RNZAF underside colour question for modeller

[FlyNavy]

Question today on the AMI forum: (http://www.aussiemodeller.com/pages/discussiongroup/forum.html)

"If there are any Kiwis talking to us after Saturday night's game (it's OK I am also Irish and we were robbed in Aussie!) can the please let me know what the underside colours are for their Canberras? I have a T21 14 SQN and 75SQN B2 in the RAF light grey and I am working on a 14SQN B(I) 8. Airfix say it is silver but I seem to recall them being light grey also."

Any takers please - tah. I'm looking for a few photos I have but don't recall they show underside.

[silverfox]

I asked the same question here a while ago and got the very positive response that all RNZAF Canberras had Silver undersides.

[FlyNavy]

Thanks silverfox. Here is another question from same modeller forum:

"Did the Kiwi B(I)12 have a similiar bang seat for the pilot as our B20?"

[silverfox]

It seems both types used MBMK2 seats, the RAAF specifically used the MK2 CFE.

See www.martin-baker.com/getdoc/3fb8f33e-ce20-4f4c-948e-89ef5eb60f98/Mk--1-to-Mk--9.aspx

[FlyNavy]

silverfox: Thanks for that. Had forgotten about the new excellent MB website. Great info there. They don't have a reference for RNZAF though? I see the "AUSTRALIA CANBERRA 2CFE". ??

[silverfox]

True, but it does for India where most of the RNZAF B (I) 12s ended up.

I struggled to find any mention of NZ seats on the site, MK 4s for the Blunty and MK1 in the Vampire trainers etc.

[FlyNavy]

OK, did not know that your Canberra B (I) 12s went to India.

[sniff]

Yup!

I dont think they lasted very long, though. The Pakis and the Indis had a little war around 70-ish and I think most are probably pots in Dehli now!

[sniff]

Looks like 10 went to India, 8 x 12's and 2 x 13's. (nz-serials.adf-serials.com/nz6101.shtml)

Jet Era - Canberras and Jaguars

Even after handing over the MR role to the Navy, No 6 Squadron has continued its long association with maritime air operations. In January 1972 the squadron acquired a batch of Canberras, primarily the B12 variant but including two T13 trainers. These were previously RNZAF aircraft (including NZ6109 and NZ6151, the last two Canberra airframes ever built, which became F1188 and Q1191 in IAF service), refurbished and re-equipped for the IAF. With these aircraft the squadron assumed the role of maritime strike.

In July 1979 the squadron assumed the additional task of target towing, for which role it received Canberras of the TT418 version. This version was unique to the Indian Air Force, an Indian modification of the T4 trainer with some features of the British TT18 variant, and flew in eye-catching high-visibility colour schemes.

No 6 Squadron received the President’s Standard in recognition of its outstanding services and history, from the then president, Shri Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy, on 20 December 1980.

In June 1987 the squadron moved on to a new generation of aircraft and equipment, when it received the HAL-built Sepecat Jaguar IM maritime version. No 6 Squadron was the last IAF unit to equip with Jaguars, and received a unique variant, the IM maritime version. This variant is distinguishable from other IAF Jaguars by its nose profile, which differs from others by the housing for the Agave radar. The ASTE had, over the preceding two years, carried out a programme of trials and integration for the Sea Eagle anti-ship missile, giving the Jaguar IM a potent strike capability against maritime targets by both day and night. The Jaguar IMs initially re-equipped one flight of the squadron, while the other retained Canberras.

The Canberras continued to be used for target towing, and also for type training, for a few years longer. However in June 1992, the second flight of the squadron was also re-equipped with Jaguar Internationals. The squadron then assumed the additional role of counter-air operations.

www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/Sqn/006.html