Thunder & Lightnings

English Electric Canberra - Survivors

Les Bywaters
In memory of Les Bywaters, Canberra rigger and all round good bloke

With an enormous production run, it is no surprise that there are a lot of Canberras still hanging on to life out there - though sadly only one flying at the time of writing. Because of the sheer number, we've taken the decision to (at least initially) limit this list to Canberras of any mark located within Europe, and any outside of Europe that have some RAF or RN history (even if it's only having been allocated a UK serial number before sale to a foreign customer). US-produced B-57 airframes are therefore not included, nor are most UK-produced airframes built purely for export, or those licence built overseas (some have snuck through!). This does mean that most of the surviving examples in India and Australia have not been covered. We would welcome, however, individual contributions of photos and histories for any airframe we have skipped.

This list is, as ever, a work in progress and updates to existing entries are welcome via the comments form on each entry.

Finally, on a personal note from the site owner, adding the Canberra to Thunder & Lightning was something I had always intended to do, but there was always a great excuse not to bother - the Canberra Tribute site put together with much love and time by good friend Les Bywaters. Les passed away in 2009, and I hope this section of T&L does justice to his beloved Canberra. Les was a rigger on Canberras through the most dangerous parts of the Cold War, and had many tales of his time on B(I).8s in Germany. I'm glad he never had to put his family on the escape coach to the UK before seeing off his kite to rain nuclear fire upon invading Soviet troops. I'm glad he lived to see the cold war end; to see the Canberra reach the end of its long and varied RAF career, and to see them fly in private hands. Thank you mate, and rest in peace.

Complete aircraft

SerialMarkOwner & locationUpdated
UnknownUnknownBase Aerea Libertador (stored), Maracay, Venezuela01/03/2021
UnknownUnknownBase Aerea Libertador (stored), Maracay, Venezuela01/03/2021
UnknownUnknownBase Aerea Libertador (stored), Maracay, Venezuela01/03/2021
 
SerialMarkOwner & locationUpdated
233 (ex WJ974)B.2Peru
234 (ex WJ976)B.2Peru
99+34 (ex WK137)B.2Internationales Luftfahrt-Museum, Schwenningen, Germany29/12/2021
99+35 (ex WK138)B.2Militarhistorische Museum der Bundeswehr, Flugplatz Gatow, Berlin, Germany29/12/2021
99+36 (ex WK130)B.2Auto und Technik Museum, Sinsheim, Germany29/12/2021
A84-307 (ex WD939)B.2National Vietnam Veterans Museum, Philip Island, Victoria, Australia29/12/2021
R2250 (ex WH666)B.2China Aviation Museum, Xiaotanzhanzen, China01/06/2018
R2504 (ex WH707)B.2Zimbabwe Military Museum, Gweru, Zimbabwe01/11/2016
WH700B.2Lincoln Nitshke Military and Historical Aircraft Collection, Greenock, South Australia01/02/2019
WH725B.2Imperial War Museum, Duxford, Cambridgeshire12/08/2021
WK163 (ex G-BVWC)B.2Vulcan to the Sky Trust (stored), former Robin Hood Airport, South Yorkshire21/05/2024
WK165B.2South Australian Aviation Museum, Port Adelaide, South Australia28/11/2021
 
SerialMarkOwner & locationUpdated
WV787B.2(mod)Newark Air Museum, Newark, Nottinghamshire12/08/2021
 
SerialMarkOwner & locationUpdated
WE139PR.3RAF Museum London, Hendon, London23/04/2023
WF922PR.3Midland Air Museum, Baginton, Warwickshire16/05/2022
 
SerialMarkOwner & locationUpdated
2215 (ex WJ869)T.4Manyame Air Force base (displayed), Harare, Zimbabwe01/03/2019
457 (ex WJ991)T.4South African Air Force Museum, Swartkop Airfield, Pertoria, South Africa01/09/2014
459 (ex WJ617)T.4AAF Waterkloof (gate guard), Pretoria, South Africa, South Africa01/09/2018
A84-502 (ex WT492)T.4Historical Aircraft Restoration Society Museum, Shellharbour Airport, Albion Rail, New South Wales, Australia01/03/2019
Q495 (ex WH847)T.4India
'VN799' (really WJ874, ex G-CDSX)T.4Cornwall Aviation Heritage Centre, RAF St. Mawgan, Newquay, Cornwall11/10/2022
WE188T.4Solway Aviation Museum, Carlisle Airport, Cumbria20/08/2023
WH840T.4Norfolk & Suffolk Aviation Museum, Flixton, Norfolk15/11/2021
WH846T.4Yorkshire Air Museum, Elvington, Yorkshire25/09/2023
WT483T.4Luqa International Airport (for sale), Malta28/12/2021
 
