RAF Wyton 1980-1995 Pt 1 360 Sqn and ECM Canberras

[canberraman]

Being local to RAF Wyton, and with 2020 marking the 25th anniversary of operational flying ending at this famous Pathfinder station, I though it might be of interest if I scanned my photo collection for details of the aircraft and squadrons based here during the period 1980-1995. I will present these as a series of six instalments covering the following:

 

Part 1 – 360 Sqn and the ECM Canberra T.17; Pt 2 Canberra Trainers - 231 OCU and the CTSF; Pt 3 Recce - 39 Sqn/1 PRU;  Pt 4 Target Facilities - 100 Sqn Canberras and Hawks; Pt 5 all other flying squadrons; and finally Pt 6, the aircraft preserved or scrapped on site.

360 Sqn was a joint RAF/RN (75%/25%) squadron that moved to RAF Wyton from its previous home at RAF Cottesmore in August 1975. The main role of the squadron was to provide EW environment training for air, land and sea units. Essentially this meant making life as difficult as possible for the GCI controller of the fighter pilot, by jamming radar and communications, and by spoofing. Initially 24 Canberra B.2s were converted to the specialist T.17 ECM variant in 1965/66, and 6 were later updated in 1987 to the more capable T.17A with an improved EW fit. 360 was the last Canberra squadron to disband at RAF Wyton on 31 October 1994, its role being taken over by the contractorised Falcon 20s of FR Aviation.

From 1982 when RAF Canberra operations were consolidated at RAF Wyton, a revised aircraft coding system was introduced. 1 PRU used the ‘A’ prefix to aircraft code, 231 OCU ‘B’, 100 Sqn ‘C’, 207 Sqn Devons ‘D’ and 360 Sqn ‘E’.

 

See below a table of the aircraft operated by 360 sqn.

The 360 Sqn HQ sign that is currently preserved at the Flixton Air Museum in Suffolk.

 

 

Perhaps the most famous Canberra T.7 of them all was WD955/EM, the 27th of some 900 Canberras built in the UK. At the time of her retirement on 31 Oct 94, she was the longest serving aircraft the RAF had ever operated having been delivered on 7 Dec 1951. Although it was disappointing that she was not preserved in the UK, at least she does now reside with the Royal Norwegian AF Museum at Bodo.

 

Am old slide from July 1971 of Canberra T.17 WF890 at RAF Cottesmore, seen without sqn codes and wearing D type roundels.

 

A later image of WF890 at Wyton, 20 years later in July 1991, now in hemp/LAG camo and coded EJ.

 

Canberra T.17 WH646/G seen on approach to Runway 09 at RAF Wyton in Feb 1981.

 

WH646 seen again at Wyton in November 1991, by then converted to T.17A, and in the final colour scheme worn by the type.

 

 

Upon retirement from 100 Sqn service, this PR.7 WH779/BP was briefly assigned to 360 Sqn. It is seen here at Wyton in July 1993.

 

Canberra T.17 WJ607/EB in the toned down camo and Type B roundels seen at Wyton in June 1983.

 

WJ607/EB, by now converted to T.17A spec, and in the hemp/LAG scheme with toned down national markings, seen taxiing out to Runway 27 at Wyton in August 1993.

 

T.17 WJ625/C seen at Wyton in March 1982. Unfortunately this machine crashed into the sea on take off from Gibraltar in August 1983.  

 

Canberra T.17A WJ633/EF which acted as the spare red finned sqn boss’ aircraft while WD955, the usual mount, was undergoing servicing at Hurn. It is seen here at Leuchars BoB display in Sep 1991.

 

Another image of WJ633 in her usual sqn livery, seen at the RAF Alconbury Air Day in Aug 1992.

 

Canberra T.4 WJ874/BM had been transferred to 360 Sqn upon the disbandment of 231 OCU in April 1993. It served briefly with 360 until the sqn’s own disbandment in October of that year, after which it was to continue service with 39(1 PRU) Sqn at Marham.

 

Canberra T.17 WJ986/T at Wyton in April 1980

 

Canberra T.17 WK111/EA at Wyton in Feb 1989. From around 1985 360 had added sqn markings of red bars with yellow lightning stripes either side of the fuselage roundel.

