V-Force dispersal query
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2000
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From: Just behind the back of beyond....
V-Force dispersal query
V Force dispersal
In the early years of the V-Force, it relied on the concept of dispersing aircraft to outlying aerodromes to escape the effects of an enemy attack on their main bases, and to allow the most rapid reaction to a scramble by ensuring that there would not be huge ‘queues’ of aircraft waiting for take off.
These dispersal airfields were upgraded to allow V-bomber operations (Tarrant Rushton, for example, had a taxy loop added to allow V-bombers to backtrack, rather than use the ancient and narrow taxyways), with an ORP (Operational Readiness Platform) built adjacent to the main runway to allow aircraft to taxy straight onto the runway from ‘scramble’ and then perform a minimum interval stream take off.
It has usually been said that there were 36 such V-bomber bases in the late 1950s (including the ten Class 1 airfields), reducing to 26 by 1962.
36 airfields, each with four V-bombers, would make some sense – equating to the 144 warheads (and 144 carriers) planned for Bomber Command pre-Skybolt.
But, the numbers don’t add up.
In his tome ‘RAF Nuclear Deterrent Forces’ Humphrey Wynn lists nine Class 1 V-Bomber airfields and 27 Dispersal airfields in 1962 – so far so good – but lists 22 of the dispersal fields as having provision for just two V-Bombers, and omits Marham (a Class 1 station), Kemble, Shawbury, Tarrant Rushton, and Aldergrove from the list altogether.
That would accommodate 100 V-bombers (56 + 44), so where would the other 44 go?
We have fragmentary details of who went where before 1966 (10 Squadron to Boscombe, 83 to Leeming, 148 to Tarrant Rushton), when the situation seems to have been that:
Cottesmore's freefall Vulcan B.Mk 2s used Honington and Leconfied as 'near dispersals', and Ballykelly*, Leconfield, Leeming, Leuchars, and Pershore as 'distant' dispersals (eg: 20 aircraft plus those at Cottesmore), while Scampton's Blue Steel Vulcan B.Mk 2s used Bedford* and Coningsby as 'near dispersals', and Boscombe, Kinloss*, and Lossie as 'distant' dispersals (16 aircraft plus those at Scampton). Waddintgton, meanwhile used Finningley and Marham as 'near dispersals' and Brawdy, Filton, Manston, Macrahanish, Valley and Wattisham as 'distant' dispersals (20 aircraft plus those at Waddington), while Wittering’s Blue Steel Victors used Coltishall, Gaydon and Wyton as ‘near’ dispersals and just St Mawgan* as a ‘distant’ (14 aircraft plus those at Wittering).
Can anyone add/correct anything?
Class 1
(all capable of accommodating four QRA Vulcans)
Coningsby
Cottesmore
Finningley
Gaydon
Honington
Marham (not according to Wynn!)
Scampton
Waddington
Wittering
Wyton
Dispersal
(two QRA V-Bombers each, except where asterisked, where there could be four QRA aircraft)
RAF Aldergrove (not according to Wynn!)
RAF Ballykelly*
RAE Bedford *
RAF Boscombe Down
RAF Brawdy
Bruntingthorpe (use as dispersal ended 1966)
RAF Burtonwood * (use as dispersal ended 1966)
RAF Coltishall
RAF Cranwell (use as dispersal ended 1966)
RAF Elvington (use as dispersal ended 1966)
Filton
RAF Kemble (not according to Wynn!)
RAF Kinloss*
RAF Leconfield
RAF Leeming
RAF Leuchars
RAE Llanbedr (use as dispersal ended 1966)
RAF Lossiemouth
RAF Lyneham
RAF Machrihanish
RAF Manston
RAF Middleton St. George (use as dispersal ended 1966)
Pershore
RAF St. Mawgan *
Prestwick (use as dispersal ended 1966)
RAF Shawbury (not according to Wynn!)
Stansted
Tarrant Rushton (not according to Wynn!)
RAF Valley
RAF Wattisham
RNAS Yeovilton
In the early years of the V-Force, it relied on the concept of dispersing aircraft to outlying aerodromes to escape the effects of an enemy attack on their main bases, and to allow the most rapid reaction to a scramble by ensuring that there would not be huge ‘queues’ of aircraft waiting for take off.
These dispersal airfields were upgraded to allow V-bomber operations (Tarrant Rushton, for example, had a taxy loop added to allow V-bombers to backtrack, rather than use the ancient and narrow taxyways), with an ORP (Operational Readiness Platform) built adjacent to the main runway to allow aircraft to taxy straight onto the runway from ‘scramble’ and then perform a minimum interval stream take off.
It has usually been said that there were 36 such V-bomber bases in the late 1950s (including the ten Class 1 airfields), reducing to 26 by 1962.
36 airfields, each with four V-bombers, would make some sense – equating to the 144 warheads (and 144 carriers) planned for Bomber Command pre-Skybolt.
But, the numbers don’t add up.
In his tome ‘RAF Nuclear Deterrent Forces’ Humphrey Wynn lists nine Class 1 V-Bomber airfields and 27 Dispersal airfields in 1962 – so far so good – but lists 22 of the dispersal fields as having provision for just two V-Bombers, and omits Marham (a Class 1 station), Kemble, Shawbury, Tarrant Rushton, and Aldergrove from the list altogether.