SerialMarkOwner & locationUpdated
N40UP (ex XH567)B.6John Fischer, Canberra USA (Restoration to fly), Lakeport, California, USA15/08/2021
WJ763B.6National Air and Space Museum of France, Le Bourget, Paris, France01/07/2020
 
SerialMarkOwner & locationUpdated
WT333 (ex G-BVXC)B.6(mod)Canberra WT333 Group (runner), Bruntingthorpe, Leicestershire09/01/2022
 
SerialMarkOwner & locationUpdated
WT308B(I).6Predannack Airfield (dumped), Cornwall01/06/2021
 
SerialMarkOwner & locationUpdated
WH773PR.7RAF Museum Laarbruch-Weeze, Weeze, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany13/11/2021
WH791PR.7Newark Air Museum, Newark, Nottinghamshire14/11/2021
WT537PR.7Koropi Kalivia (Stored), Greece01/09/2019
 
SerialMarkOwner & locationUpdated
256 (ex XM726)B(I).8Pisco, Peru10/09/2023
N30UP (ex WT327)B(I).8Vulcan to the Sky Trust, Lakeport (Stored), California, USA01/01/2022
WT346B(I).8Canberra Support Group (CSG), Ardmore Airport, New Zealand01/07/2021
XM264B(I).8Luftwaffenmuseum, Hermeskeil, Germany01/09/2020
 
SerialMarkOwner & locationUpdated
341 (ex XH166)PR.9National Aeronautical and Space Museum, Los Cerrillos, Chile30/05/2024
343 (ex XH173)PR.9National Aeronautical and Space Museum, Los Cerrillos, Chile30/05/2024
XH131PR.9Ulster Aviation Society, Long Kesh, Lisburn, Northern Ireland 06/03/2022
XH134 (ex G-OMHD)PR.9Cotswold Airport, Kemble, Gloucestershire09/06/2023
XH169PR.9RAF Marham (gate guard), Norfolk07/09/2021
XH170PR.9RAF Wyton (gate guard), Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire05/12/2022
XH171PR.9RAF Museum Midlands, RAF Cosford, Shropshire24/04/2022
 
SerialMarkOwner & locationUpdated
202 (ex 454)B(I).12Pisco, Peru10/09/2023
203 (ex 455)B(I).12Museo Aeronautico del Perú, Lima, Peru10/09/2023
 
SerialMarkOwner & locationUpdated
WD955T.17Norwegian Air Museum, Bodø, Norway01/06/2008
WH740T.17East Midlands Aeropark, Castle Donnington, Derbyshire25/02/2022
 
SerialMarkOwner & locationUpdated
'A84-234', (VH-ZSQ, ex G-BURM, WJ680)TT.18RAAF 100 Squadron (flyer), Temora, New South Wales, Australia12/08/2021
N76764 (ex WK142)TT.18Pima Air & Space Museum (stored), Tucson, Arizona, USA04/01/2022
N76765 (ex WJ614)TT.18Pima Air & Space Museum (stored), Tucson, Arizona, USA01/03/2019
WJ574 (N77844)TT.18Valiant Air Command, Inc. Space Coast Regional Airport, Titusville, Florida13/11/2021
WJ639TT.18North East Land Sea & Air Museum, Sunderland, Durham & Cleveland14/11/2021
WK126 (ex N2138J)TT.18South Wales Aviation Museum, (stored), St. Athan, Wales24/02/2023
 
SerialMarkOwner & locationUpdated
WH904T.19Newark Air Museum, Newark, Nottinghamshire17/08/2021
 
SerialMarkOwner & locationUpdated
A84-207Mk.20National Transport & Toy Museum (gate guard), Wanaka, New Zealand28/11/2021
A84-208Mk.20Ron Schenider (stored), Rupanyup, Victoria, Australia
 
