A brief history of the RAF V-bomber force
V FORCE
In the late 1940s, it was realised that a new and most unwelcome situation was developing, mostly between the USA and the Soviet Union. There was a massive split in interests, and, although being ostensibly allies in the war against Nazi Germany, it was now clear that in a major military stand-off, the prize was the winning of western Europe.
In the last stages of WW2 the Soviets had advanced across half of Germany, and, with 'boots on the ground' the USA, with help from British forces, had halted this advance. A famous stand-offs had occurred in Berlin, and in Vienna of course, whereby these cities were isolated, split, and occupied by both Soviet and forces from the West, although both cities were in Soviet occupied territory.
Both sides decided, with a 'trench' mentality derived perhaps from a WW1 style of thinking, to dig their heels in. And, this became known as the 'Cold War'. But, both the Soviets and the USA and their allies, mainly the UK, now had nuclear weapons at their disposal. This was largely due because German scientists had been 'borrowed' by both sides.
It was a most bizarre period in human history. Both sides knew that a nuclear war would have no winner, and yet they persevered. The people in charge and the scientists, (clearly clinically insane on both sides?), continued to build enough nuclear weapons to destroy the world several times over. Being of a simple mind, I'd have thought once was enough?
THREE BOMBERS
Although being deemed as 'bankrupt' after WW2, the British government had no trouble in raising the funds to commission three 'V' bomber jet four-engine designs. All three of which were first class and entered service with the RAF.
VICKERS VALIANT
The first of the 'V' bombers was the Vickers Valiant which made its first flight on the 18th May 1951, entering service in 1955. The Valiant was an excellent aircraft which, in its day, could out-perform the top RAF fighter, the Hawker Hunter. It ended with a tarnished reputation which was entirely undeserved, as the RAF decided to use it for low level flying, a task it had not been designed for.
In fact Vickers had designed, built and flown a low level version but the powers in charge decided not to purchase any. As a result the rear spars started failing on the 'high-level' versions when constantly used on low-level sorties. Also it appears that Vickers were not at all happy with the material they had been ordered to use for the manufacture of the Valiant main and rear spars.
The Valiant has the perhaps dubious distinction of being the only 'V' bomber to have dropped nuclear weapons. Initially in the Woomera Ranges in Australia, then from Christmas Island in the Pacific Ocean. As far as I am aware, the only complete example remaining is XD818 on display at the RAF Museum COSFORD in the 'Cold War' display. A few other partial examples exist.
AVRO VULCAN
The second 'V' bomber was the Avro Vulcan which made its first flight on the 30th August 1952, entering service in 1956. The Vulcan had phenomenal climb performance and was highly manouevrable. I have heard it said that the Vulcan could take-off and climb to its top operational altitude without leaving the confines of the airfield it had departed from. I wonder if this is correct? If so I suspect it was not often, if ever demonstrated, as the engines would surely have suffered considerably.
The last flying Vulcan XH558 performed at UK air shows until 2015 - and it appears it will have to remain grounded. In many ways, for the British public at least, the Vulcan really is the iconic 'V' bomber. Several examples can been at museums around the UK, mostly in England. The Vulcan XH558 was restored to flying condition at BRUNTINGTHORPE, made many displays, and now resides at DONCASTER / SHEFFIELD 'ROBIN HOOD' AIRPORT (ex RAF FINNINGLEY).
Three Vulcans, (in 2016), remained servicable to give taxying displays:XH558 at ROBIN HOOD AIRPORT (RAF FINNINGLEY), XL426 at SOUTHEND and XM655 at WELLESBOURNE MOUNTFORD. Other intact examples are the 'Black Buck' XM612 at the Norwich Aviation Museum, 'Black Buck' XM598 at the RAF Museum COSFORD, 'Black Buck' XM607 at WADDINGTON, 'Black Buck' XH597 at EAST FORTUNE and last but not least the Vulcan XL318 on display at the RAF Museum HENDON.
HANDLEY PAGE VICTOR
The third, last but not least 'V' bomber was the Handley Page Victor which first flew on the 24th December 1952, entering service in 1958. Without much doubt the Victor was the most graceful design, and, could carry a heavier bomb load than both the Valiant and Vulcan.
A debate as which was the superior, the Vulcan or the Victor, will rage on for many a year, and of course there can never be a definitive conclusion. However, the Victor could also fly higher and faster than the Vulcan - in fact it was the only 'V'-bomber that was capable of supersonic speeds. This was first demonstrated with Johnny Allam at the controls on the 1st June 1957.
Regarding altitude the Victor could reach 63,000ft whereas for the Vulcan it was 60,000ft. The Victor could also carry more fuel and had greater range than the Vulcan, which explains why it made such an excellent tanker, staying in service for much longer than the Vulcan.
SURVIVORS
It appears that five complete Victors survive; XH648 at the Imperial War Museum DUXFORD, XH672 at the Royal Air Force Museum COSFORD and XH 673 acting as a Gate Guardian at RAF MARHAM. I was denied permission to photograph this aircraft, which was something of a disappointment.
