Warbird Information Exchange

FYI:

June 28, 2006: Britain's first jet bomber, the Canberra, has finally retired, after 55 years of service. The two engine jet, first designed as a bomber, was quickly adapted to reconnaissance and electronic warfare missions. So successful was the Canberra at this, that even the United States bought some 400 of them for that role as the B-57. The American Canberra's served from 1955 to 1981. Towards the end, the B-57 served mainly as an electronic warfare aircraft. In all, 1,352 Canberras were built. One reason for their popularity as recon aircraft, was their ability to fly high (up to 70,000 feet.) The 24 ton aircraft had a crew of three, and could stay in the air up to six hours per sortie. The internal bomb bay could hold 2.7 tons. This provided plenty of capacity for cameras, or electronic warfare equipment. In 55 years of service, fifteen nations used Canberras. While one of the most versatile and long serving warplanes, it is also one of the least known. The last combat assignment for Canberras was flying recon missions over Iraq.

VTANG was the last to give up there EB-57's in 1981.

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Long Live the N3N-3 "The Last US Military Bi-Plane" 1940-1959
Badmouthing Stearmans on WIX since 2005

There are still a few Canberras soldiering on in other nations. NASA has a couple too. It is a sad day though, and the RAF doesn't have a real replacement for the air asset either.

Cheers,
Richard

The last 2 WB-57s fly regularly here in Houston.

The American Canberras were actually built in the US by the Glen L. Martin Company in Baltimore, MD. There were minor differences between them and the English Electric variants.

The aircrew was reduced to two, the cockpit arrangement was different, tip-tanks were installed and Martin's famous rotary bomb bay from the XB-51 was installed.

As mentioned above, two of the WB-57 high altitude variants still soldier on with NASA in Houston in an air-sampling role. Another of their roles is observation of the shuttle launches from high altitudes.

Walt

Way back in the late 70's when I was a kid. My father had a very good friend who was the chief in the fire house at the VTANG/Burlington Int AP. Dad would take me there while he had coffee with them. Our family friend would go out in the bay and start up a old, I think were "O-11A's" and we would take a tour of the flight line. I cant remember how many they had, but I do remember the Black one sticking out like a sore thumb among all the ADC grey & artic Orange birds.

A couple yrs ago, I got to visit the USAF museum while on training at the RR school in Indy. When I 1st seen the B-57 there, I had commented to a friend that the last time I had seen "that very airplane" it was on the ramp. Such a neat airplane, esp on start!!

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Long Live the N3N-3 "The Last US Military Bi-Plane" 1940-1959
Badmouthing Stearmans on WIX since 2005

The article previously posted was not the clearest, but the retirement referred to the Brits "Electric" Canberra. Obviously not all variants have been discarded as NASA has their 2 still in use. Thx for the all the info!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Electric_Canberra

regards,

t!

India still has a flight of canberras it uses in the reconnaissance role, but other than that, I can't think of any other military operators. Good to see that a couple are still airworthy in the UK though, and one in Australia.

Cheers,
Richard

Wasn't there one on the civil register in the US? I recall seeing it at Oshkosh one year. I think it had come from Australia.

where did the 2 that were at Mesa, AZ (CAF AZ) about 10 years ago go? When i was there a few years ago again they were gone.

Tim

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www.tailhookstudio.com

Lots of Canberra info at www.bywat.co.uk

The RAF have not retired theirs yet - they will do so at the end of this month.

In the mean time, they have finished with operational duties and are being shown off at a couple of airshows (Waddington this weekend, RIAT in a couple of weeks) before taking part in the Marham families day... and then the next day the Squadron disbands and the airframes get sold to the highest bidder.

Returning home from their last overseas deployment...



Displaying today at Waddington...

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Awfully nice aeroplane piccies available

a real war horse that still gives a bang for the buck regardless of what flag it flies under!!!

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tom d. friedman - hey!!! those fokkers were messerschmitts!! * without ammunition, the usaf would be just another flying club!!! * better to have piece of mind than piece of tail!!