SerialMarkOwner & locationUpdated
A84-125 (ex WD983)Mk.21RAAF Museum (taxiable), Amberley, Queensland, Australia01/03/2019
A84-201Mk.21RAAF Amberley (displayed, memorial garden), New South Wales, Australia25/08/2021
A84-203Mk.21Evans Head Memorial Aerodrome Heritage Museum, New South Wales, Australia1/12/2021
A84-204Mk.21Meandarra ANZAC Memorial Museum, Queensland, Australia
 
SerialMarkOwner & locationUpdated
52001 (ex WH711)Tp.52Svedinos Bil Och Flygmuseum, Ugglarp, Sweden01/08/2016
52002 (ex WH905)Tp.52Flygvapenmuseum, Malmen, Linkoping, Sweden10/09/2023
 
SerialMarkOwner & locationUpdated
'921' (actually 240, ex WJ757)B.56Capitan FAP Renan Elias Olivera Airport (gate guard), Pisco, Peru10/09/2023
 
SerialMarkOwner & locationUpdated
IF901 (ex XH230)B(I).58India01/05/2007
IF907 (ex XH237)B(I).58Indian Air Force Museum, AFS Palam, New Delhi, India13/11/2021
 
SerialMarkOwner & locationUpdated
B-101 (ex WJ616)B.62ESFA, Cordoba, Argentina
B-102 (ex WJ713)B.62Oliva, Cordoba, Argentina02/10/2021
B-105 (ex WH702)B.62Mar del Plata Airport (gate guard), Buenos Aires, Argentina
B-109 (ex WH875)B.62National Aeronautical Museum , Moron, Argentina30/05/2024
 
SerialMarkOwner & locationUpdated
B-111 (ex WT476)T.64General Justo Jose de Urquiza Airport, Parana, Argentina01/08/2017
B-112 (ex WJ875)T.64Parque Urquiza, Parana, Argentina01/09/2019
 
SerialMarkOwner & locationUpdated
251 (ex WT340)B(I).68Capitan FAP Renan Elias Olivera Airport (dumped), Pisco, Peru10/09/2023
253 (ex XM273)B(I).68Capitan FAP Renan Elias Olivera Airport (stored), Pisco, Peru18/02/2022
255 (ex XM263)B(I).68Capitan FAP Renan Elias Olivera Airport (stored), Pisco, Peru01/10/2019
 
SerialMarkOwner & locationUpdated
246 (ex WH846)T.74Pisco, Peru10/09/2023
 
SerialMarkOwner & locationUpdated
0129 (ex WH877) (or is this 0426?)B.82Base Aerea teniente Luis del Valle Garcia (dumped), Barcelona, Anzoategui, Venezuela01/03/2021
1364 (ex WD993)B.82Base Aerea teniente Luis del Valle Garcia (dumped), Barcelona, Anzoategui, Venezuela01/03/2021
'2A-39' (really 1511, ex WH862)B.82Museo Aeronautico de Maracay, Maracay, Venezuela01/10/2014
3246 (ex 2B-39, WH736)B.82Juan Vicente Gomez International Airport (gate guard, derelict), San Antonio Del Tachira, Venezuela01/01/2021
6409 (ex 3A-39, WH721)B.82Generralisimo Franciso de Miranda AB, La Carlota, Caracas, Venezuela01/12/1990
 
SerialMarkOwner & locationUpdated
1131 (ex WH647)B(I).82Base Aerea teniente Luis del Valle Garcia (dumped), Barcelona, Anzoategui, Venezuela01/03/2021
1280 (ex WH881)B(I).82Base Aerea teniente Luis del Valle Garcia (dumped), Barcelona, Anzoategui, Venezuela01/03/2021
1529 (ex WH732)B(I).82Base Aerea teniente Luis del Valle Garcia (dumped), Barcelona, Anzoategui, Venezuela01/03/2021
2001 (ex WJ980)B(I).82Base Aerea teniente Luis del Valle Garcia (dumped), Barcelona, Anzoategui, Venezuela01/03/2021
 
SerialMarkOwner & locationUpdated
0453 (ex 4C-39)B(I).88Museo Aeronautico de Maracay, Maracay, Venezuela01/10/2014
0923 (ex 4B-39)B(I).88Base Aerea teniente Luis del Valle Garcia (gate guard), Barcelona, Anzoategui, Venezuela01/03/2021
UnknownB(I).88Base Aerea Libertador (stored), Maracay, Venezuela01/03/2021

