placed in January 1946 for four prototypes. The prototype Canberra (VN799) first flew on 13 May 1949 and the first of 718 production aircraft flew in October 1950, entering Royal Air Force (RAF) service in May 1951. The Canberra had exceptional performance for its day due to its aerodynamic efficiency. The type was supplied to a number of countries and was licence built in Australia and the United States of America.

In 1951 the Australian Government Aircraft Factory (GAF) was authorised to build 48 Canberra B.20 bombers, which was the equivalent of the RAF English Electric Canberra B.2. Five aircraft were to be imported as pattern aircraft: WD935 (A84-1); WD942 (A84-2), WH710 (A84-3), WD983 (A84-125), and WD939 (A84-307). Although A84-1 appeared on RAAF records, it was not brought to Australia.

The first machine received was A84-307, which arrived in August 1951, followed by A84-125. The other two, A84-2 and A84-3, arrived in November 1951 and June 1953 respectively, and both returned to the United Kingdom in October 1957.

The first Australian-built Canberra B.20 A84-201 made its first flight on 29 May 1953 and the last to be built A84-248 was first flown on 30 September 1958. The first 28 aircraft A84-201 to A8-228 were powered by the 6,500 lbst Rolls Royce Avon 101 (RA3) engines, and the remainder A84-229 to A84-248 by the 7,500 lbst Rolls Royce Avon 109 (RA7) engines, this model being similar to the RAF Canberra B.6. Between 1958 and 1960, five B.20s A84-201 and A84-203 to A84-206, and two Canberra B.2s A84-125 and A84-307 were converted to Canberra T.21 trainer standard. Two English Electric built Canberra T.4s (WT491 and WT492) were imported and became A84-501 and A84-502.

The Canberra replaced GAF-built Avro Lincoln B.30s with No 2 Squadron in 1954, No 6 Squadron in 1955, and No 1 Squadron in 1958. They also operated with No 1 (B) Operational Conversion Unit and the Australian Research and Development Trials Unit, and as communications and target aircraft. In addition, a number of RAF Canberras operated at Weapons Research Establishment (WRE) Woomera and RAAF Edinburgh in  South Australia including un-manned radio-controlled target aircraft, which were Canberra U.10s, conversions of Canberra B.2s. Two RAAF Canberras A84-201 and A84-202 were entered in the 1953 London – New Zealand Air Race. The latter came second to an RAF Canberra PR.3.

In 1978 the RAAF still had 21 Canberras in its inventory, of which eight were B.20s and thirteen T.21s. At that time the type equipped No 2 Squadron at Amberley QLD, for photo-reconnaissance and target-towing work. However, in August 1979 they were temporarily withdrawn from service after doubts about their airworthiness as inspections found corrosion in the main spar connections of thirteen aircraft. As there was no chance of their replacement for some years, plans were made to extend their life at least until 1984.

The Australian Canberra saw extensive service in Vietnam, and two were lost A84-231 and A84-228 during operations. In 1958 No 2 Squadron deployed to Butterworth in Malaysia as part of the Commonwealth Far East Strategic Reserve, the aircraft flying missions against communist insurgents during the Malayan Emergency. The unit remained in Malaya until deployed to Phan Rang, South Vietnam in 1967, becoming part of the USAF’s 35th Tactical Fighter Wing.

In four years of operations the Australian unit flew 11,696 missions, dropping 76,389 bombs (26,730 tons), the last mission being flown on 31 May 1971 by A84-244. On its return to Australia the unit was re-designated as a photo-reconnaissance squadron based at Amberley,QLD. Five of the unit’s Canberras were fitted with Wild RC10 cameras and surveyed New Guinea, Irian Jaya, Sumatra and central northern Australia.

In the mid 1970s about 12 Canberras were disposed of by the RAAF. A number went to private museums, and five to a Melbourne, VIC company. These were to be flown from Amberley to Essendon, VIC. However, due to a Government embargo on their export, they remained in storage, together with ten spare Avon engines, four fuselages and other spares, until they were dismantled during 1981.

A number of Australian Canberras survive. One A84-201 has been mounted at the gate at RAAF Amberley; A84-229 was exchanged with a private owner in the USA for a Lockheed Ventura for the RAAF Museum; A84-502 is held by Historic Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) at Albion Park, NSW; A84-204 has been placed at the RNZAF Museum at Wigram; one A84-207 has been mounted on a plinth at Wanaka, NZ;  and others have been displayed by the RAAF Museum, Point Cook, VIC, the RAAF Wagga Wagga, NSW, etc.

One ex-RAF aircraft was imported by the Temora Aviation Museum, NSW in 2000. This aircraft, an ex-RAF Handley Page-built TT Mk 18 (ex WJ680, ex-G-BURM), became VH-ZSQ and has been airworthy. Another has been placed on display as a static exhibit at Temora. A84-238 has been placed on display at a motel at Amberley; and two others, A84-248 and A84-238, one on a plinth, were on display on the highway near Amberley Airbase until removed for museums in 2016. An example is on display at Avalon, VIC; and another A84-307 has been held by the Vietnam Veterans Museum at Phillip Island, VIC.

In 1958, as part of the Commonwealth Strategic Reserve based at Tengah, No 75 Squadron RNZAF took on charge a squadron of RAF B.2s on loan, crews receiving initial training on the aircraft in the United Kingdom before being ferried to Malaya. The 1957 Defence Review required the RNZAF to have two squadrons for light bomber and interdiction duties in south-east Asia and to this end it was decided to borrow eight ex-RAF B.2 bombers and two T.4 trainers, which would be operated by No 75 Squadron. Serials of these B.2 aircraft included: WF915, WH645, WH666, WH739, WH740, WH922, WJ605, WJ630, WH715, WH986, WJ988 and WK102. Squadron strength was nine aircraft so it seems they were exchanged from time to time.

The T.4s (WJ859 and WJ864) were attached to the Bomber Operational Conversion Unit at Ohakea and were leased pending delivery of the T.13s. The unit commenced duties in Malaya in July 1958, No 14 Squadron, which up to then had operated de Havilland Venoms, returning to New Zealand to take over the Vampires previously operated by No 75 Squadron.

Due to economic restraints the RNZAF relinquished its loaned Canberras and they were ferried by RNZAF crews back to the United Kingdom between January and March 1962, the unit returning to New Zealand where it became the Jet Conversion Unit with a mixture of Canberras and Vampires.