RAF and USAF Soviet Overflights.

GZR_Sactargets · Post by **GZR_Sactargets** » 09 Jul 2009, 21:52

I got this via email from a UK friend. I didn't know about RAF crews making overflights. The last URL is the best over view.
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Russian Overflights by RAF Crews during the "Cold War"

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I have been researching Russian overflights by RAF crews during the Cold War and have identified the names of 29 Aircrew that have been involved in deep penetration flights.

North American RB-45C
11 Aircrew that converted to the RB-45C and "borrowed" four aircraft (one spare) at Sculthorpe in Norfolk and completed two seperate night time missions, one in April 1952 and the other in April 1954.

English Electric Canberra B2./PR7.
7 Aircrew involved in a modified Canberra that flew a daring daytime mission from Giebelstsdt in West Germany to the missile testing sites at Kapustin Yar, South East of Stalingrad, then on to Iran.

Lockheed U-2.
11 RAF Pilots that converted to U-2's & were checked out at "Area 51" in the Navada Desert between 1958 & 1967.

For some reason, successive British Governments have declined to confirm that these flights took place, even though the Americans have confirmed it & the Russian Military have confirmed that they had tracked just about every penetration flight.

Most of these Aircrew will now be well into their 80's. It would be such a shame if their deeds of bravery got lost in the mists of time.

Here are more links to the stories

......... http://www.pprune.org/military-aircrew/ ... d-war.html
........... http://www.pinetreeline.org/metz/other/ ... son-1.html
http://data-freeway.com/plesetsk/overflights.htm

Keith Jones · Post by **Keith Jones** » 10 Jul 2009, 19:59

Fascinating stuff there. Thank you.

N35W · Post by **N35W** » 10 Jul 2009, 22:17

Wise ones out there, where did the name Canberra come from.? Is it a animal, person, place or thiing? That name has always caught my attention.

Post by **petebramley** » 10 Jul 2009, 22:23

Hi mate

Dunno about the Wise bit but this is what Wiki brings up:

The aircraft was named Canberra after the capital of Australia by Sir George Nelson, chairman of English Electric, as Australia was the first export customer for the aircraft.

Pete

N35W · Post by **N35W** » 10 Jul 2009, 22:55

Well there you go.

Thanks Pete.

Post by **petebramley** » 10 Jul 2009, 22:58

No probs