English Electric Canberra - Survivor WH700
B.2 WH700 - Lincoln Nitshke Military and Historical Aircraft Collection, Greenock, South Australia
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Canberra B.2 WH700 at Lincoln Nitshke Military and Historical Aircraft Collection, 19th March 2015; Bill Strong
WH700 was built in January 1953 and entered service with 2 Tactical Air Force in the charge of the Tactical Development Unit. She was next allocated to 1323 Flt (Wyton) but, according to the record was never taken up by this Flight. Some say it did actually carry out missions with them though as WH700 is one of three Canberras that were supposed to have been fitted with a large US camera in the bomb bay. These allegedly took part in the infamous "overflights" of the USSR (Kapustin Yar) in the late 1950s looking for USSR missile production sites. Although histories say WH700 never actually flew with 1323 Flt it may have been crewed by them and crews from 192Sqd.
In September 1955 WH700 was taken on loan by the UK's Controller (Aircraft) and passed to DH Props to take part in trial installations for the Blue Jay programme. In October 1956 WH700 was allocated to Blue Jay Joint Services Trials Unit at the Weapons Research Establishment, Australia departing from Hatfield in February 1957.
In December 1959, still with 12 JSTU, Woomera, WH700 was transferred to the Red Top/Jindivik trials for a couple of months before, in February 1960, she was allocated as the Safety Aircraft for the Blue Steel programme. WH700 stayed with the Blue Steel programme until December 1960.
She stayed at Woomera in non-participant role for about 10 years until being struck off charge at Edinburgh Field in February 1970. After another 12 years, WH700 was taken on by the Air Museum, Prarfield in 1982 where she languished for a further eight years before being taken up by the Lincoln Nitshke Military and Historical Aircraft Collection in 1990.
Today the airframe seems to be in a decent state. The aircraft can be seen tied down and supported with a trestle just behind the bomb door, this is to stop it being blown onto its tail due to the Canberra being a very tail heavy aircraft when lacking engines or seats.
In September 1955 WH700 was taken on loan by the UK's Controller (Aircraft) and passed to DH Props to take part in trial installations for the Blue Jay programme. In October 1956 WH700 was allocated to Blue Jay Joint Services Trials Unit at the Weapons Research Establishment, Australia departing from Hatfield in February 1957.
In December 1959, still with 12 JSTU, Woomera, WH700 was transferred to the Red Top/Jindivik trials for a couple of months before, in February 1960, she was allocated as the Safety Aircraft for the Blue Steel programme. WH700 stayed with the Blue Steel programme until December 1960.
She stayed at Woomera in non-participant role for about 10 years until being struck off charge at Edinburgh Field in February 1970. After another 12 years, WH700 was taken on by the Air Museum, Prarfield in 1982 where she languished for a further eight years before being taken up by the Lincoln Nitshke Military and Historical Aircraft Collection in 1990.
Today the airframe seems to be in a decent state. The aircraft can be seen tied down and supported with a trestle just behind the bomb door, this is to stop it being blown onto its tail due to the Canberra being a very tail heavy aircraft when lacking engines or seats.
Information on this page current as of 01/02/2019, last updated by Jake |
Find other photos of WH700 on the following sites:
Air-Britain - Airliners.net - Airplane-Pictures.net - flickr.com - WorldAirPics.com - JetPhotos.net - PlanePictures.net