English Electric Canberra - Survivor WT319
B(I).6 WT319 - Andy Carnill & Sam Scrimshaw, South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum, AeroVenture, Doncaster, Yorkshire
 |  |  |
Canberra B(I).6 WT319 at South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum, 22nd September 2023; Jake Wallace
Awaiting collection in November 1955, this B(I).6 was delivered to the charge of 213 Sqn at RAFG Ahlorn. 213 Sqn were the only RAF squadron to operate the B(I).6 interdictor and moved from Ahlorn to RAFG Bruggen in 1957.
WT319 spent a while on Station Flight at RAFG Laarbruch before being transferred to BAC Samlesbury in 1960 (for a major overhaul?). Shen then moved to the Aircraft and Armament Experimental Establishment and took part in Decca equipment trials (October 1960), returning to 213 Sqn in RAF Germany on 21 February 1961.
In June 1967, this B(I).6 was transferred to Marshalls of Cambridge for trial equipment installations and was back with 213 Sqn by July. In December 1969 she was sold to BAC where she languished until October 1976 before being moved to BAC Filton for apprentice training. Next, she came into the ownership of No 2277 Castle Cary ATC Sqn as an unidentified cockpit section, where she remained for several years until she was considered "unsafe" for the cadets.
In 1998, Tim Hake stepped in and purchased the cockpit moving it to his home in Somerset with the intention of refurbishing it for display. He says that the cradle label said it was a B.2 and had been trying to identify it correctly for over a year. He found some of the instruments were marked for WT319 and considered that this was the Canberra's true identity. Eventually, Tim decided to sell the cockpit section. At the end of the summer, 1999, Tim sold the cockpit section to Tony Collins of Buckinghamshire who removed it to join his Lightning and other cockpits. Tony Collins restored her and regularly displayed her at shows around the country.
In September 2019, the cockpit was purchased by Andy Carnill and Sam Scrimshaw who moved WT319 to the South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum where they put her on public display next to many other Canberra cockpits also on display at the museum.
WT319 spent a while on Station Flight at RAFG Laarbruch before being transferred to BAC Samlesbury in 1960 (for a major overhaul?). Shen then moved to the Aircraft and Armament Experimental Establishment and took part in Decca equipment trials (October 1960), returning to 213 Sqn in RAF Germany on 21 February 1961.
In June 1967, this B(I).6 was transferred to Marshalls of Cambridge for trial equipment installations and was back with 213 Sqn by July. In December 1969 she was sold to BAC where she languished until October 1976 before being moved to BAC Filton for apprentice training. Next, she came into the ownership of No 2277 Castle Cary ATC Sqn as an unidentified cockpit section, where she remained for several years until she was considered "unsafe" for the cadets.
In 1998, Tim Hake stepped in and purchased the cockpit moving it to his home in Somerset with the intention of refurbishing it for display. He says that the cradle label said it was a B.2 and had been trying to identify it correctly for over a year. He found some of the instruments were marked for WT319 and considered that this was the Canberra's true identity. Eventually, Tim decided to sell the cockpit section. At the end of the summer, 1999, Tim sold the cockpit section to Tony Collins of Buckinghamshire who removed it to join his Lightning and other cockpits. Tony Collins restored her and regularly displayed her at shows around the country.
In September 2019, the cockpit was purchased by Andy Carnill and Sam Scrimshaw who moved WT319 to the South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum where they put her on public display next to many other Canberra cockpits also on display at the museum.
Information on this page current as of 30/10/2023, last updated by Jake |
Find other photos of WT319 on the following sites:
Air-Britain - Airliners.net - Airplane-Pictures.net - flickr.com - WorldAirPics.com - JetPhotos.net - PlanePictures.net