Renovations Update - Canberra WG789

Renovations Update – WG789

Below are further pictures of the renovations carried out by the Paint team in October on Canberra WG789.

Previous reports on the renovation of both WG789 and the F27 are at Paint Team Updates

Thanks go to Gwen, and to Barry J and Mike K for the photos. A brief history of the aircraft below gleaned from various websites.

English Electric Canberra B2 (modified), WG789

Built at the English Electric works at Preston in 1952, WG789 was initially delivered to 231 OCU at RAF Bassingbourn. In Feb of 1956 WG789 was transferred to Boulton Paul and fitted out for development work. It was probably at this time it was fitted with the radome nose.

The aircraft continued with experimental flying and various testing until it was moved to storage in 1968. After another short period of experimental flying, it again went briefly into storage in 1971. Returning to flight the same year, the aircraft spent a brief period as a Concorde chase aircraft. On completion of this role, it was once again returned to storage in 1971.

WG789 was again taken from storage in 1972 and use for various trials work until 1976 when it was transferred to the Royal Signals and Radar Establishment (RSRE) located at Bedford. The aircraft was struck off from RAF inventory in 1982. After use as a ground instructional airframe, the aircraft was finally scrapped in 1986.

The nose section of this aircraft was fortunately bought by a Museum member and relocated to the Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum in 2002 where it is being preserved.