"Victor's failing in the great scheme of things was Sir Fred.Handley Pages' (the owner of the company) refusal to join up with Hawker Siddely or British Aerospace, he lost a fair sized contract over that including another 30? Victors." Kitbag,#63.
Mk.2 Victor/Vulcan design was funded in May,1956 to carry Avro's ASM funded in March. In May,1957 42 of both were ordered, in hope 1 might work. Blue Steel Mk.1 was so painful in procurement that longer-range schemes were incredible. RAF made a 1959 Joint Requirement with USAF, won by Douglas. HP and Avro schemed dual carriage.
Avro was appointed Sister Firm to Douglas just as MoA sought “a certain measure of coalescence” in industry structure. Sir Fred, eponym, was not for coalescing. Avro sold MoA on its mismatch with low Victor, the excuse needed to ditch him. 2nd.Victor 2 BS Wing was cancelled, 3rd.Vulcan 2 Wing ordered (later cancelled). Sunshine was bought for Mk.1 follow-up. After the ALBM was shot they had to go in the reworked 2nd.Vulcan 2 Wing. Hence the long delay in kitting Cottesmore. Carting surplus US iron was not the Plan.