Canberra Musketeer markings

You are in luck. I just happen to be looking at this article the other day. You need to find Scale Aircraft Modelling, November 1984, V7N2. It has a 25 page article devoted to the a/c markings of the Suez campaign.

Four B.2s are illustrated.

WH667 of No.10 Squadron operation out of Cyprus. Medium Sea Grey and Light Slate Grey upper surfaces, PRU Blue undersurfaces, aluminum wing tanks, two foot wide "yellow" and black stripes on the wings and fuselage.

XA536 of No. 15 Squadron, Cyprus. Overall painted aluminum, Two foot stripes.

WH729 of No. 27 Squadron, Cyprus. As above.

WH718 of No. 44 Squadron, Cyprus, As above.

The article mentions that the yellow used by the Cyprus based a/c was very light, aparently due to a shortage of yellow paint stock. It may have been diluted with white or "Light Stone". Some witnesses describe it as more creme colored.

Greg Reynolds, IPMS

"English Electric Canberra" by Roland Beamont and Arthur Reed states that the first bombs of the Suez Campaign were dropped by WH853 of 10 Sqn, on the night of 31 October during an attack on Almaza airfield. It doesn't state what the colours were, but I imagine that they were the same as WH667 as stated by Greg above.

There is also a photograph of WH960 being bombed up at Akrotiri. It is painted in aluminium with stripes. The forward black strip is centered on the fuselage roundel, but the stripes do not encroach on the roundel or serial, being effectively painted only on the top and bottom of the fuselage. However, WH960 was a B6.

The Xtradecal sheet X072-52 (for Hunters) agrees. Apparently the "yellow" colour was in fact Light Stone distemper sourced from the Army.

Greg/Enzo

Many thanks for the reply, really appreciate it. Now..... Would you believe I have September 1984s copy and then a BIG gap up to 1990, and it's not available as a back issue either :-( Any suggestions as to where to get a copy gratefully received. However, if I get one or not, that's the puppy for me, Medium Sea Grey/Light Slate Grey upper surfaces, PRU Blue undersurfaces, aluminum wing tanks and two foot wide "yellow" and black stripes sounds cool to me :-) Sorry to keep asking, but does the article make clear if the fuselage codes were big or little? Rounded or squared? I know Model Alliance did some decals, I can feel an expensive call to Hannants coming on :-(

Thanks again for the replies, much appreciated!

Cheers.

What would you like from the article? I remember that issue and could scan some stuff but 25 pages might be a bit much.

Bill Banaszak, MFE Sr.

Bill!

That would be really kind! Basically I'm only interested in the Canberra B.2 in the grey/grey/pru blue scheme (at this time :-) so if there are any profiles/info on such an a/c that would be fabulous.

email address is snipped-for-privacy@coresolutions.co.uk, but I guess you already know that...

Thanks very much for the offer.

Cheers.

Bill,

Sorry, I didn't see Peter's request first. I can send him a scan also, if you have trouble finding your copy of the article. There is only the side view and scrap view of the wing. There are no photos of the bird in the article.

Greg Reynolds, IPMS

I'll dig it out tonight and scan those parts for you. And thanks Greg for telling me what I'm looking for. :)

Bill Banaszak, MFE Sr.

Greg/Bill

Thanks again for taking the time to do this, I really appreciate it. It's time like these that makes the modelling community what it is. :-)

Thanks again.