Why the Orange Bands?

Canberra A84-225 in target-towing configuration at Butterworth in 1970. The aircraft retained these colours when it was withdrawn from service in January 1971. (Picture: John Bennett)

Canberra A84-224 in target-towing configuration at Butterworth. Note that A84-224 carried the orange bands over camouflage whereas A84-225 retained the white and silver scheme. (Picture: George Newbury)

 

Canberra A84-225 was modified in January 1970 for target-towing duties with No. 1 (B) Operational Conversion Unit. Also Canberra A84-224 was similarly modified.

The target towing equipment was rather rudimentary and did not involve anything as sophisticated as a winch. A steel stanchion was fixed to the belly of the aircraft on the centreline aft of the bomb bay. A 1500 foot steel cable was attached to the stanchion with a shear link and an explosive bolt. The other end of the cable was attached to an aluminium spreader bar which was fitted with small wheels. The target banner was then attached to the spreader bar. The cable and banner were laid out at the beginning of the runway and the aircraft taxied into position where an armourer attached the cable to the aircraft and armed the explosive bolt. The Canberra then made a steep take-off to reduce the time the banner was dragged along the runway. At the conclusion of the sortie, the aircraft would fly down the runway at 500 feet and drop the cable and banner by activating the explosive bolt.

To make the towing aircraft more visible to the Mirage fighters, two orange (not DayGlo) bands were painted around the fuselage fore and aft of the wing. The choice of aircraft for conversion was probably dictated by the fact that A84-224 and A84-225 were still fitted with Avon Mk 1 engines and had not been upgraded to the later Avon Mk 109. Furthermore, these two aircraft were probably already subject to G limitations, which certainly did apply towards the end of their service lives. A84-224 is known to have carried a large stencil forward of the cockpit entry door as per the following facsimile:

There is no photographic evidence that A84-225 also carried this stencil but the aircraft records were certainly endorsed to the effect that the aircraft was G limited. In recent years, the significance of the orange bands has been the subject of some discussion. It has been suggested that the orange bands signify any one of the following:

(a) Target Tug
(b) G Limited
(c) Avon Mk 1 engines

It would appear that the reality is that the orange bands were originally to make the aircraft more visible in its target towing role and that the other factors were simply coincidental.