The RAF’s Canberra Squadrons

The RAF had 62 Canberra squadrons over the aircraft’s time in service as well as numerous “Flights” and “Sections” (these latter will be the subject of a later update). The table below lists all the RAF squadrons that flew the Canberra and shows the squadron badge, the type flown, where based and brief details of the unit markings employed (if any). All the squadron badges were obtained from contributors or the Web.
Sqd	Badge	Type	Based	Unit Markings
3		B(I)8	Geilenkirchen Laarbruch	Horizontal green bar with yellow outline on fin and rudder. Maroon and black Cockatrice on white disc centred on green bar – superseded by red and grey cockatrice later. Sqn/Assoc Web Site : 3 (F) Sqn Association
6		B.2 B.6 B.16	Akrotiri	Red winged tin-opener on tip tanks. Dark blue and red Gunners stripe on fin (B.2 and B.6); red tin-opener on white disc flanked by red and blue stripes on B.16s. Sqn/Sqn/Assoc Web Site : 6 Sqn Association
7		B.2 TT.18	St Mawgan	Rushton target in dayglo on fin, a blue figure “7” later superimposed. Plough (stars) in white on dark blue disk on fin. Sqn/Sqn/Assoc Web Site : 7 Sqn Association
9		B.2 B.6	Binbrook Coningsby	Blue lightning flash on nose, later a green bat on a blue circle on fin; finally a blue fin grey/green bat and yellow/red IX on white disc. Sqn/Sqn/Assoc Web Site : 9 Sqn Association
10		B.2	Scampton Honington	Red “Speedbird” on nose; red bow with black arrow on tip tanks. Later, a red winged black arrow on tip tanks. Sqn/Assoc Web Site? :
12		B.2 B.6	Binbrook Conningsby	Gold lightning flash on nose; later a red fox on fin. Later a painted fox’s head on a white disc on a green fin. Sqn/Assoc Web Site? :
13		PR.7 PR.9 PR.7	Akrotiri Luqa Akrotiri Luqa Wyton	A black lynx’s head superimposed on a grey dagger on a white disc on fin. Sqn/Assoc Web Site : 13 Sqn Association
14		B(I)8	Wildenrath	Yellow winged crest of a Red Cross of St George on a shield carried on fin. Later a smaller version carried on the nose with three blue diamonds on either side in white rectangles. Sqn/Assoc Web Site : 14 Sqn Association
15		B.2	Conningsby Cottesmore Honington	Horse shoe on fin with red hunting horn. Later a white rising pheasant outline on fin. Sqn/Assoc Web Site? :
16		B(I)8	Laarbruch	Black fuselage waistband with yellow edges in line with and same overall width as fuselage roundel. White 22inch diameter circle on nose outlined in 1inch thick yellow ring and with yellow and black crossed keys superimposed. Later black/yellow cross keys on fin. Later still, outline of “Saint” character on fin. Some B(I)8s had “sharkmouths” on nose. Sqn/Assoc Web Site? :
17		PR.3 PR.7	Wahn Wildenrath.	Black zigzag on white disc on fin, also black zigzag on white rectangle on nose. Sqn/Assoc Web Site? :
18		B.2	Scampton Upwood Finningley	Blue “Speedbird” on nose; winged horse on tip tanks, winged horse on white disc on fin. Sqn/Assoc Web Site? :
21		B.2 B.6	Scampton Waddington Upwood	Red crossed keys on nose. Later, crossed keys on tip tanks. Sqn/Assoc Web Site? :
27		B.2	Scampton Waddington	Red cheat line full length of fuselage. Sqn/Assoc Web Site? :
31		PR.7	Laarbruch	Yellow star on black disc on fin. Later a shaded star used. Sqn/Assoc Web Site? :
