CANBERRA TIMELINE

09 January 1946 
English Electric received a contract to produce four prototypes, which received the Society of British Aerospace Companies (SBAC) designation A.1; work commenced on the construction of these prototype aircraft in that same year, which were all built on production jigs.
1946
Richard S Leghorn MIT graduate advocates development of high resolution photo reconnaissance of a potential enemy using high altitude aircraft.
05 March 1946
IRON CURTAIN SPEECH
May 1946
NEPA begins
23 February 1947
San Diego Union article declaring a remotely controlled atomic airplane was being built.
24 June 1947
Kenneth Arnold UFO Mt. Rainer flying @ 1700 mph or 2.289060241 Mach. Arnold believes that the craft was remotely controlled.
08 July 1947
The first UFO reports for project sign
July 1947
Pentagon officials were expressing alarm about the flying disk reports
October 1947
In response to Rolls-Royce's difficulties, English Electric elected to have the second prototype modified to use the existing Nene engine in place of the Avon.[6] The implementation of post-war military cutbacks also served to slow development.
20 September 1948
Ramjets being tested in Los Angeles breaking the sound barrier.
February 1949
Project Grudge
13 May 1949
First Canberra Flight
28 September 1949
“45,000 horsepower is required to drive a 25 ton plane 1500 miles an hour (MACH 1.97) at 70,000 feet. … The power requirement would jump to 200,000 horsepower at sea level because of greater air resistance.”
U.S. May Push Efforts to Make Atomic Engine
Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File); Sep 28, 1949;
ProQuest Historical Newspapers: Los Angeles Times
pg. 12
16 October 1949
Caltech scientists on Mount Palomar observe “flying disk” that sets off Geiger counter.
21 February 1951
A British Canberra B.2 flown by Roland Beamont became the first jet to make a nonstop unrefueled flight across the Atlantic Ocean, arriving in the United States for USAF evaluation.
22 February 1951
ATOM PLANE ON WAY TO DRAWING BOARD; FIRST PHASE ENDED: U.S. Announces...
New York Times (1923-Current file); Feb 23, 1951; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The New York Times with Index pg. 1