A significant milestone in South Africa’s aviation heritage preservation has been achieved with the successful relocation of English Electric Canberra B(I)12 No. 457 to Hangar 13 at the Mobile Deployment Wing, Swartkop — formerly Air Force Base Swartkop — where it will undergo a full restoration.
The move marks the beginning of a long-anticipated project to return one of the South African Air Force’s iconic Cold War-era bombers to pristine static display condition. The operation was carried out with precision by the museum’s technical staff, who worked tirelessly to ensure the safe transfer of the aircraft into its new home.
For the first time in many years, Canberra 457’s bomb bay doors were opened — revealing that the aircraft’s hydraulic system still retained pressure, a remarkable testament to the robustness of British engineering and the aircraft’s well-preserved condition.
Part of the South African Air Force Museum’s static exhibit collection at Swartkop, Canberra 457 represents an important era in the SAAF’s history. Originally introduced to service in the early 1960s, the Canberra was the SAAF’s first jet-powered bomber and played a vital role in long-range reconnaissance and strike missions. Aircraft 457 is among the few surviving examples of the type, symbolising an era of technological innovation and strategic capability that defined mid-20th-century airpower.
The restoration project at Swartkop aims not only to preserve the aircraft’s structural integrity but also to highlight the Canberra’s historical significance for future generations. Once complete, it will serve as a centrepiece for aviation enthusiasts, veterans, and the public to appreciate the craftsmanship and legacy of South Africa’s jet bomber era.
The museum’s technical team expressed pride in the aircraft’s condition and enthusiasm for the restoration ahead. “Seeing hydraulic pressure still in the system after all these years is incredible,” one team member noted. “It’s a testament to both the aircraft’s design and the care it has received over the decades.”
As work progresses at the Mobile Deployment Wing, Canberra 457 stands as a renewed symbol of dedication to South Africa’s aviation heritage — an enduring reminder of a remarkable period in the nation’s defence history.
