English Electric Canberra - Survivor WJ676
B.2 WJ676 - Evans Head Heritage Aviation Museum, New South Wales, Australia
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Canberra B.2 WJ676 at Avalon Airshow, February 2015; Paul Cunningham
Built by Handley Page at Radlet, WJ676 was ready for collection in November 1954. Duly collected by the RAF she was flown first to No 15 MU at RAF Wroughton for service preparation. At that time, and it does seem unbelievable now, the RAF had more Canberras than it had squadrons to operate them, so WJ676 went into short term storage until March 1955.
Out of storage, this B.2 was flown to join 149 Sqn at RAFG Gutersloh where she remained until 1956. She was flown back to RAF Upwood in August that year to join 40 Sqn as part of Upwood's Bomber Wing. From 40 Sqn, WJ676 was transferred to 50 Sqn - on the same airfield. She stayed with 50 Sqn until 1959 when she was transferred, again on the same airfield, to 35 Sqn.
In 1961, WH676 joined 245 Sqn at RAF Tangmere where the flying tasks included calibration of radio and navigation aids installed on various RAF stations. In December 1962, she joined No 12 Group Comms Flight at RAF Colerne briefly before being reclassified as a Ground Instructional airframe (No 7796M) with No 12 School of Technical Training at RAF Melksham.
The aircraft eventually returned to RAF Colerne where she joined that station's aircraft museum. WJ676 stayed there until the museum closed in 1976 when the aircraft was transferred by road to No 15 MU at RAF Wroughton. She was repainted in overall silver and given 35 Sqn's badge. In this form, WJ676 was placed on display as Gate Guard by the entrance to RAF Hospital Wroughton. In 1987 she was repainted in 50 Sqn colours and was put up for sale in 1991.
The airframe was brought by Hanningfield Metals who scrapped the airframe, thankfully saving the cockpit which was transported to Heswall Merseyside, then to Hooton Park in 2001 before being sold in 2004 and moved to Hebburn.
In 2011, the cockpit section was brought by Paul Cunningham who exported her to Australia. WJ676 was complete apart from a few bits missing; Paul has since managed to get his hands on some of the stuff to fill the missing holes. Paul would often tow WJ676 around to various events so the public could see and enjoy it.
In September 2015, Paul was approached by the Evans Head Museum who were interested in the cockpit and so Paul sold her to the museum where she can now be seen on display today.
Out of storage, this B.2 was flown to join 149 Sqn at RAFG Gutersloh where she remained until 1956. She was flown back to RAF Upwood in August that year to join 40 Sqn as part of Upwood's Bomber Wing. From 40 Sqn, WJ676 was transferred to 50 Sqn - on the same airfield. She stayed with 50 Sqn until 1959 when she was transferred, again on the same airfield, to 35 Sqn.
In 1961, WH676 joined 245 Sqn at RAF Tangmere where the flying tasks included calibration of radio and navigation aids installed on various RAF stations. In December 1962, she joined No 12 Group Comms Flight at RAF Colerne briefly before being reclassified as a Ground Instructional airframe (No 7796M) with No 12 School of Technical Training at RAF Melksham.
The aircraft eventually returned to RAF Colerne where she joined that station's aircraft museum. WJ676 stayed there until the museum closed in 1976 when the aircraft was transferred by road to No 15 MU at RAF Wroughton. She was repainted in overall silver and given 35 Sqn's badge. In this form, WJ676 was placed on display as Gate Guard by the entrance to RAF Hospital Wroughton. In 1987 she was repainted in 50 Sqn colours and was put up for sale in 1991.
The airframe was brought by Hanningfield Metals who scrapped the airframe, thankfully saving the cockpit which was transported to Heswall Merseyside, then to Hooton Park in 2001 before being sold in 2004 and moved to Hebburn.
In 2011, the cockpit section was brought by Paul Cunningham who exported her to Australia. WJ676 was complete apart from a few bits missing; Paul has since managed to get his hands on some of the stuff to fill the missing holes. Paul would often tow WJ676 around to various events so the public could see and enjoy it.
In September 2015, Paul was approached by the Evans Head Museum who were interested in the cockpit and so Paul sold her to the museum where she can now be seen on display today.
Information on this page current as of 01/03/2019, last updated by Jake |
Find other photos of WJ676 on the following sites:
Air-Britain - Airliners.net - Airplane-Pictures.net - flickr.com - WorldAirPics.com - JetPhotos.net - PlanePictures.net