Screaming and Solid: Former RAF English Electric Canberra Bomber

This video was taken at the Temora Aviation Museum’s April 2024 Aircraft Showcase on 06 April 2024.

The English Electric Canberra is an all-metal, semi-monocoque construction with a canti-levered wing and a wooden vertical stabilizer. It is a successor to the wartime de Havilland Mosquito fast bomber. When the Canberra entered service with the Royal Air Force (RAF) as the first operator in 1951, it became the service's first jet-powered bomber. The type was also licence-produced in Australia by Government Aircraft Factories (GAF) and in the US by Martin as the B-57 Canberra.

This specific aircraft (Military S/N WJ680, current rego VH-ZSQ) entered service in December 1955 with 551 Wing RAF Bomber Command based at Gutersloh, Germany. In 1967, it was converted by British Aerospace to TT.18 standard, carrying the target-towing system designed by Rushton. It performed its last flight in RAF service with 100 Squadron on 18 December 1991. It is now with Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Heritage Squadron (No 100 Squadron).