A Tale of the English Electric Canberra.

True Story, or just a Fable?

When I was an instructor at RAF Halton in the 1980’s, I use to tell this story to the eager young trainees. It may well be just a total fairy tale based of fact, but they loved it!

“ In the early 1950’s, the Canberra was then a very modern jet bomber, often in the forefront of the news with things like World Height Records, World Aircraft Speed Records, etc, etc. Our friends over the other side of the Atlantic were none to impressed with this ‘Little British Bomber’, as it made their current fleet of aircraft look a little bit outdated. One of the records to be attempted was that of the first jet-aircraft crossing of that large expanse of water that divided the USA from civilisation. So those in charge decreed that this record should be taken as well. As the USA had already taken delivery of a knocked-down ( CKD, in bits in boxes ) version of the Canberra a year earlier, there was already one assembled in the USA and flying. This CKD version had gone over by sea packed away in boxes in a ship for the Yanks to assess it, under RAF control, to build under licence themselves, eventually becoming the B57. Once the crossing of the first jet aircraft had all been planned, a reception party of USAF aircraft was arranged flying over New York to meet the arriving Canberra.

As planned, the Canberra made the crossing with little difficulty, having had extra drop- tanks fitted to provide sufficient fuel. An aside to the crossing was it would be handy to find out if we could bomb the USA should they get too much out of control, but no doubt this part was kept secret. It crossed at a very high altitude indeed for those days. A very up to date USA, super-charged, piston-engined fighter aircraft was sent up to meet the Canberra, and a second lighter version fitted out for photo-reconnaissance ( PR ) also took off. This PR aircraft had been specially lightened and had extra lift devices fitted, as well as a two-speed supercharger on the engine so as to be able to climb to very great heights. This second fighter-PR, piston-engined aircraft, fitted with a pressurised cockpit climbed as high as it could above New York to await the Canberra. About midday the Canberra was met by the first fighter, who was unable to get up as high as the jet aircraft. The ‘ceiling’ of the piston-engined fighter was well below that of the cruising height of the visitor. The fighter welcomed the first jet aircraft to cross the Atlantic and led it to the reception airfield. Shortly after the two had landed, the PR aircraft also landed.

There were a lot of men in uniforms wearing caps full of scrambled egg on their peaks present. The PR pilot got out of his aircraft with a big grin on his face and came over to tell the first Canberra pilot he had been above him to take a photo of the Canberra over New York. Thereby proving the USA had aircraft that could fly higher than the Little British Bomber. Then all eyes were on the runway, as a second Canberra turned into finals to then land. This Canberra was the one that had crossed the Atlantic, the first one had been the CKD one put up as a spoof for the Americans and deliberately flown at just above the USA welcoming aircraft’s ceiling. They had taken the bait assuming it to be the record breaker. The second Canberra taxied in and its pilots came over to the group. With great relish he told the assembled American high-ranking officers that he had taken a photo, of the PR aircraft, taking a photo of the other Canberra. He had been so high that the PR aircraft could not even see him and nor could the USA radar!!”

Shortly after this they were so impressed the Americans purchased the Canberra, building their own B57 version of it. The Canberra’s official ceiling is, I think, still a secret.”

There was generally a big cheer from the assembled class of trainees at this point, so it was saved for the end of their first day. The trouble was, they wanted a damned story every day after that! Interestingly, the Canberra was not only a superb high-level aircraft, it was also very useful at low-level tree-top height AND is still in use by some airforces and the Royal Aircraft Establishment over 60 years after its first flight!

NC.