However, we have (in 2016 at least) two Victors maintained is servicable condition to perform high-speed taxying displays. XL232 is at the Yorkshire Air Museum ELVINGTON and XM715 is at the British Aviation Heritage Centre at BRUNTINGTHORPE.
MAIN OPERATIONAL BASES
During the 'Cold War' the 'V' bombers were based at ten airfields in the UK:
CONINGSBY (LINCOLNSHIRE) COTTESMORE (RUTLAND)
FINNINGLEY (YORKSHIRE) GAYDON (WARWICKSHIRE)
HONINGTON (SUFFOLK) MARHAM (NORFOLK)
SCAMPTON (LINCOLNSHIRE) WADDINGTON (LINCOLNSHIRE)
WITTERING (NORTHAMPTONSHIRE) WYTON (HUNTINGDONSHIRE)
Note: I believe I have these County names correct at the time the 'V' bombers were operating.
AT THE HEIGHT OF THE COLD WAR
In the 1960s, these airfields had a QRA facility (Quick Reaction Alert) with aircraft loaded with nuclear weapons on 24-hour standby 365 days a year. The aircraft were positioned near the end of the main runway with crew facilities nearby, which were in some cases very basic temporary facilities in which to live.
Added to this we need to remember that, in the event of war, these crews were destined for a one-way mission - they could not return for the simple reason that it was expected that their bases and much of the UK had been annihilated, reduced to heaps of radioactive rubble and ashes. Also, in the cases of deep penetration raids especially, they did not have enough fuel to return and had to divert to await their fate. What an awful prospect to contemplate.
I suspect that although the USA was very aggressive and gung-ho as usual, the RAF crews knew that, along with their Soviet counterparts, the whole damned exercise was essentially a nonsense, and not going to happen. But, the deterrent aspect had to kept up given that no alternative was available. Consequently truly massive resources were expended on playing out the game - which was of course, by its very nature, literally a matter of life and death. They could not afford to be seen as weak in any operational respect.
ANOTHER APPROACH
It was soon realised that the 'V' bombers at their main bases could not possibly become airborne in time to meet an attack from the Soviet Union. I knew nothing of this until undertaking research for this 'Guide'. In the case of a perceived heightened degree of tension and aggression, it was decided in 1959 to have 'V' bombers dispersed at up to thirty six other airfields, with full facilities already available - although usually closed down in a storage state.
From time to time the RAF demanded exercises at short notice to see how well this system worked, and it seems the ground and aircrews involved found they did indeed 'fire-up' and the equipment was, by and large reliable.
These were known as ORPs (Operational Readiness Platform) and had either two or four 'V' bombers available. Here is a list of some of them - if anybody could kindly supply the full list, this advice will be much appreciated.
ALDERGROVE (COUNTY ANTRIM, N.I.) BALLYKELLY (COUNTY LONDONDERRY, N.I.)
BEDFORD (BEDFORDSHIRE) BOSCOMBE DOWN (WILTSHIRE)
BRAWDY (PEMBROKESHIRE) BRUNTINGTHORPE (LEICESTERSHIRE)
BURTONWOOD (LANCASHIRE) CRANWELL (LINCOLNSHIRE)
COLTISHALL (NORFOLK) ELVINGTON (YORKSHIRE)
FILTON (GLOUCESTERSHIRE) KEMBLE (GLOUCESTERSHIRE)
KINLOSS (MORAYSHIRE) LECONFIELD (YORKSHIRE)
LEEMING (YORKSHIRE) LEUCHARS (FIFE)
LLANBEDR (MERIONETH) LOSSIEMOUTH (MORAYSHIRE)
LYNEHAM (WILTSHIRE) MACHRIHANISH (ARGYLLSHIRE)
MANSTON (KENT) MIDDLETON St GEORGE (COUNTY DURHAM)
PERSHORE (WORCESTERSHIRE) PRESTWICK (AYRSHIRE)
St MAWGAN (CORNWALL) STANSTED (ESSEX)
TARRANT RUSHTON (DORSET) VALLEY (ANGLESEY)
WATTISHAM (SUFFOLK) YEOVILTON (SOMERSET)
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED READING
For those interested in the 'V' Bomber history, I can highly recommend the three books in which Tony Blackman has been involved. Valiant Boys, Vulcan Boys and Victor Boys, all published by Grub Street, London.
AND, NOT TO BE FORGOTTEN
As far as I am aware, the only time the 'V' Force were involved in an actual war was during the Falklands conflict. Three Vulcans set off, having been converted to carry conventional bombs rather than the nuclear type. They were all in a pretty poor condition, facing being scrapped at the time. Having reached the Azores, only one remained airworthy, and it took a relay of eleven Victor tankers to get that to the Falklands to bomb the airport at Port Stanley. Which it did.
It appears though that the primary point of this raid was to demonstrate to the Argentians that, if we could bomb the Falklands, we could easily bomb major targets within Argentina itself. How realistic that would have been is very much open to conjecture - but - the threat was very real. By far the best account of this raid I have found is Avro 607 by Rowland White. A veritable page-turner and highly recommended.
