Blackburn Buccaneer

When I was a child, my Dad was based at RAF Honigton in Suffolk during the mid 70’s, when Buccaneers were based there.

A memory that has stayed with me, was being at the far end of the airfield (outside the base), and having a Buccaneer going very low over our heads, as he had just taken off, awesome.

History

The Buccaneer was developed from specification M.148T in 1954 for a strike aircraft for the Royal Navy, that could extend the strike capabilty of the RN, and also counter the new Soviet “Sverdlov” class cruisers.

The Buccaneer was designed to fly at very low levels, and at very high speed, to enable it to penetrate Soviet air defences. Hence it being a subsonic in speed, rather than supersonic, which was the current trend.

The first prototype NA39 was delivered in 1958. In total 209 Buccaneers (figure includes 20 pre-production models) were built.

The Buccaneer S.1 entered service with 801 Naval Air Squadron on July 17 1962. 801 NAS was also the first operators of the Buccaneer S.2 in October 1965.

Buccaneers served with the RN until 1978.

The RAF initially was not interested in the Buccaneer, but after the cancellation of the TSR.2 project, and the cancellation of the General Dynamics F-111 order, they turned to the Buccaneer.

No. 12 Squadron of the RAF became Buccaneer operators (S.2A) in October 1969. Buccaneers served with the RAF until 1993.

The only foreign operators of the Buccaneer was South Africa, who operated 15 Buccaneers from 1965 to 1991.

Buccaneers saw action with the SAAF in the ground attack role, armed with 1000lb bombs and AS.30 missiles.

More recently with the RAF during the first Gulf War (1991), at first as target designators using “Pave Spike” for Tornado strike aircraft. Then as designator/strike using both “Pave Spike” and “Paveway” bombs. Not bad for an aircraft that was technically out of date.

Versions

Blackburn Buccaneer S.1

Speed Weight Span Length
645mph (low level) 29,980lb (empty), 45,000lb (max) 42ft 4in 63ft 5in
Fleet Air Arm Buccaneer S1

[Show slideshow]

More images of the Buccaneer S.1 can be found on the Buccaneer S.1 Walk Around page.

Blackburn Buccaneer S.2 (A/B/C/D)

Speed Weight Span Length
667mph (low level) 31,980lb (empty), 62,000lb (max) 44ft 0in 63ft 5in

RAF Buccaneer S2 in wrap around camouflage
RAF Buccaneer S2 close up of the office
RAF Buccaneer S2 in Desert Storm camouflage
RAF Buccaneer S2 in wrap around camouflage
RAF Buccaneer S2 in wrap around camouflage
RAF Buccaneer S2 in wrap around camouflage
RAF Buccaneer S2 in wrap around camouflage
Desert Storm RAF Buccaneer
RAF Buccaneer S2 close up of cockpit
RAF Buccaneer S2
RAF Buccaneer S2

[Show slideshow]

Users

Country Service Model Dates
UK RN FAA S.1, S.2C, S.2D 1962 to 1978
UK RAF S.2A, S.2B 1969 to 1993
South Africa SAAF S.50 1965 to 1991

Sources

Books

 

Model Kits

Airfix currently have a nice selection of RAF and RN Buccaneer’s in their range. They have 1/72 scale and 1/48 scale. I nice feature that they have currently introduced is a ‘bundle’ which includes a 1/48 kit and 116 page bookazine on building the Airfix Buccaneer.

 Airfix 1/72 

Airfix 1/48

Web

 

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Stuart Fowle is a participant in the Airfix Affiliates programme , an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Airfix.

Just a quick note about the affiliate schemes that I’m in. The commission I get from them helps towards the cost of running this site, and also with the purchase of new kits. So if you buy via the links, thank you so much.