Fortunate to watch a 'live' scramble when visiting one of 'those bases' (1970/71). The whole base went into immediate lockdown - hooters everywhere; our hosts with some embarrassment asked us look the other way, but did not object to a grandstand view together with their proud commentary.
What was surprising was that the tanker was airborne before the bombers - by a few seconds - with better than air defence QRA reaction times.
The overall impression was of a very professional and effective force; and nothing to suggest that the two aircraft were not 'live'.