Nose/cockpit/other sections

SerialMarkOwner & locationUpdated
WD935B.2South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum, AeroVenture, Doncaster, Yorkshire30/10/2023
WD954B.2Privately owned, Spitfire Corner, near Newquay Airport, Cornwall01/12/2020
WD956B.2RAF Defford Museum, Croome Park, Worcestershire01/01/2020
WE113B.2Joe & Pam Marsden, Tangmere Military Aviation Museum, Tangmere, West Sussex04/10/2021
WF911B.2Ulster Aviation Society, Long Kesh, County Antrim06/03/2022
WG789B.2Steve Pickup, Norfolk & Suffolk Aviation Museum, Flixton, Norfolk15/11/2021
WH657B.2Booker Air, Brenzett Aeronautical Museum, Brenzett, Kent11/09/2022
WH739B.22475 ATC Squadron, Ammanford, Carmarthenshire01/06/2021
WH903B.2Yorkshire Air Museum, Elvington, York01/06/2021
WJ567B.2Privately Owned, Houghton, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire01/07/2019
WJ676B.2Evans Head Heritage Aviation Museum, New South Wales, Australia01/03/2019
WJ677B.2Privately Owned, Redruth, Cornwall 14/11/2021
WJ678B.2Evans Head Heritage Aviation Museum, New South Wales, Australia12/08/2021
WJ731B.2Privately Owned (For Sale), Golders Green area01/02/2021
WK128B.2South Wales Aviation Museum, St. Athan, Wales24/02/2023
WK146B.2Gatwick Aviation Museum, Charlwood 13/11/2021
WP515B.2Militarhistorische Museum der Bundeswehr (Stored), Flugplatz Gatow, Berlin, Germany01/09/2010
 
SerialMarkOwner & locationUpdated
WH876B.2(mod)Boscombe Down Aviation Collection, Old Sarum airfield, Wiltshire14/11/2021
 
SerialMarkOwner & locationUpdated
WH734B(TT).2Ashburton Aviation Museum, Ashburton Aerodrome, New Zealand01/03/2016
 
SerialMarkOwner & locationUpdated
WE173PR.3Robertsbridge Aviation Society, Robertsbridge, East Sussex14/11/2021
 
SerialMarkOwner & locationUpdated
?T.4RAF Scampton Heritage Centre, RAF Scampton, Lincolnshire22/12/2022
WD954T.4South Australian Aviation Museum, Port Adelaide, South Australia01/03/2021
WE191 (ex Q497)T.4Stoneykirk Aviation Museum, Stoneykirk, Stranraer24/06/2022
WE192T.4Blyth Valley Aviation Collection, Walpole, Suffolk14/11/2021
WH849T.4RAF Laarbruch Museum, Laarbruch-Weeze, Germany01/07/2018
WH850T.4Marham Aviation Heritage Centre, RAF Marham, Norfolk01/11/2020
WJ865T.4Boscombe Down Aviation Collection, Old Sarum airfield, Wiltshire30/03/2023
WJ880T.4Dumfries and Galloway Aviation Museum, Dumfires, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland04/10/2021
WJ992T.4GJD Services, (stored), St. Athan, Wales24/02/2023
WT480T.4Flugplatz Museum Gütersloh, Germany24/12/2021
WT486T.4Nigel Coward, (for sale) Westbury, Wiltshire17/11/2021
XH584T.4Bill Fern, South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum, AeroVenture, Doncaster, Yorkshire30/10/2023
 
SerialMarkOwner & locationUpdated
VX185B.5National Museum of Flight, East Fortune, East Lothian28/06/2022
 
SerialMarkOwner & locationUpdated
WH953B.6Privately Owned, Walpole, Suffolk01/08/2020
 
SerialMarkOwner & locationUpdated
WJ775B.6(mod)Chris Barker, Farnborough area01/03/2018
XH568B.6(mod)Privately owned, Lakeport, California, USA12/08/2021
 
SerialMarkOwner & locationUpdated
WT309B(I).6Air Sciences Trust Museum, Farnborough 01/10/2020
WT319B(I).6Andy Carnill & Sam Scrimshaw, South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum, AeroVenture, Doncaster, Yorkshire30/10/2023
 
