I remember during my V force days coming back after a long detachment in the Far East. Two of the participating Valiants, coincidentally with sequential serial numbers, were wheeled into the hangar. One was coming in for a scheduled minor servicing and the other was going to get the attentions of a HM Customs rummage squad.
HM Customs one was in a dreadful state. It was smothered in gantries and all the panels were hanging down with blokes in portcullis hats barking orders everywhere. The minor servicing, however, was proceeding very casually, seemingly little more than wiping it over with an oily rag.
After a full day the Customs gave up and went away. As their vans went around the corner the other Valiant exploded......
As I watched my aircraft being unloaded I then realised why we had used up so much runway at Butterworth, Gan, Bahrain and Akrotiri.