The English Electric Canberra became the Royal Air Force’s first jet bomber and the type remained in service for unprecedented 57 years.
English Electric had re-entered the aviation business at the beginning of the Second World War, building Handley Page Hampdens and later Halifax bombers. As the war was coming to a close, English Electric decided to establish a design office to move the company forward. The new design team was headed by the former Westland Chief Designer W.E.W. Petter.
The Canberra design had its origins in 1944, when a replacement was being sought for the unarmed high speed, high altitude de Havilland Mosquito bomber. Several British aircraft manufacturers submitted proposals, but it was English Electric’s design that was successful, and in May 1945 a development contract was signed. In the autumn of 1945, the Air Ministry issued specification B.3/45 which requested the production of four prototypes. Although construction began in early 1946, the post-war military reduction programme really affected the development programme. The first prototype flew on 13th May 1949. In the interim, the Air Ministry had shown great confidence in the project and had placed an order for 132 production aircraft, in bomber, reconnaissance and training variants. The first production Canberra flew on the 21st April 1950 and entered service with the Royal Air Force in May 1951.
The Canberra was an instant success, with demand, both from the RAF and overseas air forces, exceeding English Electric’s ability to supply, so production licences were issued to both Handley Page and Short Brothers. Canberra aircraft were also manufactured under licence in the United States of America and Australia. 406 Canberra aircraft were built by the Martin Aircraft Company, as the B-57, which replaced the B-26 Invader in USAF service. Total worldwide Canberra production reached 1,352 aircraft, built in 27 versions, equipping 35 RAF squadrons and 16 customer air forces.
The Canberra was finally retired from RAF service on 28th July 2006, at RAF Marham. The last three aircraft were flown to Kemble airfield, three days later, where they were purchased by private agencies for possible future contract work. NASA continues to fly two B-57 aircraft for high altitude research programmes.