SerialMarkOwner & locationUpdated
WH775PR.7Sue & Roy Jerman, Welshpool, Powys, Wales30/11/2021
WH779PR.7South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum, AeroVenture, Doncaster, Yorkshire30/10/2023
WH798PR.7Suffolk Aviation Heritage Group, Kesgrave, Suffolk01/10/2018
WT507 (8548M)PR.7Mansfield ATC, Nottinghamshire01/09/2015
WT520PR.7Hooton Park Trust, Wirral Peninsula, Cheshire01/07/2019
WT532PR.7Bournemouth Aviation Museum, Hurn, Dorset16/06/2022
WT534PR.7Privately Owned, Wisbech area, Cambridgeshire01/12/2020
WT536PR.7South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum, AeroVenture, Doncaster, Yorkshire30/10/2023
 
SerialMarkOwner & locationUpdated
WT339B(I).8RAF Barkston Heath (fire training, wreck), Lincolnshire13/11/2021
XM279B(I).8Norfolk & Suffolk Aviation Museum, Flixton, Norfolk01/07/2021
 
SerialMarkOwner & locationUpdated
XH135PR.9Ken Delve, West Raynham Business Park, Norfolk13/08/2023
XH136PR.9Brenzett Aeronautical Museum, Brenzett, Kent11/09/2022
XH165PR.9Blyth Valley Aviation Collection, Walpole, Suffolk20/10/2021
XH174PR.9Privately Owned, Cannock, Staffordshire01/02/2012
XH175PR.9Privately Owned, Bewdley, Worcestershire01/06/2010
XH177PR.9Privately owned, Newark Air Museum, Newark, Nottinghamshire03/07/2022
 
SerialMarkOwner & locationUpdated
XH132SC.9Albino Panigarri, Vigolzone, Italy01/04/2016
 
SerialMarkOwner & locationUpdated
204 (ex 456)B(I).12Museo Aeronautico del Perú, Lima, Peru01/08/2016
 
SerialMarkOwner & locationUpdated
WH960B.15Rolls Royce Heritage Trust Derby, Derbyshire01/03/2020
WH984B.15John Sheldrake, City of Norwich Aviation Museum, Horsham St. Faith, Norwich06/12/2022
WT205B.15RAF Manston History Museum, Kent01/05/2019
 
SerialMarkOwner & locationUpdated
WH957E.15Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre, East Kirkby, Lincolnshire15/11/2021
WH964E.15Privately Owned, Chailey, East Sussex15/11/2021
 
SerialMarkOwner & locationUpdated
WH863T.17Newark Air Museum, Newark, Nottinghamshire29/08/2021
WJ565T.17South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum, AeroVenture, Doncaster, Yorkshire30/10/2023
WJ576T.17Tettenhall Transport Heritage Centre, Wolverhampton07/11/2022
WJ633T.17City of Norwich Aviation Museum, Horsham St. Faith, Norwich05/12/2022
WK102T.17Sue & Roy Jerman, Welshpool, Powys, Wales30/11/2021
 
SerialMarkOwner & locationUpdated
WH646T.17AMidland Air Museum, Baginton, Warwickshire16/05/2022
 
SerialMarkOwner & locationUpdated
WE122TT.18Blyth Valley Aviation Collection, Walpole, Suffolk14/11/2021
WH887TT.18Andrew Shemans, Bruntingthorpe, Leicestershire31/12/2021
WJ717 (9052M)TT.18Privately Owned, Crew area, Cheshire01/10/2006
WJ721TT.18Morayvia, Moray, Kinloss, Scotland01/07/2021
WK118TT.18Avro Heritage Museum, Woodford26/01/2022
WK122TT.18Lakes Lightnings, Spark Bridge, Cumbria12/08/2021
WK124 (fuselage)TT.18Cornwall Aviation Heritage Centre, RAF St. Mawgan, Newquay, Cornwall11/10/2022
WK124 (nose)TT.18Stoneykirk Aviation Museum, Stoneykirk, Stranraer31/08/2024
WK127TT.18Wings Aviation Museum, Balcombe, Sussex01/06/2021
 
SerialMarkOwner & locationUpdated
WJ975T.19Julian Warren, South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum, AeroVenture, Doncaster, Yorkshire30/10/2023
 
SerialMarkOwner & locationUpdated
A84-209Mk.20Camden Museum of Aviation, Australia30/11/2021
 
SerialMarkOwner & locationUpdated
WT525T.22Jon Goodwin, South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum, AeroVenture, Doncaster, South Yorkshire30/10/2023