CANBERRA – B.2 – WK124

B.2/TT.18 – WK124

WK124, in 100 Sqd colours, in its final resting place on the fire dump at Manston
(Photo : Graham Salt)

In happier days flying with 7 Sqd
(Photo : Michael J Hall)

This B.2 spent the early part of its service career in Germany being delivered first to 103 Sqd at RAFG Gutersloh. It would have stayed with 103 until their disbandment in August of 1956 when it was transferred to the charge of 59 Sqd at RAFG Bruggen. (Note that 59 Sqd flew B.2s until re-equipping with B(I)8s in February 1957.)

WK124 is next noted with 213 Sqd – presumably when they moved, with their B(I)6s to RAFG Bruggen in August 1957 they “took over” the remnants of 59 Sqd’s B.2 Canberras. In January 1969, WK124 was moved to 27 MU (Shawbury) for conversion of role to Target Tug (TT.18).

After conversion, WK124, now as a TT.18 was transferred to the charge of the Fleet Requirements Unit (Royal Navy) at RNAS Yeovilton. No detail on how long it stayed with FRU but it is next noted as reverting to RAF charge when it joined 7 Sqd at RAF St Mawgan. This Canberra’s final days in service with the RAF were with 100 Sqd with the squadron number of “CR”. It would therefore have ended up at RAF Wyton.

WK124 was eventually struck off charge, allocated the ground number of 9093M and delivered to RAF Manston as a Crash Rescue Training airframe in March 1991 (it flew in to Manston). Graham’s photo, taken in March 1999 – eight years later) shows WK124 at Manston still in 100 Sqd markings.