English Electric Canberra - Survivor WT205
B.15 WT205 - RAF Manston History Museum, Kent
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Canberra B.15 WT205 at RAF Manston History Museum, 16th August 2006; Francis Wallace
Built by Short Brothers and Harland Ltd as a B.6, WT205 was ready for collection on October 31 1955. She was taken on charge by the RAF and issued to 9 Sqn, at that time resident at RAF Coningsby. 9 Sqn had just converted from B.2s to B.6s and had moved from RAF Binbrook in September. WT205 flew with 9 Sqn for six years until just five months before they disbanded in December 1961. On 15 July 1961, WT205 was transferred to English Electric who carried out the conversion to B.15 configuration - but she never flew with the RAF again. WT205's remaining years were spent in trials and development.
In December 1962 she was loaned to Controller Supply (Aircraft) and was flown to Marshalls Cambridge where she spent four months undergoing unspecified trial installations. On 19 April 1963 she was moved to the Aircraft and Armament Experimental Establishment for clearance trials before returning to Marshalls in July of 1963. A year later, July 1964, WT205 was back at the A&AEE for extended armament trials.
This B.15 then shuttled between Marshalls and the A&AEE from June 1966 to April 1967. On her last visit to Marshalls (December 1966 to April 1967) she was fitted with a practice bomb carrier. We can be sure this and other trials fits were evaluated during her resumed stay with the A&AEE until, on 30 January 1969 she was transferred to the charge of the Ministry of Aviation. The trials saga continued with WT205 returning once again to the A&AEE for ballistic trials on 26 March 1971. She was released from this task on 7 June 1972 and finally struck off charge on 31 August 1972.
Her active life wasn't over though as she was allocated to the Royal Aircraft Establishment on the day she was struck off charge and was flown to Farnborourgh a month later on 28 September 1972 where she was converted to a ground effect research vehicle. Finally, after many years serving the aircraft establishment, WT205 was broken up for scrap. Fortunately, the nose section was rescued and has ended up at the RAF Manston History Museum where it is being gradually restored to exhibition standard.
In December 1962 she was loaned to Controller Supply (Aircraft) and was flown to Marshalls Cambridge where she spent four months undergoing unspecified trial installations. On 19 April 1963 she was moved to the Aircraft and Armament Experimental Establishment for clearance trials before returning to Marshalls in July of 1963. A year later, July 1964, WT205 was back at the A&AEE for extended armament trials.
This B.15 then shuttled between Marshalls and the A&AEE from June 1966 to April 1967. On her last visit to Marshalls (December 1966 to April 1967) she was fitted with a practice bomb carrier. We can be sure this and other trials fits were evaluated during her resumed stay with the A&AEE until, on 30 January 1969 she was transferred to the charge of the Ministry of Aviation. The trials saga continued with WT205 returning once again to the A&AEE for ballistic trials on 26 March 1971. She was released from this task on 7 June 1972 and finally struck off charge on 31 August 1972.
Her active life wasn't over though as she was allocated to the Royal Aircraft Establishment on the day she was struck off charge and was flown to Farnborourgh a month later on 28 September 1972 where she was converted to a ground effect research vehicle. Finally, after many years serving the aircraft establishment, WT205 was broken up for scrap. Fortunately, the nose section was rescued and has ended up at the RAF Manston History Museum where it is being gradually restored to exhibition standard.
Information on this page current as of 01/05/2019, last updated by Jake |
Find other photos of WT205 on the following sites:
Air-Britain - Airliners.net - Airplane-Pictures.net - flickr.com - WorldAirPics.com - JetPhotos.net - PlanePictures.net