Did You Fly The Vulcan?? (Merged)
Cunning Artificer
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Anyway it failed to latch or the latch failed and the door sprang open flipping the rigger off the tail to land head-first on the concrete.
Poor chap was a safety equipper actually, not long married and his wife was pregnant. He wasn't wearing a safety harness. I watched the demonstration of the correct way to do the job for the BOI. One chap dropped a tool on purpose, then descended from the safety raiser while still wearing the safety harness - to show how useless it was. Didn't make any difference though, the widow didn't get any compensation. We had a whip round in Engineering Wing, but on the wages we got in those days it wouldn't have amounted to much...
We lost a young rigger the following year, pressure testing the escape trainer. Lord only knows why they'd want us to do that, it was a scrap cockpit section for goodness sake! His fiancee was one of the group who received the body at SHQ, but she didn't know it was him until the paperwork came along. What an awful thing to happen.
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As I remember it, it wasn't a scrap cockpit but a compete aircraft in the AES hangar after a check. His name was Steve, good guy, and he was doing a leak check of the door seals. The two aft door pins were mis-rigged and let loose when he was stood, unfortunately, under the door. He wouldn't have seen it coming.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Forget, yes I remember that incident with the pressurisation check but not as clearly as the earlier one.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
I found my book. It was, as I thought, Robert Jackson, Avro Vulcan, Patrick Stephens, 1984, ISBN 0-85059-630-0. This is his later book only covering the Vulcan rather than the V-Bomber Modern Combat Aircraft by Ian Allen Pub.
Of XH536 for instance he says Delivered 16 Dec 1959 9/12/35 Sqns Conngsby Wg. Flew into high ground at Fan-Bwlchchwtyth Heddi Senni, 20 miles NE Swansea during low level navigation exercise.
Jackson lists the date delivered and final disposal of every Vulcan.
The second aircraft was VX777 which was delivered in Sep 1953 and later converted in to a Mark 2 prototype when it made its first flight on 31 Aug 1957.
The other aircraft we have been talking about was delivered on 1 Jul 1960 and was the first Mk 2 delivered to the RAF. It was leter converted to a K2 tanker before ultimate disposal to Bruntingthorpe.
Some of the fine detail may be questioned as he attributes the last Mk 2, XM657 to delivery Dec 1964 to 35 Sqn when in fact the aircraft were part of a centralised wing. It ended its days at Manston in 1982, before the Falklands, for fire-fighting practice.
Of XH536 for instance he says Delivered 16 Dec 1959 9/12/35 Sqns Conngsby Wg. Flew into high ground at Fan-Bwlchchwtyth Heddi Senni, 20 miles NE Swansea during low level navigation exercise.
Jackson lists the date delivered and final disposal of every Vulcan.
The second aircraft was VX777 which was delivered in Sep 1953 and later converted in to a Mark 2 prototype when it made its first flight on 31 Aug 1957.
The other aircraft we have been talking about was delivered on 1 Jul 1960 and was the first Mk 2 delivered to the RAF. It was leter converted to a K2 tanker before ultimate disposal to Bruntingthorpe.
Some of the fine detail may be questioned as he attributes the last Mk 2, XM657 to delivery Dec 1964 to 35 Sqn when in fact the aircraft were part of a centralised wing. It ended its days at Manston in 1982, before the Falklands, for fire-fighting practice.
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Andy Leitch's site says only "Vulcan B2 XL392 of No 617 Squadron at Goose Bay circa 1974" - given the paint job this seems a bit late for me 
Andy took the photograph so he may have something to say.
PS. Come to think of it - if he took the photograph he's probably right.
Andy took the photograph so he may have something to say.
PS. Come to think of it - if he took the photograph he's probably right.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
IIRC the tail art did not come in until about 1973-74. I have an etching, 1977, of a 35 Sqn Vulcan. In 1973 in Akrotiri we were still in a wing structure.
This suggests 1974 is about right.
This suggests 1974 is about right.
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This is what was bothering me. It must have been '74 when the (proper) roundels were being changed.
http://www.avrovulcan.org.uk/1_group...on/653gv74.htm
Blurb says - Avro Vulcan B2 XM653 of the Waddington Wing after the 1974 SAC Giant Voice bombing and navigation competition with the three trophies won by Vulcan crews. Though the picture is somewhat soft, the Union Jack can be seen on the fin and the 1 Group panther's head between the roundel and the engine intake. 653's markings are unusual in that it has gloss green/light sea grey topsides and white underside with red and blue roundels.
http://www.avrovulcan.org.uk/1_group...on/653gv74.htm
Blurb says - Avro Vulcan B2 XM653 of the Waddington Wing after the 1974 SAC Giant Voice bombing and navigation competition with the three trophies won by Vulcan crews. Though the picture is somewhat soft, the Union Jack can be seen on the fin and the 1 Group panther's head between the roundel and the engine intake. 653's markings are unusual in that it has gloss green/light sea grey topsides and white underside with red and blue roundels.
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There are now some useful additions that could be pulled into any book. There are two relevant articles in Air Power, one by the MA student into survivability of the V-force really from an air staff perspective. It is quite revealling what she found out from their airships papers and what Bomber Command actually did and didn;t tell them.
