V Force Reunion
 

Here we go again! We are now planning another reunion at Newark Air Museum for May of NEXT year (2014) The form will be pretty much as before, the reunion is for all who served on the V Force in any capacity in the air or on the ground. Also welcome are wives, families and next of kin of deceased members. All the details are here on the reunion website V-Force Reunion.

There is nothing for you to do at the moment but bookmark the website and look out for further info which I will also announce on here. We are all getting long in the tooth and this may well be the last reunion we organise in its current format, so let's make it a good one.

Just to let you know that the V-Force Reunion website has been updated. We now have firm dates for the reunion which are 17th/18th May 2014 (next year!)

Check out the website and if you think you may want to attend (no commitment) then fill in and send an enquiry form (link on the homepage). Once you've done that - start spreading the word!

The V-Force Reunion website has been updated. Not a lot new, but a nice new pic, and info on forthcoming attractions at Newark Aircraft Museum. It's still a long way off but don't forget to let us know if you are hoping to come. It doesnt commit you, but some idea of likely numbers helps the museum with forward planning.

Another update on the V-Force Reunion website has just gone on - if you fancy a nice souvenir V Force mug have a look on the site, where there are details of how you can get one.

I'm getting quite a few emails returned as undeliverable for various reasons, perhaps I have got outdated addresses. If you think you should be on my email address list but aren't receiving email notifications of updates, or if you would like to get them, send me an email (my address is at the bottom of the homepage) and I'll add you to my address list so that you get updates as they occur.

Seems like I have the sole job of keeping this thread going, if only to notify you all of updates to the V-Force Reunion website, which has just been made. If when clicking on the link you get the previous version (with a Victor K1 picture at the top) then hold down the Control key and press F5 and your computer will refresh to the new version.

I'm still getting quite a few emails returned as undeliverable for various reasons, perhaps I have got outdated addresses, whilst some accounts are obviously dormant as mail is returned with the comment "mailbox full". If you think you should be on my email address list but aren't receiving email notifications of updates, or if you would like to get them, send me an email (my address is at the bottom of the homepage) and I'll add you to my address list so that you get updates as they occur.

I refuse to have anything to do with the website until they have a Valiant Mk1 on the header.

I told them when it first came out.

Sorry chum but the chap who did the header for us has since departed on a one way flight to destinations unknown!

Why dont you do us a nice Valiant 1 silhouette and we'll amend the site ;)

You're welcome to this if it helps:

Thanks Beags - I'll forward that to the website chap. Now fareastdriver has to come next May!

Victor's
 

Hi
I also worked on XA 934 on the 2nd October 1962 it is one of the incident's embedded in my mind as i was on my stag do at the Antelope Lighthorne on that night got married on the 6th Oct. I remember seeing her flying round using fuel for about an hour and a half if my befuddled brain still recall's it properly.
I was an Electrical Fitter Air working in the Armoury at the time.
Take care
Mac

Fareastdriver - the website bloke hasn't amended the header yet, but especially for you I have found a terrific picture of a lineup of Valiants at Gaydon in 1957. I think the original was taken for an article in the Leamington Gazette. Worth a visit to the newly amended V-Force Reunion website just for that!

We are now after volunteers to man the tables on the day, so check out the website, and if you can help out let us know using the email link on the site.

If any one has good connections to the historical people at Marham there should be some photo's of the 3 V's parked on the airfield, taken just before the museum stole the Valiant.

Once again I have updated the V-Force Reunion website. The main point which requires action from you is we are now taking bookings for our evening function on the Saturday night - see the site for full details. We are also still looking for volunteers to man the signing-in tables.

Thanks, TTN

Once again the V-Force Reunion website has been updated. We've got a nice picture of Hastings T5 TG517 as a change. Might bring back some memories of bumpy landings for ex V Force nav radars who trained on her at Lindholme!

We are well on with bookings for the evening do, but there are still plenty of tickets available - act now to avoid disappointment!

Just under three weeks to go until the V Force Reunion on 17th/18th May at Newark Air Museum, so this will be my last reminder. If you are planning to attend the evening buffet at Newark Golf Club act now or you may be disappointed, as I need to close bookings on Monday, 5th May. We already have around 400+ notifications of attendance for the day event and approaching 90 bookings for the evening, so it should be good.

More info and details of how to book for the evening function on the V-Force Reunion website, which will be getting its final update shortly.

XA934
 

Hi Mac,
I am currently workingfor JLR at Gaydon. I contacted John McVey at the time of the Memorial in 2012 there is a thread elsewhere on this forum you may have seen. I helped organise the Memorial to RAF Gaydon and you may have seen it in the Gatehouse. I painted the Mural and designed the Plaques. For sometime now I have felt interested in doing a painting of XA 934 and the scene I want to create is where she is flying over the runway viewed from the ground at night with searchlights illuminating the aircraft looking for signs of damage.
I could just make it up but I could try and get some details right such as did she carry the paler anti flash roundels, I have seen a photo of her with them and I think it was near the time of the crash. I've been to the crash site and still think I should get round to do the painting.
You are quite local to me perhaps we could meet up to discuss further?
Anyone else have info - I will get in touch with John again as well
Joe

Just found this thread...Is thre anyone here who took part in or can recall the landing of XA919 at Weston super Mare for duty as a GI for RAFLocking circa 1964? Relatively short runway but stopped well within the distance as I remember.It never flew again and eventually departed by road to Cosford before being scrapped in later years.

Wittering - Victor QRA 1965
 

ricardian,

A great find. Quite well done and I thought the "actors" were not too self-conscious! I was intrigued by the side-loading Blue Steel carrier. I was hoping to see the loading procedure. What did they do? Drive the loader into a trench or jack-up the Victor? ;)

In the late 60s, I saw a Standard Vanguard staff car being used as an impromptu runway friction meter. Our UBAS CFI (S/L John McGrory) was doing hand-brake turns on the pan to see if the snow was too slippery to taxi a Chipmunk. The conclusion was that conditions were too bad, but I think he had a lot of fun proving it!

that was just the AEC transporter vehicle, the missile was lowered onto a "bomb trolley" and the a/c was either jacked up or missile slid under sideways, following removal of "fairings, various". IIRC the jacking up was the preferred method.

PM