Les B.

Hi Mish. The PR.3 is the same length as the PR.7 Les.B

Hi Rich, Yes I think during my stay there I had something to do with all the B.2's and the PR.3's. Maybe not all of the T.4's. Your dad would have flown the T.4's of "B" Flight first then to "C" Flight with the PR's before continuing on to Bruggen. At 231 "C" Flight were known as the "circus" because their PR's were lined up on the lazy runway and they had no structual buildings just bolt together huts painted red and white. Oh the good oh days Les.B

YEA! YEA! YEA! Just buy me a pint Saturday. The Old Man.

Hi Rich, I have scanned a couple of pics from the Crowood book but due to my lack of IT skills I seem to have a problem getting them to you Les.B.

Hi Tony, There are several pictures of parked aircraft in that book showing the elevators at full deflection. I hope that will be ok for you . Les.B.

I have several pics showing aircraft parked without elevator locks fitted in the Crowood book of the Canberra. but if you want I can send a couple of pics to you. No prob. Les.B.

As I am "fired up" on Canberras at present I have thought to mention a couple of points concerning Canberra control surface position when parked. The ailerons (if not modelled with the ground locks fitted) in the neutral position both droop by two and a half degrees. This does not apply to the PR.9. The elevators (if not modelled with the ground locks fitted) will drop with the horn balances down. ie: trailing edges fully up. The rudder (if not modelled with the ground locks in) will assume any position. Airbrakes are in on the ground Flaps will fall to a lowered position as hydraulic pressure falls away and will not fall in any order or rate. Bomb bay doors and Flare bay doors are normally open on the ramp during activity for access for servicing . Alway best to model from a photograph though. Les.B.

Great.. Thanks Andy. Les.B.

Thanks for all that John. Yes I think you are right and the lights were around 5 inches diameter. I have taken note of the photos and they are a very good reference to the size of the panel. Les.B.

Thanks for all the efforts lads. I last saw it on a drawing way back in the Aviation News days where it was shown on the general plan view of the fuselage underside. This was depicting a B2 but with no mention if it was on later marks ie. B.6's onwards

I joined the RAF in 1956 as a Boy Entrant. My first posting was to RAF Bassingbourne and served in ASF servicing Canberra B.2's, PR.3's and T.4's on all forms of major, minor servicings and mods and rectification. Leaving Bassingbourne in 1961 I was posted to RAF Laarbruch and spent the next three years in the base ASF servicing Canberra B(I).8's of 16 Squadron and PR.7's of 31 Squadron. During this period I started to paint on the top of the fin and both sides, a small (six inches) painted shape of "the saint" in yellow paint. I continued this "zapping" on all the Canberra B(I).8s of 16 Squadron as they completed their servicing checks from the hangar and returned to the squadron. I left Laarbruch in 1964 but have no idea how many aircraft I had "zapped" up until then. Imagine my surprise when several years later I saw a Jaguar of 16 Squadron at an airshow and saw that it sported a much larger effigy of the "saint". I hope this will rekindle a few memories of those days in RAFG. Les.B.

Thanks for your efforts . I live near Camberley Surrey. I know of WH773 and have visited it at Gatwick and know of your work on it. I would like to meet up with you sometime and talk of Canberras and other interests. Les.B.

Yes ,the Airfix tip tanks are incorrect profile. (use Mike Belchers after market tanks). Also the right hand D/V window on the canopy needs to be polished out as only the T4 had two D/V windows.

I have just started cutting plastic on the Airfix Canberra B2. I have most of the "gen" I need but having worked Canberras whilst in the RAF I can remember the rather large downward identification light panel aft of the nose wheel bay on the lower fuselage. The panel was of clear perspex and contained three downward facing lamps of green, red and orange and, as I can remember the lamps being three to four inches in diameter. Does anyone out there the dimensions of this panel.