August 1969 was a busy time - or was there some connection between these events we never saw at the time. Sometime around the 26th of August 1969 an exercise was initiated for the Cyprus based Vulcans during which the aircraft were loaded with 21 x 1,000 pounders. The wing subsequently launched and dropped the bombs on the range at El Adem, Libya.
We were told later that the exercise was connected with the Russians helping Gaddafi take control in Libya.
Odd thing about this was the live bombs and the fact that we were issued pistols. The only time is saw a firearm issued to aircrew.