This amazing airplane first flew in 1949, and as at 2005, is still in
front-line service with the RAF. It has served in a variety of roles
including those of medium conventional bomber, tactical nuclear bomber,
photo-reconnaissance, night intruder, navigational trainer, maritime
strike, electronic countermeasures, and atomic cloud sampling and
target-towing. It was manufactured in the USA under license as the
Martin B-57, and in Australia under license as the Canberra B-20. It has
been exported to Argentina, Chile, France, Germany, India, Peru, Sweden,
Venezuela, South Africa and other Commonwealth countries. This book
looks at the development of the aircraft during the early days of jet
power and especially at its Rolls-Royce Avon power-plant. It was
Britain's first jet bomber. Each of the many marks and variants are
described and illustrated by many remarkable and rare photographs. The
type's record of service with RAF squadrons throughout its service life
is given together with descriptions of the many experimental models that
were used in the development of a variety of weapons and avionics
systems.