Brunters Canberra XH568 – Dismantled to be exported?

There werent any control surfaces on her from memory, i think they had been removed earlier and of course she had been engineless for ages.

All that was left on the pan was the bag tanks, but the scrappers even cut the fuel caps off, rendering them useless.

I wasnt there but i hear that an hour or so with a JCB was enough to do the job – I didnt know it was going to happen that quickly, we might have had a chance to save the serials…did rescue the pitot though if of use to anyone (its still in the wingtip)

TT

Did any of the remains go to other Canberra users..undercarriage..control surfaces etc?

Just to let you know – that she is now an ex-canberra – remains scrapped on site 10 days ago….

TT

Picture 1 ‘I’m telling you my Escort will have no problem pulling this apart!’
‘ Right, now can we pull the fuel tank bag out from here?’
Alan.

‘Crash n smash have got nothing on us!’

‘I knew I should have checked the parking brake was off!’
‘Okay how quick do you think we can put it back together again?’

Yes, some great times over the last 12 years for Canberra preservation in the UK coupled with some outstanding personalities involved as well. All documented in a book soon to be released.

(Middle photo…..)

“Perhaps a little lighter on the brakes next landing Sqd Leader?”

Caption

Bruce – ‘ He he Iv’e found that 2ba nut I dropped in ’86, I can put it in my pot now!
Dave – ‘ If he thinks i’m going to resplice them cables he’s got another think coming!’ 😀

Alan, not a glory boy ,honest. 😮
Ps I’ve started on the yellow dashes around the cockpit door.

”You silly sod, I told you to make sure you had the keys with you before closing the hatch!” (actually happened to a mate who had to smash the sunroof on his car to get them back!)

Caption Competition for the sparky Picture

Ok…I’ll kick off then…..

How about….

“She can’t fly until we’ve found that spanner”

😀

Great pictures and some wonderfull memories everybody, thanks for sharing!
It is only when you see all three aircraft ‘in the flesh’ as it were that you realise what an undertaking it must have been to purchase and then fly these aircraft ,thanks to everybody involved for playing their part in preserving them for us to see.
Cheers, Alan.
Ps there must be a good caption for your first photo Chris!

Hi again all, Ive been doing some digging and come up with a few more shots

XH568 sometime around 1994, with XH588 in the background

WK163 Landing at Bruntingthorpe at the end of its delivery flight

WT333 taxies in after final flight on the same day

WT333 and WK163 parked up in 1995

And WK163 just after repaint and nose change

Cheers 🙂

Dave,

Exactly the same time in fact…I was an apprentice in the 1985 intake and was there right up to the bitter end.
I did Airframes and Engines mostly on the Canberras and the Buccaneer. Did a long stint in Hangar one and a slightly longer one in Hangar 4.
Wonderful days and sorely missed.

It was a bit of a family affair really, My Dad worked over at NAD for a while on the catapult and arrester gear (when it was operational long before my time) My sis worked there for a while in Admin and my dear old Mum was there for years and years doing Admin and security.
Does the surname ‘Cawdron’ ring any bells? Not sure if any of us had much to do with ATC?

Regards
Chris

Chris,you must have been at Thurleigh the same time as me?I worked in Air Traffic Control there from 1985 until closure in 1994.
Dave

Photo’s

Ok here goes…..it was a long time ago now so my appologies if I get it wrong…..

From the right then…..

Cliff Knox (I think? I may have got that totally wrong but the name rings a bell as one of Pete Gills good friends who used to photograph for us)
Neil Lawes (ex RAE Rigger)
Graham Hackett – Pilot
Francis Gill – Owner (facing camera)
Dusty Miller – Navigator (almost hidden from view in front of Francis)
Graham’s wife Mary Hackett (back to camera and clearly pleased to see Graham safely back on terrafirma!)
Terry Moore – Crew Chief (right at the back)
Peter Gill – Owner (in the hat)
Finally the guy at the cockpit door, name totally escapes me but I’d probably kick myself when I remember as he wasn’t with us long…..Ex armourer from RAE Bedford.

I’ve also got some nice pictures of the full Canberra line up at Bedford. It was the 306th Bomber group 50th anniversary in August 1992 and we put on an airshow for the Veterans.
I must get them converted from Negs so I can post them. Got some nice shots of the Bucc, Harrier and BAC111 (XX105 Yellow Belly) down at the eastern dispersal on the day too.

Regards
Chris

Dunno about id’s, but that’s the only time i’ve seen a woman so happy to see a plane she’s done a little dance :p

Three photos of the RAE Bedford Canberras
1 A line- up taken at Thurleigh 1992.From left to right:XH567,WT327,WJ992,XH568,WH953,WK163.Most,or even all,still survive in one form or other.
2 WK163 on the usual cartridge start 1993.XH568 on the right.Taken at Thurleigh
3 The conclusion of the first test flight in civilian hands of XH568 at Bruntingthorpe July?1994.Peter Gill,who was heavily involved with the Canberra is on the right with the hat.Graham Hacket,the pilot,is to the left of the lady, in the ‘grow-bag’.Anyone recognise themselves here?

Here’s one of WT333 just after she arrived at Bruntingthopre

Cheers

Thanks for those pictures Andy, it’s wonderful to see all that activity around WT333 again.
In a way, it takes the sting out of dismantling XH568 a little to see one of her old stablemates so nicely preserved. If I’m correct, WT333 will be the only Raspberry Ripple Canberra complete (and in running order to boot) in the UK now? 😎 I’ve heard the cockpit is immaculate.
I must get over to see her fast taxy when the time comes.
Keep up the wonderful work guys!!

Regards
Chris

Just to add to this thread, WT333 guys are doing great things, they have just fitted new brake units on both sides and run her regually, we have just gone in with them on a large quantity of fuel to fill our two Lightnings and WT333.

I got these shots on Saturday 15th October 2005, the lads were putting the finishing touches on the new leg that they had installed over the previous 3 weekends and also the new set of brake units all round.
Ready for a fast taxy soon, maybe our QRA open day in July 🙂

As for XH568 here’s a shot of mine from Nov 1993 when she arrived about an hour after Victor XM715, a great day and one that very few people witnessed 🙂

Cheers all
Andy B (LPG)