Fly Past

April 2018 FLYPAST 53

NUCLEAR TESTING 100 YEARS OF THE ROYAL AIR FORCE

Left

A 1971 test at

Moruroa. KEY

Charlock and Lagonda respectively.
Between 1966 and 1974, France
conducted 41 atmospheric tests on
or over the atolls of Fangataufa and
Moruroa in French Polynesia. These
involved detonations from helium
balloons, aboard barges, or the release
of stores from aircraft. Each produced
radioactive dust clouds which the
prevailing winds blew towards
South America.
In March 1971 an order was
issued from Headquarters
Strike Command at High
Wycombe, Bucks,
requiring a
detachment of
Handley
Page
Victors of
543 Squadron.
Wg Cdr G Harper was
in command up to late July
after which Sqn Ldr B C Kennelly
took over. Headquarters 1 Group was
the co-ordinating authority.
The venue for the tests was
Moruroa Atoll, 3,600 miles
(5,790km) west of Peru. The
Victors were to be based at Lima
International Airport in Peru
for approximately 16 weeks.
Accompanying the aircraft were
personnel from the Atomic
Weapons Research Establishment
(AWRE) at Aldermaston, Berkshire,
the Meteorological Office and from
38 Group Support Unit (GSU).
RAF Air Support Command
transported 68 personnel and
33,000lb (14,970kg) of stores and
equipment to Peru.
The air element comprised two
Victors and it was considered that
a sortie rate of approximately four

per 48 hours might be required for

each test; first to locate the debris

cloud and then take samples. After

the aircraft had landed AWRE

personnel would despatch the

material to the UK by the quickest

means possible so

scientists

could calculate the yield of the

weapon at Aldermaston.

BLOTTING PAPER

The Victors were B(SR).2s

(also known as SR.2s) strategic

reconnaissance variants, nine of

which had been converted from

standard bomber airframes. Based

at Wyton, near Huntingdon, 543

Squadron operated B(SR).2s from

December 1965 until May 1974.

In Lima the Victors were

flown and supported by three

crews, two crew chiefs, six

operations officers, three

representatives from AWRE,

two meteorological officers, a

doctor and 40 others. A team

of ten from 38 GSU operated

and maintained a high-frequency

single sideband radio station.

It was anticipated there would

be a rotation of personnel in late

July and a reserve Victor was held

in readiness at Wyton for possible

deployment.

The Attune tasking involved

long-distance flying, which ideally

suited the Victor. The aircraft

retained their standard long-range

configuration and fittings.

The Victors had cone-shaped filter

baskets fitted to the nose of both

underwing tanks. The cones were

developed by ARWE and contained

a form of blotting paper designed

to absorb nuclear particles.

Radiation sensors were fitted

to the airframe and connected

to meters on the air electronics

officer’s (AEO) desk in the crew

cabin allowing the intensity of

radioactivity to be measured during

a flight through a particle cloud.