That would accommodate 100 V-bombers (56 + 44), so where would the other 44 go?
We have fragmentary details of who went where before 1966 (10 Squadron to Boscombe, 83 to Leeming, 148 to Tarrant Rushton), when the situation seems to have been that:
Cottesmore's freefall Vulcan B.Mk 2s used Honington and Leconfied as 'near dispersals', and Ballykelly*, Leconfield, Leeming, Leuchars, and Pershore as 'distant' dispersals (eg: 20 aircraft plus those at Cottesmore), while Scampton's Blue Steel Vulcan B.Mk 2s used Bedford* and Coningsby as 'near dispersals', and Boscombe, Kinloss*, and Lossie as 'distant' dispersals (16 aircraft plus those at Scampton). Waddintgton, meanwhile used Finningley and Marham as 'near dispersals' and Brawdy, Filton, Manston, Macrahanish, Valley and Wattisham as 'distant' dispersals (20 aircraft plus those at Waddington), while Wittering’s Blue Steel Victors used Coltishall, Gaydon and Wyton as ‘near’ dispersals and just St Mawgan* as a ‘distant’ (14 aircraft plus those at Wittering).
Can anyone add/correct anything?
Class 1
(all capable of accommodating four QRA Vulcans)
Coningsby
Cottesmore
Finningley
Gaydon
Honington
Marham (not according to Wynn!)
Scampton
Waddington
Wittering
Wyton
Dispersal
(two QRA V-Bombers each, except where asterisked, where there could be four QRA aircraft)
RAF Aldergrove (not according to Wynn!)
RAF Ballykelly*
RAE Bedford *
RAF Boscombe Down
RAF Brawdy
Bruntingthorpe (use as dispersal ended 1966)
RAF Burtonwood * (use as dispersal ended 1966)
RAF Coltishall
RAF Cranwell (use as dispersal ended 1966)
RAF Elvington (use as dispersal ended 1966)
Filton
RAF Kemble (not according to Wynn!)
RAF Kinloss*
RAF Leconfield
RAF Leeming
RAF Leuchars
RAE Llanbedr (use as dispersal ended 1966)
RAF Lossiemouth
RAF Lyneham
RAF Machrihanish
RAF Manston
RAF Middleton St. George (use as dispersal ended 1966)
Pershore
RAF St. Mawgan *
Prestwick (use as dispersal ended 1966)
RAF Shawbury (not according to Wynn!)
Stansted
Tarrant Rushton (not according to Wynn!)
RAF Valley
RAF Wattisham
RNAS Yeovilton
Gentleman Aviator
Joined: Jul 2000
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From: Teetering Towers - somewhere in the Shires
Ignore Ratty, Jacko, he's only young and will learn.
Shawbury was certainly a dispersal airfield, which I understand was the reason for the southern runway extension - south of the present lazy lane. That was definitely the way it was put in the Staish's presentation the last time I heard it.
It also required a new (the present) ATC Tower, as the old one (the present Brown House) couldn't see the new threshold of the northerly runway.....
Shawbury was certainly a dispersal airfield, which I understand was the reason for the southern runway extension - south of the present lazy lane. That was definitely the way it was put in the Staish's presentation the last time I heard it.
It also required a new (the present) ATC Tower, as the old one (the present Brown House) couldn't see the new threshold of the northerly runway.....
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,776
Likes: 1
From: UK
Leeming had a full V-Force dispersal site on the west side of the airfield. It could take 5 Vulcans on the dispersal hard standing and 1 on a loop at the end of the runway. There were 5-man accomodation caravans, shower/toilet block, recreational area, ops/planning room and kitchen and dining room. And the local pub over the fence and 500 yards down the road!
The site was regularly used for Sqn dispersal exercises, as well as those triggered by Group and STC. The dispersal ops, station ops and ATC were all wired up to the Bomber Controller.
The site was regularly used for Sqn dispersal exercises, as well as those triggered by Group and STC. The dispersal ops, station ops and ATC were all wired up to the Bomber Controller.
Joined: Nov 2000
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From: Puken
Tarrant Rushton?
Never heard of it before so had a look on t'interweb. www.local.live.com (best imagery).
You'd be forgiven in thinking that this place was shut post WW2, not V-Force days
Can't provide a link, sorry!
Never heard of it before so had a look on t'interweb. www.local.live.com (best imagery).
You'd be forgiven in thinking that this place was shut post WW2, not V-Force days
Can't provide a link, sorry!
Joined: Nov 2005
Aviation Qualifications: PPL
Posts: 12,458
Likes: 368
From: Wildest Surrey
Farnborough had a 'V bomber dispersal' pan on the south side. It's still there but the name has changed.]
Tarrant Rushton didn't close until late 70's. Looking at a satellite picture on Flashearth, you can see what looks like a 2 aircraft dispersal a the southern end of the long north - south runway
Tarrant Rushton didn't close until late 70's. Looking at a satellite picture on Flashearth, you can see what looks like a 2 aircraft dispersal a the southern end of the long north - south runway
Last edited by chevvron; 13th February 2007 at 16:59.
