WH869 probably hasn't survived and is in this list mainly becauseof this fine photo from Kev. Of mid-wing monoplane configuration, these aircraft were powered by two 28.91kN Rolls-Royce Avon 101 engines and could carry internally 2,722kg of conventional or nuclear weapons. The photo shows it painted all-white at Abingdon around the early 90s where it was awaiting the final axe. But although the four prototypes were built to this configuration, the first production Canberra B.2 carried a crew of three and were configured for visual bombing. The English Electric Canberra first came into production in the late. Air crew knew or could know what the losses were. ![]() The crew destroyed the mortar position its crew and the ammo supply. A history of the British bomber aircraft and stories from the crew who served with it. It was initially equipped with the robust twin-engined Wellington bomber, then briefly with four. At Abingdon it served as a Rescue Training airframe where the particular crew arrangements and positions of the Canberra were fully utilised. The Australian built aircraft was designated simply the Canberra Mk.20 (not B.20. Though the Canberras cockpit was pressurized, both Mike Randrup and Walter Shirley wore pressure suits in case of emergency. In 1977, it was transferred to RAF Abingdon under Instruction Airframe no 8515M. When 245 Sqd closed down in 1963 WH869 transferred to 98 Sqd at RAF Tangmere where it stayed until 1970 when it was again transferred to 7 Sqd's B.2 Flight, newly formed at RAF St Mawgan. It stayed with 527 until they closed down in 1958 when it was transferred to 245 Sqd which was formed on the same station taking a number of 527's aircraft and crews (ground and air). ![]() ![]() It was delivered first to the RAF Flying College but soon transferred to 527 Sqd at RAF Watton. The pilot and navigator were positioned in a tandem arrangement on Martin-Baker ejection seats. Built as a B.2 in 1953, WH869 spent the best part of its working life in service with bomber squadrons in the RAF. The Canberra had a two-man crew in a fighter-style cabin with a large blown canopy, but delays in the development of the intended automatic radar bombsight resulted in the addition of a bomb aimer's position housed within the nose.
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