Origin:
English Electric Ltd.

Type:
Bomber with crew of 3.

Engines:
Two 6,500lb (7.1kN) Rolls Royce Avon 101 turbo jets.

Dimensions:
Span 63ft 1in (19.24m); length 65ft 6in (19.96m); height 15ft 7in (4.75m).

Weight:
Empty 22,200lb (10,096kg); max take off 46,000lb (20,865kg)

Performance:
Maximum speed at sea level 518mph (833km/h ); service ceiling 48,000ft (14,600m); normal range 2,660miles (4,280km).

Weapon load:
6,000lb (2,721kg) of bombs, all internal.

History:
The Canberra was first flown on the 13th May 1949 and is considered by many to be one of the all-time great military aircraft and a worthy successor to the Mosquito, which in many respects it succeeded. Designed originally as a medium bomber with a crew of 3 and with a visual bomb-aiming requirement it has served in a wide variety of other roles with great success and with a large number of air forces around the world. There are still several Canberras in service with the RAF in 1999 undertaking long range reconnaissance, two seat conversion training and chaff-laying training exercises.

103 Squadron was reformed in November 1954 at Gutersloh in West Germany as part of 551 Wing and flew Canberra B2s until the Squadron was disbanded again on the 1st August 1956.

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