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 378
Likes: 2
From: london
The numbers don't add up. Wynn requires the reader to hop about to get past the censor. (Do so and find such gems as that Blue Steel was inert at Feb.63 low-level Press display, and may never have been cleared for powered use in QRA P.458). Deployed Force was never 144: from 1/1/60 some (13/7/61, all) Marham/Valiants were NATO TBF. MBF's armed U/E never exceeded 40 BS+64 Yellow Sun 2; to March,62 up to 72 had US Project E weapons, not dispersible. Intent was to generate 75% of U/E: Wynn,P.338 reports a whole-Force Mickey Finn, 26-29/10/64 with 61 free-fall and 30 BS aircraft "available", 35/12 planned for dispersal to 25 sites - "the remainder were activated by personnel only". In the MAD shell-game we hoped to decoy much of the first strike, but could not tell that to the good burghers of Cambeltown. The distant sites were more Q than QRA.
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 484
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From: at the end of the bar
If anyone has a spare hour or two to spend, here are some overheads of current and former bases to look for V Bomber dispersals!!
http://content-delivery.co.uk/aviation/airfields/
http://content-delivery.co.uk/aviation/airfields/
Joined: May 1999
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
Posts: 27,399
Likes: 857
From: Quite near 'An aerodrome somewhere in England'
Jacko - do your figures include the NEAF Strike Wing at Akrotiri? Before my time (yes, hard to believe, I grant you) as 35 were at Sunny Scampton when I was on the tin triangle.
My understanding was that the number of V-bomber squadrons peaked in January 1963 with no less than 22 squadrons:
Valiant: 18, 49, 90, 139, 148, 207, 214, 543
Victor: 10, 15, 55, 57, 100
Vulcan: 9, 12, 27, 35, 44, 50, 83, 101, 617
Not forgetting the Thor IRBM squadrons at Bardney, Breighton, Caistor, Carnaby, Catfoss, Coleby Grange, Driffield, Feltwell, Folkingham, Full Sutton, Harrington, Hemswell, Ludford Magna, Melton Mowbray, Mepal, North Luffenham, North Pickenham, Polebrook, Shepherds Grove and Tuddenham.
Quite some RAF. Of course there were also the numerous Canberra squadrons as well.......
My understanding was that the number of V-bomber squadrons peaked in January 1963 with no less than 22 squadrons:
Valiant: 18, 49, 90, 139, 148, 207, 214, 543
Victor: 10, 15, 55, 57, 100
Vulcan: 9, 12, 27, 35, 44, 50, 83, 101, 617
Not forgetting the Thor IRBM squadrons at Bardney, Breighton, Caistor, Carnaby, Catfoss, Coleby Grange, Driffield, Feltwell, Folkingham, Full Sutton, Harrington, Hemswell, Ludford Magna, Melton Mowbray, Mepal, North Luffenham, North Pickenham, Polebrook, Shepherds Grove and Tuddenham.
Quite some RAF. Of course there were also the numerous Canberra squadrons as well.......
Joined: Sep 2006
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From: Lynehamshire
Not counting the underground runways housed in a former treacle mine in Tadley, just outside Basingstoke.
Don't suppose you could tell me what the elevation of Tadley was?
Seriously, I nearly pi##ed my flying suit when I read that one, wouldn't be the first time Ihear you wonder !
Humour aside, Jackanicko, are you writing a book on the subject?
CRPxGood
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Joined: Dec 2002
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Posts: 16,700
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From: Lincolnshire
Blue Steel was initally cleared for QRA with the 2E (or whatever the Equipment 3 code was) in the unpowered role. Later I believe it did stand QRA as a powered system but was planned for a reversionary popup attack. The additional range and defensive penetration ability meant that it was probably the prefered weapons system for Big M. I also believe that the Victor 2 was the better platform for that mission.
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: N51:37:39 W1:19:16 Feel free to use as a waypoint.
An interesting site that XV277 posted a link to. One thing to be aware of though. Some of the pictures supplies by Microsoft Virtual Earth are seriously out of date. Even more so when compared to Google Earth (which I reckon is about 2 to 4 years old)
So far I have spotted
Old Warden - 2 hangars short and no runway extension (5 years+)
Duxford - No Area 51 by the M11
Brize Norton - VC-10 K.2s on the ramp
Cottesmore - No aircraft and the Harrier Ramp still half built.
Benson - Bulldogs on the ramp
My House - No extension (at least 5 years ago)
I need to get out more
So far I have spotted
Old Warden - 2 hangars short and no runway extension (5 years+)
Duxford - No Area 51 by the M11
Brize Norton - VC-10 K.2s on the ramp
Cottesmore - No aircraft and the Harrier Ramp still half built.
Benson - Bulldogs on the ramp
My House - No extension (at least 5 years ago)
I need to get out more
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Joined: Jul 2000
Aviation Qualifications: Spotter
Posts: 24,659
Likes: 7,346
From: Peripatetic
Some of the pictures supplies by Microsoft Virtual Earth are seriously out of date.
