Originally Posted by
normally right blank
I had the impression security aound V-bombers were quite tight?
Seasons Greetings.
Actually security was a bit like the quantity of ammunition we had. It was mostly smoke and mirrors. I guess we had the minimm to appear to be a viable deterrent. We certainly didn't have a robust deterrent.
Until I think the mid-70s each nuclear armed V-bomber was guarded by one RAF policeman. Only when someone got to think closely about the 2-man principle was the number of RAF Police doubled up. It hurt until more were recruited.
Unarmed V-bombers were not guarded. As Gaydon was a training base security, or rather the security resources, would have been very scarce.
At Cottesmore one day a civilian heading for the A1 took the wrong road. Instead of turning right for Greetham he drove down the camp road, through the main gate, passed Ops and the Messes, passed Quarters and hung a left at the lazy runway and a right on the taxyway. Only when he reached the QRA aircraft did the penny drop.