 

Another 231 OCU cast off that 360 acquired, was PR.7 WT509/BR, seen here at Wyton in July 1993. It too was to see further service with 39 Sqn after 360’s disbandment.

 

A few of my personal artifacts and 360 Sqn mementoes.

 

Hope these are of interest. Part 2 to follow soon. C&C always welcome.

 

Mark

[Alpha Delta 210]

Hi Mark. I hope you're still on the mend. Thanks very much for sharing these wonderful images. 

 

My favourite is # 2 of WD955/EM.

 

Very much looking forward to Part 2!

 

 

[Corsairfoxfouruncle]

1 hour ago, canberraman said:

Perhaps the most famous Canberra T.7 of them all was WD955/EM

Say what you will to me, but to me this is the best looking camouflage and Canberra. I don't know why, with all the bumps and stuff on the nose you’d think she was ugly. But for some reason thats my favorite and hope to build this very Canberra someday. 
 

Dennis

[canberraman]

34 minutes ago, Alpha Delta 210 said:

Hi Mark. I hope you're still on the mend. Thanks very much for sharing these wonderful images. 

 

My favourite is # 2 of WD955/EM.

 

Very much looking forward to Part 2!

 

 

Yep, still very much on the mend thanks and enjoying the time off work to allow me to catch up some photo scanning and hopefully soon some modelling. I too think 'Echo Mike' was a fantastic looking Canberra and as mentioned before I still think its a shame she wasn't preserved at the RAF Museum.

 

Thanks for the kind words

 

Mark

[Alpha Delta 210]

Pleased to hear that, Mark. Every cloud has a silver lining! 😉

[12jaguar]

sounds like you was at Wyton the same time as me (EWAD 1989 - 95)

 

John

[speedy]

Wow I was at Wyton as my first posting after training in 87. Good time and memories which seem only yesterday.

 

Steve.

[PLC1966]

14 hours ago, 12jaguar said:

sounds like you was at Wyton the same time as me (EWAD 1989 - 95)

 

John

I don't know about Canberraman, but you were there same time as me, (1990-1993), 231OCU Stores then Mobility Supply out of the Camera Factory then the old 25Sqn site.  EWAD/EWOSE, was it you lot who used to b****er up the TV's when playing with electronics of a nighttime...

[12jaguar]

Me...I was just a simple Rigger LOL

 

not to blame for playing with wiggly amps...

 

John

[Jabba]

Seems like a few of us were at Wyton during some time of these pictures, me Nov 81- Jul 87 serving on 51 Sqn. This also was my first posting after trade training, and a happy 6 years it was. In the photo of WJ607/EB whereabouts at Wyton is that photo taken?

[canberraman]

1 hour ago, Jabba said:

Seems like a few of us were at Wyton during some time of these pictures, me Nov 81- Jul 87 serving on 51 Sqn. This also was my first posting after trade training, and a happy 6 years it was. In the photo of WJ607/EB whereabouts at Wyton is that photo taken?

Jabba

I may be mistaken on location. It could have been Leuchars but that is a shot I acquired from a colleague so not exactly sure.. Anybody?

 

Mark

[PLC1966]

I am certain it is not Wyton.  I think the Leuchars shout is a good one, got a feeling I worked out of there at the start of GW1 for a week.  Can't remember if with tatty ton or 360.

[Des]

Thank you for sharing , built the Airfix 1/48 Canberra B.2 as a grey/green T.17 using the Alley Cat conversion a while back , lovely looking aircraft , and another as a 58 Sqn. PR.7 using another of Ali's conversions after spending a morning with them during an ATC Camp at Wyton back around 1967 , spent the week billeted in an accommodation block with just a waist high fence separating us from the 543 Sqn. ramp and their Victor SR.2s and not a camera in sight !!!!

[72modeler]

Thanks for sharing the photos with the rest of us! Every one of them was beautiful! I agree with @Corsairfoxfouruncle, it's pretty much impossible to make a Canberra ugly, unless it's one of our  RB-57F's. (Whatever you do, do NOT let @canberra kid find out I dissed the RB/WB-57F!) 😜

Mike

[canberraman]

Thanks everyone for the likes, comments, and extra info.  Pt 2 to follow at the weekend.

 

Mark

[F-32]

Beautiful shots, I love the Canberra