Allied Wings No. 19

The English Electric
Canberra B(I).8

Phileditions

Reviewed by Mark Davies

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The English Electric Canberra is a British first-generation jet-powered medium bomber that was manufactured during the 1950s. It was developed by English Electric during the mid-to-late 1940s in response to a 1944 Air Ministry requirement for a successor to the wartime de Havilland Mosquito fast-bomber. In addition to being a tactical nuclear strike aircraft, the Canberra proved to be highly adaptable, serving in varied roles such as tactical bombing and photographic and electronic reconnaissance.

The B(I).8 was derived from B.6 as an interdictor. Fitted with a new forward fuselage with teardrop canopy on the port side, and Navigator station forward of pilot (early marks had the navigator behind the pilot. Provision for a ventral pack similar to the B(I) 6 with 4 x 20 mm Hispano cannon, one external hard-point under each wing for up to 1,000 lb (454 kg) of bombs or unguided rockets, LABS (Low-Altitude Bombing System) for delivery of nuclear bombs. Prototype converted from the only B5 and first flown 23 July 1954, 72 built including 17 for export and two converted from B2s.

Source: Wikipedia

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This is the nineteenth edition in the Allied Wings series from Phileditions, which presumably all follow a similar format (this one being the first I have seen):

• Introduction – A very brief background to the Canberra and development of the B(I).8, production serial numbers, mention of the export designations for the type, and a table of technical data.

• The Units – Brief history of the type’s employment with various squadrons, the origins of the squadron, and mention of the aircraft serial numbers involved. Nos.3,14,16,59 & 88 Squadrons are covered.

• The Aircraft – This section is ‘the meat’ of the book, with an entry for each serial number produced. Some are brief and others quite lengthy. If the aircraft was destroyed the details are recorded in red type. In many instances a photo of individual subjects accompanies the entry.

• The Exports – This section allocates a page per country with a brief background on the export airframes involved with two or three supporting images each. The countries are New Zealand and South Africa with the B(I).12, India with the B(I).58,  Peru with the B(I).68 and ex-SAAF B(I).12, and Venezuela with the B(I).8 becoming the B(I).88 after overhaul in the UK.

The book features 110 photographs, most good and some in colour, featuring the Canberra B(I).8 and its export equivalents.

At the end are seven nicely rendered full-page colour profiles. 

The book is available in four formats; printed paperback, or in three digital formats downloadable from the publisher and others. The printed example’s quality of production is good, although on matt paper. I cannot comment on the appearance of the digital formats.

This series is quite specialized in nature with its focus firmly on providing a brief history for each airframe produced. The book provides a valuable historical service in doing so, and reflects what must be considerable amount of research. The subject is unavoidably somewhat ‘dry’, but this is relieved by the easy to read text and photographs. Some will obviously value being able to know the history of the airframes they choose to model.

Thanks to RAF-In-Combat.com for the review samples.

Review Copyright © 2016 by Mark Davies
This Page Created on 22 July, 2016
Last updated 22 July, 2016

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