Vulcan 607: Rowland White

[phil82]

Go out and buy, borrow, steal if you must, but get a copy of this new book by Rowland White on the Black Buck Vulcan raid which disabled the runway on the Falklands. The author had unlimited access to all those involved in the planning and execution of the this, the longest bombing raid in history, and the book is un-put-downable, believe me. The professionalism of everyone involved from the techs to the flight crews will make any former airman proud. The simple acceptance by the crews of their inevitable death if it all went wrong is something memorable, and akin to another generation of aircrews. It reads like Tom Clancy might have written it, it's that good, except it is all factual.

Buy it! Now! I've already loaned my copy out unfortunately!

[corsair67]

Colin, I've always been led to believe that the first Black Buck mission was bit of an embarrassment for the RAF as they only managed to get one bomb on the runway, out of the 21 bombs dropped?

I still reckon that if the Argies had based some of their Skyhawks at Port Stanley they would have really given the RN a lot more trouble. Just look what they manged to do to the RN after flying all the way from Argentina to the Falklands and back!

I'll certainly keep an eye out for this book, should be a great read.

[phil82]

No, it wasn't an embarrassment. in fact they had planned to ensure the ONLY chance of doing any damage at all from the 10000' bombing height using convetional [and ancient!] 1000lb iron bombs, was a diagonal approach to ensure at least one hit. A stright down the runway bombing run was ruled out for many reasons, not the least of which was the chance of all 21 bombs missing. The crews had been practicing delivery of nuclear weapons for twenty years, when such accuracy as hitting a runway didn't matter, then they were asked to hit a runway after flying 4000 miles and using equipment which had been discarded only to be recovered from a scrap yard when a techy recalled seeing them there! The single bomb on the runway did huge damage, which was never effectively repaired, but the raid had a huge influence in the Argentine Air Force which moved all of its fighter aircraft out of range, for both themselves and the RAF.

They planned the approach to the airfield at very low level, then a pop up to 10000" to keep out of the 'kill zone' of the anti-aircraft defences which were formidable, then a full power turn and climb to the North. The raid was, in fact, a huge success given that it took something like 13 Victor Tankers to get it and themselves there and back, because some of the Victors had to refuel each other to ensure the lone Vulcan would have enough fuel to get there. It then had to refuelled on the way back! There was such a need for in-flight refuelling, that probes were removed from aircraft already in museums in the UK and the US.

It's rivetting stuff really. The book should be available in Oz, mine came from there via Capital Books in Wellington.

[corsair67]

I actually hadn't thought about the fact that the Vulcan crews weren't trained in conventional bombing, and as you said, when you're dropping nukes accuracy isn't such an issue. I always assumed that they be a bit like the USAF B-52 crews who trained on conventional and nukes.

Anyway, it certainly did make the Argies think twice about the aircraft they kept at Stanley.

The logistics were pretty huge though. Do the RAF still run a weekly(?) flight from the UK to the Falklands? I remember reading something about that a few years ago, and that certainly was a huge feat of logistics too, especially if they suffered a breakdown.

I'll have a look at a few bookshops here for that book.

[phil82]

The RAF does run a shuttle to Mount Pleasant airfield as Port Stanley is now know. They used to use a Tri-star, but I have a suspicion that they may have chartered the trip out.

The issues were huge. they had to borrow Carousel INS systems from ex-BA VC10s, which were awaiting conversion to tankers, and the plan for the refuelling was mind-boggling! They removed a modern jammer from a Buccaneer, because of the complexity of the Argentine defence systems, and had to carry it underwing on a hard point designed originally for the Skybolt! 607 was in the air over 15 hours!

[turboNZ]

Wow !!! this looks like a great read.
Going track a copy down myself.
Capital Books here in Welly is a great place to get these type of books from.

[cypherus]

www.vulcantotheskyclub.co.uk/

www.tvoc.co.uk/

Dunno if you guys are aware of these sites regarding current and planned Vulcan operations in the UK but feel free to drop in and look around, all support is welcomed but you will see from the sites the nature of the task and the groups goals.

Jim......(Eastbourne)

[cypherus]

XM607
Location: Royal Air Force Waddington, Lincs.
Date of Delivery: Base gate guardian since 19 January 1983
Current status: External static display
Maintenance serial: 8779M
The mainly grass surface at XM607's old home caused problems with corrosion on the aircraft's undersides, so her new home on concrete within the base next to the A15 is much better.
How to get there: On the A607, three miles south of Lincoln.
Contact: Airshow Office, RAF Waddington, Lincoln LN5 9NB. Tel: [phone] www.waddingtonairshow.co.uk