Only eight aircraft took part in the 1953 London to Christchurch Air Race. From left to right Canberra B.20s A84-201 / 5 and A84-202 / 4, Canberra PR.3s WE139 / 3 and WE142 / 2, Canberra PR.7 WH773 / 1, Hastings NZ5804 / 22, DC-6A PH-TGA / 21 of KLM and Viscount G-AMAV / 23 of BEA. The DH Comet in the background was not a participant. WE139 won the speed race and KLM the handicap race. Photo from: Nationaal Archief (Netherlands)

Photo by Dick London.

First flown 11 October 1955 and accepted by RAAF on 5 May 1956. Ferried to No. 82 Wing, Amberley for ops. Eventually allotted to No 1 (B) OCU and fitted with target towing equipment in Jan 1970. Last flown on 17 December 1970 and during routine ultrasonic inspection a suspect crack was found in the port spar. A84-225 was removed from operations having completed 3395 hours flying. Allotted from No. 1 Bomber Operational Conversion Unit to No. 3 Aircraft Depot at Amberley on the19 January 1971. Allotted to Dept. of Supply for disposal on 19 November 1971. Sold to QAM on 21 November 1973.

Sitting next to Machi MB-326H, A7-025 this Canberra was constructed by the Government Aircraft Factories, Melbourne, Australia in 1955 and delivered to the RAAF in March 1957. It saw active military duty in Malaya with No. 2 Squadron and was deployed to Vietnam on April 19th, 1967. It returned to Amberley Air Force Base on February 26th, 1971, where it then served as a photo reconnaissance aircraft until being retired. The aircraft was donated to the Aviation Heritage Museum, Perth, on December 17th, 1983, by the Australian Government. (Info from Aviation Heritage Museum)

Approved for disposal in 1971. Stripped of useful parts, the hulk was taken to Woomera and used for bomb tests. RAAF photo.

The last Australian built Canberra.

Looking like absolute junk is the last Australian-built GAF Canberra B.20. A84.248 wears the rear fuselage of A84-230 and has been a feature of the Caravan park near where it is now located. It is apparently heading to a museum for restoration.