WD932 English Electric Aircraft

[actionbarbie]

I bought this photography recently and on researching the aircraft I learnt that this was the aircraft that flew from Ireland to America a record flight at the time? It also was the prototype for another plane. How long was production of this plane and when was the record flight to America? I am NO expert and my description and terms im using may be wrong, but I cant find any really good images of WD932. Would this black and white photo print be of interest to collectors? The print is around 9 x 7 inches. Any info gratefully recieved Thanks, Linda

[Malcolm Clarke]

If you Google "WD932 Canberra", you will find quite a few sites providing data on this historic aircraft including many images, possibly including the one you have.

For example,
http://1951club.wordpress.com/2012/11/06/canberra-does-it-1951/
provides ........

The Canberra was also somewhat of a record breaker … In 1951 an RAF English Electric Canberra B Mk 2 (serial number WD932) flown by Squadron Leader A. Callard , flew from Aldergrove, Northern Ireland, to Gander, Newfoundland. The flight covered almost 1,800 nautical miles (3,300 km) in 4h 37 m. and was the first non-stop unrefuelled transatlantic-crossing by a jet.
The aircraft was being flown to the U.S. to act as a pattern aircraft for the Martin B-57 Canberra.Follow this link for a Pathe News recording of the record-breaking attempt.

There is a sad ending for this particular record breaking aircraft WD932:
On 21 December 1951, English Electric Canberra B2, USAF 51-17387, ex-RAF WD932, used as pattern aircraft for B-57 Canberra, crashed during a flight from Martin plant at Middle River, Maryland, north of Baltimore. It lost a wing during a 4.8g manoeuvre at 10,000 feet (3,000 m) over Centerville, Maryland, on the Delmarva Peninsula due to incorrect fuel handling that led to tail heaviness which caused loss of control during the high g manoeuvring. Both crewmembers ejected, but one of them was killed when his parachute failed to open.

Malcolm.

[actionbarbie]

Hi Malcolm

Thanks for your info. Very kind of you to take time out to do this : )

I have found a few other images of the plane mentioned. Do you think anybody would be interested in purchasing the image I hqvebof the Canberra? I don't know whether to keep it or try it on eBay. Any thoughts?

Thanks again. Linda