32		B.2 B.15/16	Western Zoyland Nicosia Akrotiri	B.2 = Blue and white diagonals on tip tank and fin. B.15 = Brass hunting horn suspended on a blue bow on a white disc on nose flanked by blue and white stripes. Sqn/Assoc Web Site? :
35		B.2	Marham Upwood	Blue tip tanks. Black horse’s head with yellow wings on fin. Later, yellow and green winged horses head on fin. This followed by a black horse’s head with yellow wings on white shield superimposed on yellow lightning flash outlined in black on base of fin. Sqn/Assoc Web Site? :
39		PR.3 PR.7 PR.9	Luqa Wyton Wyton Marham	PR.3 = Black and yellow triangles on tip tanks, white ‘V’ on blue nose wheel doors carried over from 69Sqd. PR.9 = Green winged bomb on white disc on fin. Finally green winged bomb on red disc on fin. Sqn/Assoc Web Site? :
40		B.2	Conningsby Wittering Upwood	Gold and blue chequer board on fin with blue disc in centre. Sqn/Assoc Web Site? :
44		B.2	Conningsby Marham Cottesmore	Horse shoe on fin with yellow hunting horn. Later, a white rising pheasant on fin. Sqn/Assoc Web Site? :
45		B.2 B.15	Conningsby Tengah	Blue flying camel with red wings on white disc on fin. Sqn/Assoc Web Site? :
50		B.2	Binbrook Upwood	Orange lightning flash on nose. later horizontal sword in light blue with yellow handle surmounted by ’50’ in red on tip tanks (sample at Duxford). Sqn/Assoc Web Site? :
51		B.2 B.6	Watton Wyton	Small red flying goose on fin and on tip tanks. Royal Air Force Signals Command inscription in black along fuselage above roundel. Later, dayglo flying goose on white disc on fin. Sqn/Assoc Web Site : 51 Sqd
56		B.2	Akrotiri	Firebird on nose flanked by red and white chequers. Sqn/Assoc Web Site? :
57		B.2	Conningsby Cottesmore Honington Conningsby	Horse shoe on fin with yellow hunting horn. Later, red and blue phoenix on fin. Sqn/Assoc Web Site? :
58		PR.3 PR.7 PR.9	Wyton	PR.3/PR.7 = Black owl on white disc on fin. PR.9 = Red owl on white disc on fin. Sqn/Assoc Web Site? :
59		B.2 B(I)8	Gutersloh Geilenkirchen	Red exclamation mark superimposed on white triangle with red outline on fin. Sqn/Assoc Web Site : 59 Sqn Home Page
61		B.2	Wittering Upwood	Blue and gold chequer board on fin with colour disc in centre (unknown colour). Later, red Lincoln Imp on fin; later on tip tanks. Sqn/Assoc Web Site? :
69		PR.3	Laarbruch	White ‘V’ on blue nose wheel doors. Sqn/Assoc Web Site? :
73		B.2 B.15	Akrotiri	Blue demi talbot hound with red or yellow maple leaf on its shoulder on a white shield on fin. Dark blue / light blue / dark blue arrow strips on tip tanks. Sqn/Assoc Web Site? :
76		B.2 B.6	Wittering Western Zoyland Australia (det) Hemswell Upwood	Black lion superimposed on white rose on fin. Later, a dingo badge on fin. Sqn/Assoc Web Site? :
80		PR.7	Laarbruch Bruggen	Yellow bell on azure disc on fin. Sqn/Assoc Web Site? :
81		PR.7	Tengah	Dagger superimposed on a star on white disc on fin. Sqn/Assoc Web Site? :
82		PR.3 PR.7	Wyton	Black crest on fin, also red and green nose wheel doors diagonally divided. Sqn/Assoc Web Site? :
85		B.2 T.11 T.19	West Raynham Binbrook West Raynham	Red and black checks on either side of fuselage roundel; later also white hexagon on black disc on fin. Sqn/Assoc Web Site : 85 Sqn Association
88		B(I)8	Wildenrath	Yellow and black serpent with red and white tongue on fin. Sqn/Assoc Web Site : 88 Sqn Association
