Wyton Airfield has been associated with aircraft and flying for close on 100 years. Originally just being a grass airstrip, but in the 1930s a dramatic change took place at Wyton with four new hangars, taxiways and runways being built. Wyton was chosen for The Pathfinder Forces Headquarters.
In fact the first sortie of World War II was carried out from Wyton. Aircraft operating from Wyton included Mosquitos, Blenheims and Lancasters. After the war Wyton was used by the American Air Force for a short while and in 1953 a photographic reconnaissance unit arrived operating a mix of different aircraft, which were soon replaced by Canberra Mk PR3s. As the years went by other aircraft came to Wyton including the Valiant which was later replaced by Victors of the 543 Squadron. Other aircraft stationed at Wyton were Hastings, Devons and Bassetts and later Comets and Nimrods.
Wyton was primarily a Canberra base having this type on strength for over forty years and in 1989 Wyton hosted the 40th anniversary of the Canberra's first flight which was made on 13th May 1949. To celebrate this anniversary two T4 aircraft were painted in a blue paint scheme, one of which was flown by Wing Commander Roland Beamont forty years to the day of the first flight.