Valiant Xd875 Information/ Stories Wanted

[bluetail]

All

Following on from the Vulcan thread at the moment, leads me to asking the following.

Up here in the frozen north (Inversnekky) we have a Valiant Front pod, its pretty much complete but on our initial survey down the backend, AEO,s stations, lots of the bits of Kit are just put into holes and we are not sure they are in the right places.

Now the request, has anybody still got a copy of the correct layout of the backend of a Valiant B(K)1 that can be used to survey it properly, probably a set of VOL1,s or pilots notes/ AEO notes that sort of stuff needed.

It appears from some historic sites these documents are a bit on the rare side.

Also, the frame was XD875, which was the last Valiant built any good stories to tell about her, pictures etc would help, All I have at present is a bullet pointed history , how did she get saved as a POD.

REGards BT

[Art Field]

Bluetail. Checked my log book, the highest on 214 Squadron was XD871 so if it was a true B(K)1 it may have been on 90 Squadron the other Tanker outfit. I know the RAF museum at Hendon was sent a copy of the Valiant pilots notes around 1985. What they did with them I know not. Of course not all B(K)1s were used as tankers, it was just that they had the internal fuel system modifications appropriate to the tanker role.

[Archimedes]

Bluetail,

Suggest you look at Eric B Morgan Vickers Valiant: First of the V-Bombers (Aerofax 2002; ISBN 1 85780 134 2)

As for XD875, the good book says:

BK1. First flight 27/8/57. Delivery date 24/9/57 207 Sqn. Farnborough Air show 30/8/57. Wisley 9/9/57; Marham 49 Sqn 24/9/57; SAC 10/9/58 [think this should be 57], 49 Sqn 11/10/57, 207 Sqn 13/11/57. 28/7/58 'SAC Bombing Sqn', 23/10/58 207 Sqn; MFS 18/12/58; Marham 207 Sqn 9/2/59, MFS Mods 15/3/60, 207 Sqn 16/4/60, Wittering 138 Sqn 26/7/61, 7 Sqn 16/4/62 (or 1/5/62). Aircraft Cat 5(c) 5/11/62; SoC 9/11/62

This may, of course, be what you already have, but just in case you don't...

There are 2 piccies of XD875 on p63 of the book, too.

According to the 207Sqn Association website in the "Jack Lord (Nav Radar) from 1956 has been found - see his article on Valiants in the October [2002] issue of FlyPast - one of the aircraft he writes about is XD875 ..."

[Jackonicko]

From the units which used it, one could easily assume that '875 was not a tanker (the Valiant tanker units were No.s 90 1nd 214 Squadrons), though some sources suggest that it was a BK.Mk 1. Nor was it one of the final aircraft in service. Looking at its SOC date, it seems to have been one of those grounded after the disbandment of No.s 7, 18, and 138 squadrons, and not one of the 36 retained for tanking and/or low level tactical duties.

With the switch to low level, several redundant airframes had their noses removed for a variety of purposes, including crash rescue training, damage to airframe use at Foulness, ground instructional training (especially for the instrument and radio fitters at Cosford) and to reinvestigate the possibility of rear crew ejection seats. I believe that '875 was a Cosford nose, and may have then gone to an ATC squadron.

[bluetail]

Jacko

Interesting comments about not all Valiants being used as Tankers, this POD has definately got an AAR panel installed, Lower Deck Stbd side, together with several relevant AAR type switches in various positions. I,ll try to get a Digi picci this weekend and put it on the trhread, see if you recognise it.

I was a brat at Cosford in the very early 70,s and remember the 3 Valiant Pods, if I recall may have been used by Photogs, I should check my really old Wrecks and Relics to see what they say.

I,ve had several recommendations to get the AEROFAX book as well, so obviously its the tome to read.

Thanks to all so far.

[Dan Winterland]

In 'V Bombers' published by Ian Allen in 1981, there are 2 pictures of 875. Both are in Grey/Green low level camoflage and mention that 875 was a B(K)1. The first mentions she was one of the aircraft used for Operation Grapple, the H-Bomb trials on Christmas Island. The second was taken at Wisley late 1964 where she was being used to assess the rear spar fatigue which caused the Valaint's early demise. the book also mentions that she was the last Valiant off the production line being delivered in 1957.

Forty five of the 111 Valiants built were constructed as B(K)1s with the ability to both receive fuel and also dispense from a single Hose Drum Unit carried in the bomb bay.

[Jackonicko]

875's post service movements: Wisley > Cosford > ??? > Coventry > Firbeck > NYAM > Bruntingthorpes (?)

Seems to have been a BK.1 but never used as a tanker.

The Grapple jets were all from No.49 Squadron and comprised: XD818 (Grapple 1 bomber, Green Granite Small, 0.3MT), XD822 (Grapple 2 bomber, Orange Herald, 0.72 MT), XD823 (Grapple 3 bomber, Purple Granite, yield unknown) and XD824 (spare and observation aircraft).

The Grapple X jets were: XD822 (Grapple Z), XD824 (Grapple Y, 3.0 MT), XD825 (Grapple X, Green Granite Small 1.8 MT) and XD827 (second Grapple Z).

There are some pics of '875 in Barry Jones''V Bombers' published by Crowood.