RIAT 2006 Press Release
RAF LEGEND BOWS OUT AT AIR TATTOO
History will be made at the world's largest military airshow this summer when one of the Royal Air Force's most famous aircraft takes to the skies for its very last public display.
The disbandment of 39 (1 PRU) Squadron based at RAF Marham, in Norfolk in July means the appearance of the legendary Canberra photo reconnaissance aircraft at the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on July 15-16 will mark its retirement after 55 years of service with the RAF.
Although the Canberra began life in 1951 as a light bomber, its potential as a high altitude reconnaissance aircraft was soon realised and it is in this role that it will be best remembered. The definitive Canberra reconnaissance version, the PR9, first flew in 1955 and since then it has carried out vital reconnaissance missions during many of the 20th century's greatest conflicts. The Canberra saw action in Malaya against terrorists in 1955 and again in the Suez crisis of 1956. It photographed Russian shipping movements during the Cuban missile crisis and flew reconnaissance missions during the war in Kosovo and during current operations in the Middle East.
Its immense capability saw it set more than 20 world records including, in 1957, an altitude record of 70,310ft and such is its versatility that NASA still retains two modified Canberras for high altitude research.
The Canberra is widely regarded one the world's longest serving operational military aeroplanes and its retirement from the Royal Air Force will bring to an end one of the greatest chapter's in the distinguished history of RAF operational aircraft.
Flying the aircraft at the Air Tattoo will be 61-year-old Squadron Leader Terry Cairns, the Royal Air Force's most experienced Canberra pilot, who will himself retire from the RAF two weeks after the display.
He said: “I am particularly delighted to be given the opportunity to be part of the last Royal Air Force Canberra display team, along with my navigator Sqn Ldr Roger Newton, as I shall also go out of service shortly as possibly one of the oldest military display pilots.”