English Electric Canberra - Survivor WH903
B.2 WH903 - Yorkshire Air Museum, Elvington, York
 |  |  |
Canberra B.2 WH903 at Yorkshire Air Museum, 14th August 2021; Lucas Walpole
Built in 1954, this B.2 was taken into RAF charge with 617 Sqd at RAF Binbrook (the "Home" of the Canberra in those days). She was later transferred to the charge of 102 Sqd, which was probably at RAFG Gutersloh at that time.
Ten years after entering service, WH903 was sent to the Boulton Paul works at Seighford where she was converted to a T.11 - it is probably at this time that her B.2 nose was saved. From Seighford, the new T.11 joined 228 OCU first before transferring to the 85 Sqd, Target Facilities Squadron at RAF West Raynham. As one of the TFS aircraft on 85 Sdq, WH903 acquired that squadron's famous red and black chequered flashes on either side of the fuselage roundels. Her sister ship on 85 Sqn, WH904 (preserved whole at the Newark Air Museum), will give you some idea what WH903 looked like in her T.11 guise. In 1966 WH903 was converted to T.19 type which was basically similar to the T.11 but with ballast replacing the AI radar in the nose, an uprated oxygen system and a later mark ejection seat. She was then returned to 85 Sqd.
Some time after 1970, WH903 was transferred to the charge of 7 Sqd at RAF St Mawgan. 7 Sqd flew mostly B.2s and TT.18s from 1970 to 1981. By 1977 however, WH903 was at RAF Marham, allocated the ground number 8584M to be used for fire practice.
Back to her B.2 nose though, and by 1989 that was at Chalderwood, Sussex. The nose was soon moved to the Yorkshire Air Museum in Elvington. WH903 is in good condition undercover, some parts of the skin has been cut and then covered with glazing as this allows visitors to see the structure of the cockpit.
Ten years after entering service, WH903 was sent to the Boulton Paul works at Seighford where she was converted to a T.11 - it is probably at this time that her B.2 nose was saved. From Seighford, the new T.11 joined 228 OCU first before transferring to the 85 Sqd, Target Facilities Squadron at RAF West Raynham. As one of the TFS aircraft on 85 Sdq, WH903 acquired that squadron's famous red and black chequered flashes on either side of the fuselage roundels. Her sister ship on 85 Sqn, WH904 (preserved whole at the Newark Air Museum), will give you some idea what WH903 looked like in her T.11 guise. In 1966 WH903 was converted to T.19 type which was basically similar to the T.11 but with ballast replacing the AI radar in the nose, an uprated oxygen system and a later mark ejection seat. She was then returned to 85 Sqd.
Some time after 1970, WH903 was transferred to the charge of 7 Sqd at RAF St Mawgan. 7 Sqd flew mostly B.2s and TT.18s from 1970 to 1981. By 1977 however, WH903 was at RAF Marham, allocated the ground number 8584M to be used for fire practice.
Back to her B.2 nose though, and by 1989 that was at Chalderwood, Sussex. The nose was soon moved to the Yorkshire Air Museum in Elvington. WH903 is in good condition undercover, some parts of the skin has been cut and then covered with glazing as this allows visitors to see the structure of the cockpit.
Information on this page current as of 01/06/2021, last updated by Damien |
Find other photos of WH903 on the following sites:
Air-Britain - Airliners.net - Airplane-Pictures.net - flickr.com - WorldAirPics.com - JetPhotos.net - PlanePictures.net