Target study was an essential part of a V-force crew's work. Yes we had maps and other material, but to this day most of us will not reveal our actual targets, no matter what alleged de-classification might now exist.
As for the crocodile tears from some of the ex-Vulcan aircrew in that programme featuring Guy Martin, well, let's just say that their views certainly weren't typical.
As for scramble authentication codes, they came in 2 parts, half of which were held by the pilots and the other half by the lower deck, both halves in double sealed envelopes in polythene. When the scramble order came over the RT or telebrief, each part was checked and if the code was valid, off you went. We weren't supposed to open the envelopes until the order came, but most of us who'd been around for a few exercises made sure that the envelope was opened in advance, so that there wouldn't be any fumbling at a critical moment....
On one exercise, the wind was out of peacetime limits for a take-off from the ORP end, so we were ordered round to the other end. Then came the scramble order; about a dozen Vulcans released their brakes and charged forward, only to stop suddenly because the first aircraft hadn't launched. After about 30 seconds, he did so and off we all went, somewhat perplexed.
When the lead crew came to hand their codes back to the vault after the exercise, the pilots' code card was torn and rather soggy. It transpired that the brand new co-pilot, flying with his Flt Cdr, hadn't pre-opened the envelope and couldn't then rip the polythene open with his gloved hands - so he'd dropped his oxy mask and bitten the thing open, following his captain's 'enthusiastic suggestion'!