How many vulcans bombed port stanley

Mr Withers was one of the pilots to fly the last airworthy Vulcan - XH - which is in its final season of flight. The raids were the only time in the Vulcan's 30 year service with the RAF that saw it drop bombs in anger.

Mr Withers said aside from its use in the Falklands, the purpose of the Vulcan was to be a "nuclear deterrent". He added: "It came very close in during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

The aircraft will be grounded on 30 October. The pilot said he has been greeted like a "rock star" at air shows during the bomber's final display season. Mr Withers said he will miss flying the Vulcan but not its famously cramped cockpit. Bruntingthorpe was the Vulcan's first home after its RAF career and where the aircraft was restored by the Leicestershire-based charity Vulcan to the Sky Trust.

It said it was in talks with Robin Hood Airport and police about whether a final flight can be scheduled, given concerns about crowds around the airport. If a flight does go ahead, the trust said it would be streamed over the internet to allow as many people as possible to witness the event.

Tankers had to be sent south to refuel these Victors so they could reach Ascension. XM made the final approach at around ft above the sea. Before climbing to attack height the H2S radar was successfully locked on to offset markers on the coast and bombing handed over to the control system. The attack was delivered around 4 am local time. XM then climbed away from the airfield and headed nearly due north to a planned rendezvous with a Victor some way off the coast of Rio de Janeiro.

Its journey continued up within range of the South American coast to its rendezvous with a tanker. After contacting control with an update, the tanker was sent further south. To help bring the two planes together a Nimrod Maritime Reconnaissance aircraft was flown from Wideawake to the area. Without an in-flight refuelling system it was unable to loiter long.

XM made the link and was able to return to Ascension. The stick of twenty-one lb bombs crossed the airfield, damaged the airport tower, scored a single direct hit in the centre of the runway and killed two Air Force personnel. The bombs falling on either side of the runway caused slight damage to tented installations in the airfield perimeter. The attack took the Argentines as well as the rest of the world completely by surprise.

Withers was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his part in the action. XM acted as flying reserve aircraft. According to RAF and White's book this was intended to prevent Argentine engineers from extending the runway sufficiently to make it capable of accommodating high performance combat aircraft.

This mission, scheduled for 13 May, was scrubbed before take-off due to strong headwinds. Vulcans XM [26] and XM An AGM Shrike anti-radiation missile on a trolley.

This mission with XM, scheduled for 28 May, was also scrubbed, but only some 5 hours after the Vulcan had taken off. One of the supporting Victor aircraft, which were flying refuelling operations, suffered a failure of their hose-and-drogue refuelling unit, and the flight had to be recalled.

The mission had been due to be the first using American supplied AGM Shrike Anti-Radar missiles, which were mounted on the Vulcans using improvised underwing pylons. XM, showing mission markings from its two Black Buck missions and Brazilian internment. An attack could only succeed if the targeted radar continued transmitting until struck.

The first missile impacted 10 metres away from the target, causing minor blast damage to the wave-guide assembly, but not disabling the radar. This mission, again flown by Squadron Leader Neil McDougall in XM, attacked and destroyed a Skyguard fire-control radar of the army's Anti-aircraft battalion on 3 June, killing four radar operators, an officer, a sergeant and two privates.

One of the missiles it was carrying was ditched into the ocean to reduce drag, but the other remained stuck on the pylon and could not be released. Sensitive documents containing classified information were jettisoned into the sea via the crew hatch, and a "Mayday" signal was sent.

The aircraft was cleared to land by Brazilian authorities with less than 2, lbs of fuel remaining, not enough to complete a circuit of the airport. Black Buck 2 was tasked with the same mission but was not as successful and missed the airfield with its bombs. From 19 July until further notice, face coverings must be worn when using the flight simulators. The Museum is able to offer speakers to interested groups or societies on a range of subjects connected with the history of operations at RAF Tangmere and other military aviation subjects.

Further details of the full range of presentations and the availability of speakers can be obtained by calling the museum on , by emailing your interest to chairman tangmere-museum. More News. Read all. Flight Simulators. Did you know that Vulcan to the Sky is a charity? We rely on merchandise sales and donations from you, the supporter, to enable us to look after XH and tell her story. Please help us to keep delivering articles of interest to you by donating below, or alternatively visit our Shop or see what projects we currently have on.

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Published 4th November