Handley-Page Victor

[flyjoe180]

Cheers Mumbles. Not exactly an OSH approved occupation then ;D

[phil82]

Jul 31, 2009 15:12:05 GMT 12 flyjoe180 said:

Really interesting memories there.

I never really gave it much thought at the time, but watching that take-off could well have been the last thing any of us saw if it was for real.Of course, being firmly rooted at a primary target bomber base, we'd have been painlessly vapourised ourselves, long before they crossed the Norwegian coast

Did you ever hear about what the bomber crews were to do after they had retaliated, where would they go? I'm guessing a full on nuclear exchange would have stuffed Europe completely? If so, did any of the crews realise this could be a one way trip?

Yes! There was no return plan. Those that survived would fly on to wherever they thought might not be a cinder patch.

On the topic of that snow-clearing machine, I've been reminded that it consisted of two Rolls Royce Derwent engines, with a small fuel tank and a sort of tin shed for the hapless operator. There were no volunteers for the job, and there was a standard sort of joke that the Boss would ask in the crew room for anyone having twin-engined experience, and when the keen volunteer raised his hand, he ended up driving the snow machine!

[phil82]

Aug 1, 2009 19:47:07 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

When those Victors and Vulcans came to NZ, would they likely have been carrying nuclear weapons?

Abnsolutely not! They could only carry them in the UK under a very high approval regime.

[Dave Homewood]

Folloeing on fom the previous photos sent to me from OJ, here are five more taken at the time of the aishow, with OJ's comments:

Britannia shots from Ohakea, March 1964, Owen Cunliffe collection: The first is an RAF Transport Command Bristol Britannia "Rigel" taxiing at Ohakea in March 1964. The topless airman in shorts is Owen Cunliffe. In this instance he handed his camera to someone else for the shot. The RAF Britannia's were all named after prominent celestial stars in the northern hemisphere.


The second is RAF Britannia "Rigel" taxiing towards No. 3 hangar and the tower at Ohakea March 1964.


The third is RAF Britannia "Rigel" overhead Ohakea in March 1964.


The fourth is slightly different. It is a Royal Canadian Air Force Canadair CC-106 Yukon overhead Ohakea in March 1964. The Yukon is a stretched Britannia. It has fuselage plugs forward and to the rear of the mainplane and is about 12 feet longer than a standard 250 series Britannia. You can see this by comparison with the previous shot.


And here is another shot by Owen Cunliffe of a Republic F105D Thunderchief taking off at Ohakea in March 1964. There were three of these Thunderchiefs came to Ohakea on that occasion.


OJ