Uploaded December 2024 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
English Electric / GAF Canberra – Australia’s First Jet Bomber
The English Electric Canberra was one of the most successful jet bombers of the early Cold War, and its legacy in Australian service was no less remarkable. Built under license by the Government Aircraft Factories (GAF) and powered by locally produced Rolls-Royce Avon engines, the Canberra Mk.20 gave the Royal Australian Air Force its first true jet strike capability.
This documentary traces the development, service, and combat record of the Canberra in Australian hands—from its debut in the 1950s to its final operational flight in 1982.
In this video:
• Background on the English Electric Canberra’s post-WWII design
• Local Australian manufacture and the debut of the GAF Mk.20
• RAAF No. 82 Wing adoption and squadron-level integration
• No. 2 Squadron’s deployment to Malaya and combat missions from Butterworth in 1958
• Canberra operations in the Vietnam War under the USAF’s 35th Tactical Fighter Wing
• Over 11,000 sorties flown and 76,000 bombs dropped in Vietnam
• Interviews with Wing Commanders Bob Howe and Lance Halvorson recounting their experiences as navigators
• Post-war roles including reconnaissance, target towing, and cartographic survey
• Final flypast over Brisbane on 30 June 1982 marking retirement from RAAF service
From its high-speed bombing runs to its long-range reconnaissance duties, the Canberra served as the backbone of Australia’s strike capability for nearly three decades, bridging the gap between piston-engine bombers and the supersonic jet age.
Contents
00:00 Intro
00:42 Background
02:17 US B-57
02:47 Government Aircraft Factory Mk.20
03:52 Conversion to Canberras film
04:31 Jet Training
06:08 Avon Engine
06:54 Martin-Baker Ejection Seat
07:50 Altitude Training
08:59 Bombing Training
13:51 No. 2 Squadron RAAF
14:20 Bob Howe as a navigator
16:04 Lance Halvorson as a navigator
17:40 Bombing in Vietnam
18:00 Bob Howe on Bombing in Vietnam
26:50 Lance Halvorson on dangers in the Canberra
30:25 Canberras after Vietnam
Lance and Bob on the Canberra:
youtu.be/CDVNErEyuV8
youtu.be/QDGZ__h_NMA
youtu.be/IL1a_mK3Cas
youtu.be/mE0SEwiLMdU
youtu.be/Vr9IeUq9W94
youtu.be/rwQ-NiT1bX4
youtu.be/fFj6rpYE9L8
Please consider supporting this channel by purchasing our merchandise at https://peacemaker.fashion
Transcripts and discussion can be found at our Substack militaryaviationvideos.substack.com
_____________ Disclaimer _____________
Original footage and recreated scenes (using DCS, War Thunder, etc) may not be 100% accurate to the event being described but has been used for dramatic effect. This is because there may not have been original footage of a particular event available, or copyright prevents us from showing it. Our aim is to be as historically true as we can be given the materials available.
Copyright disclaimer under fair dealing sections ss 40/103C, ss 41/103A,ss 42/103B of the Copyright Act which includes research, study, criticism, review, and reporting of news. Copyright remains with the respective owners. These videos are made for educational purposes only.
The Australian Military Aviation History Association is a not-for-profit association with the intent of recording, preserving and promoting Australian military aviation history.
English Electric / GAF Canberra – Australia’s First Jet Bomber
The English Electric Canberra was one of the most successful jet bombers of the early Cold War, and its legacy in Australian service was no less remarkable. Built under license by the Government Aircraft Factories (GAF) and powered by locally produced Rolls-Royce Avon engines, the Canberra Mk.20 gave the Royal Australian Air Force its first true jet strike capability.
This documentary traces the development, service, and combat record of the Canberra in Australian hands—from its debut in the 1950s to its final operational flight in 1982.
In this video:
• Background on the English Electric Canberra’s post-WWII design
• Local Australian manufacture and the debut of the GAF Mk.20
• RAAF No. 82 Wing adoption and squadron-level integration
• No. 2 Squadron’s deployment to Malaya and combat missions from Butterworth in 1958
• Canberra operations in the Vietnam War under the USAF’s 35th Tactical Fighter Wing
• Over 11,000 sorties flown and 76,000 bombs dropped in Vietnam
• Interviews with Wing Commanders Bob Howe and Lance Halvorson recounting their experiences as navigators
• Post-war roles including reconnaissance, target towing, and cartographic survey
• Final flypast over Brisbane on 30 June 1982 marking retirement from RAAF service
From its high-speed bombing runs to its long-range reconnaissance duties, the Canberra served as the backbone of Australia’s strike capability for nearly three decades, bridging the gap between piston-engine bombers and the supersonic jet age.
Contents
00:00 Intro
00:42 Background
02:17 US B-57
02:47 Government Aircraft Factory Mk.20
03:52 Conversion to Canberras film
04:31 Jet Training
06:08 Avon Engine
06:54 Martin-Baker Ejection Seat
07:50 Altitude Training
08:59 Bombing Training
13:51 No. 2 Squadron RAAF
14:20 Bob Howe as a navigator
16:04 Lance Halvorson as a navigator
17:40 Bombing in Vietnam
18:00 Bob Howe on Bombing in Vietnam
26:50 Lance Halvorson on dangers in the Canberra
30:25 Canberras after Vietnam
Lance and Bob on the Canberra:
youtu.be/CDVNErEyuV8
youtu.be/QDGZ__h_NMA
youtu.be/IL1a_mK3Cas
youtu.be/mE0SEwiLMdU
youtu.be/Vr9IeUq9W94
youtu.be/rwQ-NiT1bX4
youtu.be/fFj6rpYE9L8
Please consider supporting this channel by purchasing our merchandise at https://peacemaker.fashion
Transcripts and discussion can be found at our Substack militaryaviationvideos.substack.com
_____________ Disclaimer _____________
Original footage and recreated scenes (using DCS, War Thunder, etc) may not be 100% accurate to the event being described but has been used for dramatic effect. This is because there may not have been original footage of a particular event available, or copyright prevents us from showing it. Our aim is to be as historically true as we can be given the materials available.
Copyright disclaimer under fair dealing sections ss 40/103C, ss 41/103A,ss 42/103B of the Copyright Act which includes research, study, criticism, review, and reporting of news. Copyright remains with the respective owners. These videos are made for educational purposes only.
The Australian Military Aviation History Association is a not-for-profit association with the intent of recording, preserving and promoting Australian military aviation history.
