Hi
As an ancient Canberra fan who seviced them electrically from 1954 until 1958 on 542 sqdn and beyond working for the MOD into the late 60s I welcome a Canberra site and have lots of memories and data to share.

Paddy R
(When you are strapped to the rumble seat there’s not much chance of escape!)

So the Canberra story goes on and on.

Hello TT18Timbo I also worked on WH 779 when it was delivered brand new to 542sqdn at Wyton in 1954,together with WH780,WH791,WH795,WH798,WH799&WH801.
I went on to work on many B2s sniffing the upper atmosphere for stray radioactive dust!
We flew from Wyton, Weston Zoyland and Gibraltar with detachments to Kinloss and Leuchars.
Happy days. I must search for those old photos.

Paddy R

Possible UK underwater wreck sites

There are a number of Catalinas in Lough Erne N Ireland. Some were scuttled after WW2 and are now in deep water under lots of silt.
There are also a couple of Sunderlands and at at least one Catalina which are war graves.

Paddy R

My first flight

In a chipmunk on a very hot summers day in 1954 at Wyton
I was a passenger
It was so hot that the heat from that big runway wouldn’t let the chippie settle down. After a couple of circuits the pilot had to actually fly it onto the runway. Unforgettable.

Paddy R

Canberra Group

Hi Merkle
Iv’e been in touch before but as an old WZ veteran and a long standing Canberra fanatic I’m all for a Canberra Group –preferably based at Weston Zoyland.

Paddy R

Westonzoyland

Hi all
I also wish you all the best for the WZ project. As I mentioned in a previous reply I was with 542 sqdn, the last one at WZ. Until a couple of years ago some of us old sqdn mates met annually at the George in Middlezoy which,in fact, was the nearest watering hole to the camp. If you drop in there you will see a plaque on the wall commemorating the sqdn. there is also one in Westonzoyland church.
I am too far away to provide any real help and I don’t have an old canberra B2 in the garden although I believe there are a few cockpit sections around.
I will monitor the project with great interest and also gather any pictures, stories etc I can find.

Best wishes

Paddy R

Weston Zoyland

Hi Merkle
Very glad to hear about the proposed museum. I was with 542 sqdn at Weston Zoyland from 1955 until 1957, the last sqdn to be stationed there.
Our Canberras carried out upper air sampling following atom bomb tests so perhaps thats were the reference to “atomic strike force” in ealier correspondence comes from.
I live in Northants, too far away to be of any real help but I do remember the final operational days at WZ and will gladly supply any information I can.

Paddy R

I worked for Freddie Laker with Aviation Traders out of Stanstead and Southend in 1959 & 1960.
We had 2 Brittanias, Some Tudors, and DC4s. We also flew Bristol Freighters out of Southend. I remember the carvair but have no pictures. I’m pretty certain it was a DC4 conversion by raising the flight deck to extend the car deck underneath.

Paddy R