Fly Past

84 RAF CENTENARY CELEBRATION BOMBERS

VICKERS VALIANT

V

ulcans raiding the Falklands are

forever fixed in the minds of

readers. However, it is as well to

remember that the Valiant dropped

bombs in anger 26 years before the

Avro delta. The Valiant was the only

V-bomber to release nuclear weapons

• thankfully only for trial purposes.
  As the political situation with Egypt
  decayed, following the nationalisation
  of the Suez Canal, Britain and
  France began to assemble an air and
  sea armada to regain control of the
  strategic asset.
  A force of the RAF’s latest bomber,
  the Valiant, from 138, 148, 207 and
  214 Squadrons arrived at Luqa on
  Malta in late October 1956. Along
  with English Electric Canberras, the
  Valiants were tasked with destroying
  the Egyptian Air Force’s (EAF) bases
  and other targets.
  During the late afternoon of the
  last day of October 21 Valiants in
  four waves set off an on 1,800-mile
  (2,896km) round trip. The raid
  destined for Cairo West was called
  back soon after take-off when it was
  reported that American citizens were
  being evacuated from the airfield.
  The remainder ploughed on, with
  Abu Sueir, Almaza and Kabrit as
  their objectives; each Valiant carried a
  dozen 1,000lb (453kg) bombs. A few
  aircraft, designated as ‘pathfinders’,
  carried 1,000-pounder target
  indicators and flare bundles in place of
  some of the conventional munitions.
  Anti-aircraft fire was intense over the
  targets, but ineffectual at the Valiants’
  release height of 30,000ft (9,144m).
  One bomber was intercepted by an
  EAF Gloster Meteor night-fighter, but
  violent evasive action shook it off.
  Over the nights of November
  1/2, 2/3 and 4/5 Valiants carried
  out another five raids, all returning
  unscathed. Two of these involved
  striking at the large army camp at

Huckstep. By the end of this phase the

EAF had effectively been neutralised.

Amphibious landings followed, but

the work of the Valiants was complete.

On November 7 the Anglo-French

forces were compelled to withdraw

under pressure from the US and

United Nations.

FIRST OF THREE

Vickers was contracted to build the

relatively low-risk Valiant as the first

of the trio of V-bombers – Avro and

Handley Page opting for radical

aerodynamics for the Vulcan and

Victor. The prototype was flown for

the first time on May 18, 1951

and the initial operational unit was

138 Squadron at Gaydon in

February 1955.

From the outset, the Valiant was

to have roles beyond that of strategic

bomber, with the capability of

carrying comprehensive photo-

reconnaissance equipment palettes, or

in-flight refuelling equipment, in the

bomb bay.

In 1961 the Valiant bomber force

was re-profiled for low-level tactical

nuclear strike. The last unit to fly

the Vickers bomber in the strategic

role was 7 Squadron at Wittering, in

September 1962. During 1964 the

fleet was camouflaged, emphasizing

the new tactic.

Designed to fly up to 54,000ft

and not down at 5,000 or lower,

the Valiant fleet was discovered to

be suffering from stress loadings,

and between December 1964 and

February 1965 the entire fleet was

withdrawn. Tanker specialist 214

Squadron at Marham was the last to

give up the pioneering type.

The last-ever Valiant flight took

place on April 23, 1968 when XD816,

retained by Vickers for trials from

Wisley, was ferried to Abingdon to

take its place in the static at the 50th

anniversary celebrations of the RAF.

Afterwards it was scrapped on site.

BIGGER BOMBS

First flown at Brooklands on

September 4, 1956, XD818 had

been selected as one of eight B.1s

to try out Britain’s nuclear arsenal.

Extensive modifications were

installed, including enhanced

navigation and communications

systems, data recording devices and

screens, shutters and seals to increase

VALIANT

VICKERS

1918 2018

VALIANT

Above

Valiant B(PR)K.1 WZ395

fi rst entered service

with 214 Squadron

in April 1956 and

stayed with the unit

for most of its life. By

early 1964 it had been

camoufl aged and was

retired from 214 in

February 1965.

© ANDY HAY

http://www.fl yingart.co.uk

Type: Five-crew heavy bomber

First fl ight: May 18, 1951, entered service February 1955

Powerplant: Four 10,500lb st (46.7kN) Rolls-Royce Avon 204 turbojets

Dimensions: Span 114ft 4in (34.84m), Length 108ft 3in (32.99m)

Weights: Empty 75,881lb (34,419kg), All-up 140,000lb (63,504kg)

Max speed: 414mph (666km/h) at sea level

Range: 4,500 miles (7,241km)

Armament: Up to 21,000lb (9,525kg) of bombs

Replaced: English Electric Canberra from 1956

Taken on charge: 104

Replaced by: Handley Page Victor from 1958

VICKERS VALIANT B.I

1955 TO1965