English Electric Canberra - Survivor WD955
T.17 WD955 - Norwegian Air Museum, Bodø, Norway
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Canberra T.17 WD955 at Norwegian Air Museum, 16th June 2012; Rob Schleiffert
Built as a B.2 by English Electric at Preston in 1951, WD955 was ready for collection on 7 December 1951. Taken onto RAF charge, she was first issued to 101 Sqd at RAF Binbrook. When 101 Sqd converted to Canberra B.6s in June 1954, WD955 was transferred to 617 Sqd also at Binbrook. 617 Sqd also converted to B.6s in April 1955 and WD955 was on the move again, this time to 21 Sqd at RAF Scampton.
She would have moved to RAF Waddington with 21 Sqd in June 1955 and probably flew with them up until they too received B.6s in October 1958. After a short period of duty with RAF Waddington's Station Flight, WD955 was transferred yet again to the charge of 245 Sqd at RAF Watton. 245 Sqd also had a branch at RAF Tangmere until August 1963 so it is possible that WD955 flew from there. April 1963 saw 245 Sqd being re-numbered to 98 Sqd at RAF Tangmere; WD955 was one of the B.2s taken over.
In 1964, WD955 was one of twenty-four B.2s flown to Samlesbury for conversion to the new T.17 configuration. This conversion gave the RAF (and the Fleet Air Arm) an EW/ECM training capability and resulted in the famous "warty" nose of these Canberras. Once converted, WD955 joined the newly formed, joint RAF/FAA, 360 Sqd at RAF Watton. In 1975, she relocated with 360 Sqd from RAF Cottesmore to RAF Wyton. Improvements in the navigation and EW equipment resulted in the T.17A. WD955 was flown to Samlesbury in 1985 to act as trials aircraft for the new electronics and subsequently returned to 360 Sqn at RAF Wyton and served with them until 360 was disbanded in October 1994.
WD955 was exported to Norway in 1995 to go on display at the Norwegian Air Museum where she remains to this day and seems to be in very good condition.
She would have moved to RAF Waddington with 21 Sqd in June 1955 and probably flew with them up until they too received B.6s in October 1958. After a short period of duty with RAF Waddington's Station Flight, WD955 was transferred yet again to the charge of 245 Sqd at RAF Watton. 245 Sqd also had a branch at RAF Tangmere until August 1963 so it is possible that WD955 flew from there. April 1963 saw 245 Sqd being re-numbered to 98 Sqd at RAF Tangmere; WD955 was one of the B.2s taken over.
In 1964, WD955 was one of twenty-four B.2s flown to Samlesbury for conversion to the new T.17 configuration. This conversion gave the RAF (and the Fleet Air Arm) an EW/ECM training capability and resulted in the famous "warty" nose of these Canberras. Once converted, WD955 joined the newly formed, joint RAF/FAA, 360 Sqd at RAF Watton. In 1975, she relocated with 360 Sqd from RAF Cottesmore to RAF Wyton. Improvements in the navigation and EW equipment resulted in the T.17A. WD955 was flown to Samlesbury in 1985 to act as trials aircraft for the new electronics and subsequently returned to 360 Sqn at RAF Wyton and served with them until 360 was disbanded in October 1994.
WD955 was exported to Norway in 1995 to go on display at the Norwegian Air Museum where she remains to this day and seems to be in very good condition.
Information on this page current as of 01/06/2008, last updated by Jake |
Find other photos of WD955 on the following sites:
Air-Britain - Airliners.net - Airplane-Pictures.net - flickr.com - WorldAirPics.com - JetPhotos.net - PlanePictures.net