FRADU Canberra TT.18 Gallery

The English Electric Canberra served with the Unit from 1969 until 1993 carrying out various duties including electronic warfare training and target towing.

The first Canberra in the 840-859 nose sequence is this one, TT.18 WK123. Avro at Woodford originally built this aircraft as a B.2. It was delivered to the RAF and it served with 100 Squadron for a few years.
The aircraft was then transferred to the Royal Radar Establishment for trails. It was then transferred back to 100 Sqn.
The aircraft then was delivered back to BAC for conversion to TT.18 status. After this was completed it was transferred onto RN charge and delivered to the Navy in 1969 serving with the Fleet Requirements Unit at Hurn.
This Unit integrated with the Air Direction Training Unit to become the FRADU.
The aircraft served with them for many years before being withdrawn and transferred back to the RAF to 100 Squadron.
It served with the Unit until 1993 before being moved to Germany for use for the Luftwaffe's Canberras.

Part of a contract to build 26 B.2 Canberras, WJ717 was built at the English Electric Plant at Preston.
It served with RAF 17 and 61 Squadrons before being converted to TT.18 status.

It was transferred to Royal Navy Charge at 27MU on 3oth September 1969. Later the aircraft served with the FRU and FRADU for many years up-to 1985 when it was retired to St Athan for storage, its place taken by civilian Dassault Mystere Falcons based at their old base, Hurn. It was then relegated to second line duties and its last resting-place is at St Athan with the Civilian Technical Training School (CTTS.) As seen in the photo above the future looks beak for her, being reduced just to her fuselage!

This Canberra was also built as a B.2, rolling off the production line at Handley Page's factory at Radlett.
This aircraft had a fairly long service career with the RAF, serving with 35, 50, 61, and 104 Squadrons before being converted to a TT.18. Along with others it was taken on Royal Navy charge at 27MU on 3rd October 1969.
Periods with the FRU and later the FRADU followed until 1987 when Flight Refuelling Aviation, the operators of the FRADU acquired some Dassault Mystere Falcons to replace some of the Canberras. WJ636 was retired and transferred back to RAF 100 Sqn. at RAF Wyton in 1987. After final retirement the aircraft passed through the BDRT section, eventually ending up on the fire dump.
The remnants were eventually scrapped in 1994.

Part of the same contract that produced WK123/840 this aircraft came out of Woodford. Serving with RAF 9 and 100 Squadrons before being converted to TT.18 status the aircraft was taken on charge with the Navy on 13th November 1969.
Originally used by FRU it passed onto the FRADU as well as Flight Refuelling Aviation during its Navy life.
Coded 843 and for a time 844 it was retired from the FRADU on 13/6/83.
Three years later in April 1986 it was brought out of retirement and it served with FRADU until its retirement in late 1991.
The aircraft was stored at RAF St Athan before being put up for disposal.

A US-based buyer purchased the airframe and planned to restore it to flying condition for the trip across the pond.
Unfortunately it ran into problems and it was then offered for sale.
The Gloucester Aviation Collection acquired the airframe and moved it to their Museum facility at Staverton Airport.
The aircraft is currently in store after being carefully dismantled, whilst the Museum hunts for a permanent home.

Part of contract 6/AFT/5943 for 100 B.2's built by Handley Page Ltd WJ574 was delivered to the RAF where it served with 57 and 540 Squadrons. It was one of a number sold back to BAC for possible resale in 1969 where it was given the manufacturer registration G-27-182. Converted to a TT.18 the aircraft was taken on RN charge in October 1974 and assigned to the FRADU for target towing duties. It flew in to St Athan for storage in 1985, emerging three years later and returned to service.
This Canberra has the distinction of being one of the last three used by the FRADU, before they all departed together in December 1992 for St Athan to await their fate. They were all offered for disposal and luckily WJ574 escaped the scrap-man and was bought by a US-based collector Tom Foscue. It remains in the USA today in airworthy condition.

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