Dates

Event

Constructed as a Canberra PR.3.

22 January 1953

First flight.
The pilot of the first flight was Jock Still.

30 January 1953

Construction and testing complete and waiting for collection by the RAF.

3 February 1953

Taken on Strength/Charge with the Royal Air Force with s/n WE139.

3 February 1953

Transferred to Handling Squadron, RAF Manby.

20 May 1953

Transferred to Bomber Command Acceptance and Modification Unit, RAF Binbrook, Lincs.

11 June 1953

Contracted to English Electric for work on the airframe.
Sent for modications including navigation aids, removal of specialist camera equipment, additional fuel tanks and larger main wheel hubs and brakes.

9 August 1953

Transferred to No. 540 Squadron, RAF Wyton, Cambs.

From 8 October 1953 to 9 October 1953

Won the United Kingdom to New Zealand Air Race in a time of 23 hours 51 minutes.

From Unknown to 11 December 1953

Transferred to English Electric, Samlesbury.

23 December 1953

Damaged.
While starting up for an attempt on the Gander to Aldergrove point-to-point record the starter disintegrated and punctured the fuselage where the navigator would normally have been. The navigator had presumably been removed for the record attempt.

19 January 1954

Declared Cat 3R.

From Unknown to 22 February 1954

Repaired.
Repairs completed and returned to No. 540 Squdron.

1 October 1954

Transferred to 2nd Tactical Air Force, No. 69 Squadron, RAF Gutersloh, West Germany.

13 December 1954

Transferred to 2nd Tactical Air Force, No. 69 Squadron, RAF Laarbruch, West Germany.

11 November 1955

Damaged.
Declared Cat 3R.

24 January 1956

Repair completed.
Returned to No. 69 Squadron.

28 January 1958

Damaged.
Declared Cat 3R.

18 February 1958

Repair completed.

Transferred to No. 69 Squadron.
Assigned to 69 after the repair was completed.

1 April 1958

Transferred to 2nd Tactical Air Force, No. 69 Squadron, RAF Luqa, Malta.

30 June 1958

Transferred to No 39 Squadron, RAF Luqa, Malta.
Operated with markings: C
No. 69 Squadron was disbanded and reformed as No. 39.

17 July 1958

Transferred to No 49 Maintenance Unit, RAF Colerne, Wilts.
Sent to No. 49 for modifications.

8 September 1958

Transferred to No 39 Squadron, Luqa, Malta.

4 May 1960

Transferred to English Electric.
Sent to English Electric for modifications.

20 October 1960

Transferred to Boulton Paul Aircraft, Seighford Airfield, Staffs.

24 October 1960

Transferred to No. 39 Squadron, RAF Luqa, Malta.

31 July 1962

Damaged.
Declared Cat 3R.

Repaired.

10 September 1962

Transferred to No. 39 Squadron, Luqa, Malta.

19 December 1962

Transferred to No. 231 Operational Conversion Unit, RAF Bassingbourn.

9 September 1963

Damaged.
Declared Cat 3R.

19 November 1963

Repair completed.

19 November 1963

Transferred to No. 231 OCU.

23 April 1969

Last flight.
Flown from Bassingbourn to RAF Henlow for storage by the RAF Museum.

14 January 1971

Transported by ground. Delivered to Royal Air Force Museum, London, Grahame Park Way, Hendon, London, England.
Disassembled and moved to RAF Hendon.
View the Location Dossier

25 March 1971

Reassembly completed.

5 September 1973

New serial number assigned: 8369M RAF

2009

Photographer: Andy West

11 December 2011

Photographer: Terry Fletcher
Notes: Canberra PR3 on display in the Historic Hangars Collection at the RAF Museum at Hendon

9 March 2019

Photographer: Reinhard Jost
Notes: Nose badge with the data of the historic flight London - New Zealand in 1953

David Turner comments (9 March 2025): The stickers say 12,720 miles, but should be 12,270 miles.