XM607 Avro Vulcan B.2 touching down at Greenham Common Air Tattoo 1977

The Military Collection - Bombers
From a collection of some 430 Military slides that I've had scanned from my archives. Hope they will provide some enjoyment and nostalgia from a bygone age.

Seen in the days of the Cold War, Avro Vulcan B.2 XM607 lands at Greenham Common after a display at the international Air Tattoo of 1977. This aircraft became famous five years later for being involved in the Falklands War of 1982 and 'Operation Black Buck' - see here for more details on the mission: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Black_Buck

The aircraft was eventually preserved as the gate guardian at RAF Waddington.

The Vulcan Bomber
The Avro Vulcan was a delta-winged, high-altitude, strategic bomber, which was operated by the Royal Air Force (RAF) from 1956 until 1984. A total of 136 aircraft were built, including eight prototypes, and the production aircraft were delivered in four separate batches as follows:

First batch: XA889 - XA913 25 Vulcan B.1 & B.1As delivered between 1955 - 1957
Second batch: XH475-483, XH497-506, XH532-539, XH554-563 37 Vulcan B.1A & B.2s delivered between 1958 - 1960
Third batch: XL317-321, XL359-361, XL384-392, XL425-427, XL443-446 24 Vulcan B.2s delivered between 1960 - 1962
Fourth batch: XM569-576, XM594-612, XM645-657 40 Vulcan B.2s delivered between 1963 - 1965
Total production order - 128

The Vulcan B.1 was first delivered to the RAF in 1956, and deliveries of the improved Vulcan B.2 started in 1960. The B.2 featured more powerful engines, a larger wing, an improved electrical system, and electronic countermeasures, and many were modified to accept the Blue Steel missile.

As a part of the V-force, and one of the most distinctive military aircraft ever to take to the skies, the mighty Avro Vulcan was the backbone of the United Kingdom's airborne nuclear deterrent during much of the Cold War. Although the Vulcan was typically armed with nuclear weapons, it could also carry out conventional bombing missions, which it did in Operation Black Buck during the Falklands War between the United Kingdom and Argentina in 1982.

Vulcan B.2 XL317, the first of a production batch ordered in 1960, was the first Vulcan, apart from development aircraft, to be capable of carrying the Blue Steel stand-off missile. Thirty-three aircraft were delivered to the RAF with these modifications.

Operating at higher altitudes, the first Vulcan's in RAF service were finished in an overall white anti-flash scheme, intended to protect the aircraft in the seconds following detonation of a nuclear device, however, advances in Soviet anti-aircraft missile defences brought about a significant change in the aircraft's attack profile.

Moving from high to low altitude strike operations during the early to mid 1960s, Vulcans retained their white undersides, but were given a striking grey and green camouflage on their upper surfaces, markings which really suited the huge delta shape of this magnificent aircraft. Although moving to low-level bombing operations, retention of the white anti-flash undersides clearly illustrates the Vulcan's continued role as a nuclear armed strategic bomber.

After retirement by the RAF, one example, B.2 XH558, named The Spirit of Great Britain, was restored for use in display flights and air shows, whilst two other B.2s, XL426 and XM655, have been kept in taxiable condition for ground runs and demonstrations. B.2 XH558 flew for the last time in October 2015, but has been kept in taxiable condition.

RAF Waddington
During the Cold War, RAF Waddington became an Avro Vulcan V-bomber station, with No. 83 Squadron being the first in the RAF to receive the Vulcan in May 1957. The other Squadrons to fly the Vulcan from Waddington were Nos. 9, 44, 50 and 101 Squadrons. From 1968, the UK nuclear deterrent was transferred to Polaris submarines, beginning with HMS Resolution. The station continued in this role until 1984 when the last Vulcan squadron, No. 50 Squadron, disbanded. It continued to be the home for the last flying Vulcan (XH558) of the Vulcan Display Flight until its disbandment in 1992.

RAF Scampton
In October 1960, No. 83 Squadron arrived at Scampton from RAF Waddington and equipped with the Vulcan B.2. Together with No. 27, No. 35 and No. 617 Squadrons, who by this time had also taken delivery of the Vulcan, the "Scampton Wing" was formed, the aircraft being equipped with the Blue Steel stand-off missile.

On 30 June 1968, Blue Steel operations at Scampton were terminated, as the Royal Navy, with the submarine launched Polaris missile, assumed responsibility for the UK nuclear deterrent. Scampton squadrons were assigned to the tactical nuclear and conventional bombing roles. This led to the disbandment of No. 83 Squadron in August 1969, however in December 1969 No. 230 Operational Conversion Unit moved to RAF Scampton from RAF Finningley.

With disbandment of No. 230 Operational Conversion Unit and the cessation of No. 617 Squadron's Vulcan operations in 1981, followed by the cessation of Vulcan flying at Scampton by No. 27 Squadron and No. 35 Squadron in 1982, Scampton was transferred to RAF Support Command and became home to the Central Flying School (CFS) in 1983.

One of a small number of slides taken by me in 1977-78, before I purchased my first SLR camera - a Zenith E. From an original slide, scanned and unrestored.

You can see a random selection of my aviation memories here: www.flickriver.com/photos/heathrowjunkie/random/

Taken in: United Kingdom / England / Greenham Common Airport (show map)

Taken on: June 25, 1977

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