The Canberra served in Vietnam with 2 Sqn RAAF under US Air Force 35th Tactical Fighter Wing Command. Despite the official documentation stating their service ceiling was about 48,000 ft, they frequently operated at 55,000 ft. After the arrival of the F-111 in 1973, No 2 Squadron became the only RAAF operators of the type in the mapping and reconnaissance role until 1982 when newly discovered metal fatigue caused their retirement. The Canberra first entered RAF service in England in mid-1951 and Australia’s first Canberra entered service in late-1953, these being built at the Government Aircraft Factory in Melbourne. In honour of Australia being the first export customer the aircraft was officially named the “Canberra” (after the Capital of Australia) by Australian Prime Minister Bob Menzies in January 1951.
The RAAF ordered 48 in 1950 and these saw service with No1, 2 and 6 Squadrons. The Nene was the last iteration of the Whittle design whereas the Avon was Rolls Royce’s first foray into axial flow design (hence the desire to have an alternative engine should the Avon be a failure).Įven by today’s standards, the Canberra just looks elegant and whilst its performance is rather pedestrian today, when it first flew it could fly higher than any fighter currently available and faster than most. Both engine types are on display in the HARS Engine Hall. It first flew in May 1949, with one of the prototypes using the tried and true Rolls Royce Nene engine and the other using the new advanced and experimental Rolls Royce Avon engine. In 1944, English Electric started to design an unarmed, high altitude, fast jet bomber and reconnaissance aircraft to replace the Mosquito. Two engine military bomber History of Type Wright R-3350 Radial Piston Aero Engine.
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