When the English Electric Canberra entered Royal Air Force service during the spring of 1951, it was unquestionably the most advanced and most capable jet powered bomber aircraft the world had ever seen. Whilst it wasn’t integrated enough to see service during the Korean War, the conflict did see production of the Canberra accelerate significantly, with the jet designated a ‘Super priority’ type. 

The Suez Crisis of 1956 saw RAF Canberra units finally able to show what they could do in an offensive capacity, with five Canberra units allocated to operations against Egyptian forces. The jets of RAF No.139 Squadron from Binbrook were deployed to RAF Nicosia, and were assigned to fly target marking missions for other Canberra bombers flying from Malta following behind them, using a combination of Target Indicator incendiaries and 1000lb bombs.

On 3rd November 1956, Wing Commander Paul Mallorie led No.139 Squadron against the Egyptian airfield at Luxor and the Soviet made Il-28 ‘Beagle’ bombers based there, and once the targets had been illuminated, the Canberras were to return to make their own bombing strike against the airfield. With smoke covering the site and with light fading fast, Mallorie led his squadron in an audacious dive bombing attack against the parked Egyptian bombers, to devastating effect. 

The Operation Musketeer Canberras of RAF No.139 Squadron were arguably the most colourfully presented aircraft to take part in this controversial period in British history.