The reason I ask is that in 2004 I also did an MA dissertation on the V-Bomber force and I'd like to read the article mentioned above. Wonder how you go about submitting for publication as well. :lol:
Mine was titled, 'The Unsteady Sword: The RAF's Strategic Nuclear Deterrent and its Role in the Cold War World, 1947 - 1969'. Don't worry, despite the headline I gave it a positive review.
Just wish I'd known about this thread and this forum when I was writing it...
Have to add that I'm another certain customer when that new book on the Vulcan that's being discussed is released.
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I've been reading this staggering thread for some hours now and have finally reached the end. My own experiences of the plane come from my earliest memories, so bear with me if I'm off a little.
My father is Flt Ltnt 'Taff' Williams who flew Vulcans at the height of the Cold War era (late 50's to '64) on 101 and 44 Sqns. We were at Waddington and lived on Tedder Drive. I was born in '58 and my earliest memories were of the landrovers driving around the OMQ's in the middle of the night and my Dad running down the stairs...
A particular memory that sticks in my mind as well is that a Waddington Battle of Britain display one year ended with a 'dummy' bomb being detonated and a 100th scale mushroom cloud rising above the base! As the years have gone by I had started to think I had dreamt this whole thing, however I recently asked my sister (3 years older than me) - she said she remembered it vividly and remembered being absolutely frightened to death by it......
I wonder who decided that was a good wheeze, bearing in mind that the appearance of real thing was a distinct possibility.
Only other thing to add - A while back some references were made to the low level flying in 'Thunderball'.
As I understand it, the pilot on that day was Flight Lieutenant Pat Whitelaw from Waddington. He, Al Shepphard and my Dad were big buddies. Sadly he's no longer with us, though Dad and Al are to be found regularly terrorising other golfers on the courses of West Oxfordshire.
Great thread chaps - your reminiscences make excellent reading from any perspective!
My father is Flt Ltnt 'Taff' Williams who flew Vulcans at the height of the Cold War era (late 50's to '64) on 101 and 44 Sqns. We were at Waddington and lived on Tedder Drive. I was born in '58 and my earliest memories were of the landrovers driving around the OMQ's in the middle of the night and my Dad running down the stairs...
A particular memory that sticks in my mind as well is that a Waddington Battle of Britain display one year ended with a 'dummy' bomb being detonated and a 100th scale mushroom cloud rising above the base! As the years have gone by I had started to think I had dreamt this whole thing, however I recently asked my sister (3 years older than me) - she said she remembered it vividly and remembered being absolutely frightened to death by it......
I wonder who decided that was a good wheeze, bearing in mind that the appearance of real thing was a distinct possibility.
Only other thing to add - A while back some references were made to the low level flying in 'Thunderball'.
As I understand it, the pilot on that day was Flight Lieutenant Pat Whitelaw from Waddington. He, Al Shepphard and my Dad were big buddies. Sadly he's no longer with us, though Dad and Al are to be found regularly terrorising other golfers on the courses of West Oxfordshire.
Great thread chaps - your reminiscences make excellent reading from any perspective!
Last edited by EL_BOW; 25th Sep 2006 at 05:19.
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Speaking of Roundels, not everyone connected with the V Force had an IQ up to the job. One morning at Cottesmore I was heading for QRA to gas up the ECM cans. One aircraft was getting some attention from an unusual group around the front end. It transpired that the previous nights plod guard had armed himself with a Webley air pistol and, having got bored with his dog's conversation, he’d used the Roundel for target practice. Next morning the Crew Chief noticed a few dozen dimples in the centre of the Roundel, and then the bent slugs under his feet. I imagine Mr Plod was fast asleep when he was dragged from his pit and I’d have given anything, anything, to see just how he was woken up.
Last edited by forget; 25th Sep 2006 at 16:41. Reason: speling
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
I remember the Cottesmore air gun incident. There was a good one at Scampton too about the same time. RAFP said he needed to be taken off guard as he would shoot the Vulcan.
I believe he eventually convinced the wheels and was taken off guard. I am not sure of subsequent disposal.
I believe he eventually convinced the wheels and was taken off guard. I am not sure of subsequent disposal.
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Just doing a bit of research for another topic in some old Flight mags and came across an article "Bomex By Vulcan" - Flight 18th July 1958 - Correspondent C.M Lambert went along for the ride in XH749. Crew names and piccies + XA907 pictured next to Flights Gemini.
If anyones interested in a copy PM me and I`ll make a scan/ocr
If anyones interested in a copy PM me and I`ll make a scan/ocr
Nixor ut Ledo
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As I was posting old pics in the "Uniform" thread and as XA 907 has just be mentioned thought that this might be interesting
BCDU (Bomber Command Development Unit), Finningley 1965 or 66
BCDU (Bomber Command Development Unit), Finningley 1965 or 66
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The Steve in question at Waddo who sadly died, was engaged to the young lady (Jan) who was on duty medic the evening of the accident. Steves father was serving at Finningley and subsequent to the event presented a painting to the the Raven Club in memory of him.
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Good news Jindabyne, and thank you for asking. In my opinion there is only one
Same colour scheme but without TFR. Taken by me at RAAF Darwin, 1969. The black bits at the top are prop tips of a C-130.
Same colour scheme but without TFR. Taken by me at RAAF Darwin, 1969. The black bits at the top are prop tips of a C-130.
Last edited by forget; 7th Oct 2006 at 11:53. Reason: Add second photograph