English Electric Canberra B.16s (WJ783, WT370 and WT374) of 249 Squadron flying near Limassol, Cyprus, April 1960

The English Electric Canberra was designed by W.E.W. ‘Teddy’ Petter to specification B.3/45. The prototype Canberra made its first flight on 13 May 1949.

The Canberra B.15 was a conversion of the B.6 for service in Cyprus and Singapore. They could carry nuclear bombs instead of conventional bomb loads. They could also carry the Nord AS.30 air to surface tactical nuclear missile. The type was withdrawn in 1970. The Canberra B.16 was a similar conversion but was equipped with Blue Shadow radar.