ian16th (your #26),
(From Wiki):
"
In June 1961" [Sqn. Ldr.] "
Beavis set the record for the fastest non-stop flight from the UK to Australia which he established by flying a Vulcan from RAF Scampton to RAAF Richmond in just over 20 hours".
He was on 617 Sqn then; was awarded the AFC for it; retired as Air Chief Marshal Sir Michael Beavis KCB CBE AFC.
I was privileged to know him as "Mike Beavis", a Flying Officer in 1951 at Thornaby, where he was the Training Officer on 608 (Auxiliary) Sqn.
sharpend (your #34),
I can only commiserate ! Possibly 608 may be reconstituted in some future conflict, but RAF Thornaby is gone forever
- buried under housing and Light Industry. They'll have to go somewhere else !
Danny.