Looking forward to this profile
The Royal Air Force signed a formal agreement with the USA on the 27th January 1950 for the loaned of seventy B-29 bombers with the serial numbers:
WF434-WF448
WF490-WF-514
WF545-WF574
Later another 18 were delivered under serials WW342-WW356 and WZ966-WZ968.
The RAF called the aircraft the Boeing Washington B.1, they joined RAF Bomber Command in 1950 as a longer-range nuclear-capable bomber, they were to be a stopgap until the introduction of the EE Canberra.
The first 4 aircraft went to the Washington Conversion Unit based at RAF Marham on March 22nd, 1950. The first Squadron to see service with the Washington was No. 115 Squadron
After the Canberra bomber started to enter RAF service most of the Washingtons had been returned, although one or two, I cannot find true records for this, remained in the UK as gunnery targets.
In 1951 two RAF Washingtons took part in the SAC bombing competition compeating against USAF B-29s, results of the competition are unknown to me
Royal Air Force Squadrons equipped with the Washington were:
Based at RAF Marham - Nos. 35, 90, 115 & 207
Based at RAF Coningsby - Nos. 15, 44, 57 & 149, later 57 Sqn moved to RAF Waddington in April 52
And RAF Watton had 192 Squadron that operated the aircraft from April 1952 to February 1958
