CANBERRA – T.4 – WJ992

T.4 – WJ992

Two views of WJ992 in Hurn Airport’s fire dump area, Bournmouth, in May 2000
(Both photos : Damien Burke)

T.4 WJ992-2

WJ992 in Service
T.4 WJ992 of the Blind Landing Experimental Unit is seen landing at Bedford (RAF Thurleigh) on 7 October 1958. Notice the small “bump” just under the nose covering the blind landing equipment. The colour scheme at that time would have been white top with a red cheat line and a red fin area, the remainder would have been silver. (Photo : RAE)

This Canberra was originally built as a B.2 and was awaiting collection in October 1953. Taken onto the RAF’s charge it was issued to 76 Sqd at RAF Wittering where it flew as a B.2 until it was converted to T.4 configuration just before it left the RAF.

Removed from RAF charge in January 1957, WJ992, now as a T.4 was transferred to the Blind Landing Experimental Unit (BLEU) at Martlesham Heath. It flew these trials for a number of years until September 1962 when it was transferred to Pershore (RRE) for crew training.

After 15 years, WJ992 was the last Canberra to leave Pershore when, on 1 November 1977, it was flown back to RAE Bedford to join the Aerospace Research Squadron.

I have no further history detail after WJ992 joined ARS, but it obviously received the DERA “Rasberry Ripple” colour scheme at some time before ending up at Hurn Airport (maybe a Flight Refueling Co connection?). As can be seen from Damien’s photos, it is languishing there in their fire dump area.

WJ992 in Service

T.4 WJ992 of the Blind Landing Experimental Unit is seen at an Air Show in the early 80s.
(Photo : Paul Crawley)

WJ992 from another angle, by Mark Ray
(Photo : Mark Ray)