90		B.2	Marham	Yellow fin flash, white tip tanks. Golden leaping hind on fin for exercise Excessive. Sqn/Assoc Web Site? :
97		B.2 B.6	Watton	No known markings. Sqn/Assoc Web Site : 97 Sqn web site
98		B.2 E.15	Tangmere Watton Cottesmore	White zig-zag on red rectangle on either side of squadron badge on nose. Later, black cerebus outlined in white on fin. Sqn/Assoc Web Site? :
100		B.2 B.6 B.2 E.15 T.19 PR.7 TT.18	Wittering West Raynham Marham Wyton	Gold and blue chequers on fin with green disc in centre; also skull and crossbones insignia on fin of some aircraft. Later, a white skull and crossbones on green disc outlined in white on fin. Reformed unit, 1972 – skull and crossbones on green disc centred on gold and blue chequers on fin. Sqn/Assoc Web Site : 100 Sqn Association
101		B.2 B.6	Binbrook	White lightning flash on nose. Later, black and white lightning flash on nose – B.2. Also Roman “101” in yellow on black disc on fin – B.6. Sqn/Assoc Web Site? :
102		B.2	Waddington Gutersloh	Red lion carrying a blue bomb on fin. Sqn/Assoc Web Site? :
103		B.2	Gutersloh	Black swan on fin. Sqn/Assoc Web Site? :
104		B.2	Gutersloh	No known markings. Sqn/Assoc Web Site? :
109		B.2 B.6	Hemswell Binbrook	Yellow flash on fin. Later, yellow flash outlined with black on fin. Sqn/Assoc Web Site? :
115		B.2	Marham	Green tip tanks. Sqn/Assoc Web Site? :
139		B.2 B.6	Hemswell Binbrook	Red flash outlined in white on fin. Sqn/Assoc Web Site? :
149		B.2	Conningsby Cottesmore Ahlhorn Gutersloh	Horseshoe with lightning entwined on fin. Sqn/Assoc Web Site? :
151		B.2 B.6	Watton	No known markings. Sqn/Assoc Web Site? :
192		B.2 B.6	Watton	No known markings. Sqn/Assoc Web Site? :
199		B.2	Hemswell Honington	Helmswell fin flash (colour not known). Blue waves and two yellow swords on white disc on fin. Sqn/Assoc Web Site? :
202		B.2	Aldergrove	No known markings. Sqn/Assoc Web Site? :
207		B.2	Marham	Red tip tanks. Sqn/Assoc Web Site : 207 Sqn Site
213		B(I)6	Ahlhorn Bruggen	Hornet in black, yellow and white on fin. Later, a smaller version flanked by orange and black bars on nose. Sqn/Assoc Web Site : 213 Sqn Site (Unofficial)
214		PR.7	Laarbruch	Not equipped with aircraft.
245		B.2	Watton Tangmere	No known markings. Sqn/Assoc Web Site? :
249		B.2 B.6 B.16	Akrotiri	Yellow tip tanks with black and red assegai on which a white disc carried a black trotting elephant. Later, yellow tip tanks with yellow fin flash outlined in white. Sqn/Assoc Web Site : 249 (Gold Coast) Sqn Assoc
360		B.2 T.17 E.15	Watton Cottesmore / Wyton Wyton	A blue “360” pierced by a red lightning flash on white background on fin. Later, a blue trident surrounded by red, yellow and white wings on fin. In 1948, a red bar either side of the fuselage roundel carrying a yellow lightning flash was introduced. Fin badges later deleted. Sqn/Assoc Web Site? : 360 Sqn Assoc Site
527		B.2 PR.7	Watton	No known markings. Sqn/Assoc Web Site? :
540		PR.3 PR.7 B.2	Benson Wyton	Fin markings not identified. Red stripe on dark blue nose wheel doors. Sqn/Assoc Web Site? :
542		PR.7 B.2 B.6 PR.7	Wyton Weston Zoyland Hemswell Australia (det) Upwood	Diagonal red stripe on white nose wheel doors. Sqn/Assoc Web Site? :
617		B.2 B.6	Binbrook	Red lightning flash on nose. Sqn/Assoc Web Site? :