Vulcan Bomber XM 597

[Matzos]

Due for final retirement in 1982 the Falkland's War was an operational swan song for the Vulcan. By the end of March 1982 the Royal Air Force Vulcan B.2 fleet had been reduced to three squadrons, 101, 44 and 50 Squadrons, all based at RAF Waddington.

Operating via Wideawake airfield on Ascension Island in the Atlantic (operation 'Black Buck') the vulcan's carried out attacks on the Falkland Islands in support of the British operations to recapture them from Argentina. Operation 'Black Buck' involved the use of 11 supporting Victor tankers aircraft from 55 and 57 Squadrons and 2 Vulcan B.2s, XM607 and XM597. Six in-flight refuellings were needed for the 15-hour 7860-mile return journey from Ascension Island (five transfers of fuel for the outward journey were required and took place at intervals of 840, 1150, 1900, 2750 and 3000 miles from Ascension). The flight time from Ascension Island to Port Stanley by Vulcan was over eight hours, 3886 miles each way and it was then the longest range bombing attack in history. XM607 was involved in Black Buck 1 on 1st May 1982, Black Buck 2 on 3rd May 1982 and Black Buck 7 on 12th June 1982, its mission was to drop bombs on Port Stanley Airfield, while XM597 was deployed in the suppression of enemy air defences in Black Buck 5 on 31st May 1982 and Black Buck 6 on 3rd June 1982.

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XM597 entered service with 12 Squadron on the 27th of August 1963 and then served with 35, 50, 9, 101 and 35 Squadrons. Deployed in the Falklands in the suppression of enemy air defences role, XM597 set the record in Black Buck 5 for the longest mission in the history of air warfare, a record that remained until a B-52 broke it during the Gulf war in 1991, after a total flight time of precisely 16 hours. XM597 again made the headlines in Black Buck 6 when, due to a fractured in-flight refuelling probe, it was diverted to Rio de Janeiro. On the final rendezvous with a Victor tanker XM597's refuelling probe snapped off and the crew were forced to divert. There were no pre-arranged or recognised diversions and the crew's brief was to ditch the aircraft should the final refuelling fail. Reluctant to ditch XM597 in the South Atlantic the crew elected to climb to 43,000 ft for best range/endurance performance and headed west towards South America and Brazil.

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Before entering Brazilian airspace the un-used Shrikes had to be jettisoned to prevent any potential embarrassment to the British and Brazilian authorities. After de-pressurizing at 43,000 ft and jettisoning secret documents and film through the crew entrance door, XM597 descended to around 20,000 ft whilst evading a pair of Brazilian F-5 fighter aircraft which had been scrambled to intercept it. With insufficient fuel for a procedural instrument approach into Rio's Galeao International Airport, XM597 was flown to the overhead where it commenced a spiral descent and visual approach. The aircraft was landed with only a few hundred pounds of fuel remaining in the tanks. After seven days internment, the crew was under 'open arrest' (but well treated) on the military side of the airport, the aircraft and crew were released to prevent further embarrassment to Brazil and Britain. After returning from Ascension Island, XM597 was allocated to 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron in July 1982 and 50 Squadron in December 1982 to be converted to a B(K).2.

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XM597 was acquired by the Scottish Museum of Flight when 50 Squadron disbanded on 31st March 1984 and it flew into East Fortune in April 1984.

The missile in front of XM597 is Blue Steel, which was a rocket-powered, supersonic missile capable of carrying a large nuclear (or projected thermonuclear) warhead with a range of at least 50 miles (90 km). Blue Steel officially retired on 31 December 1970, with the United Kingdom's strategic nuclear capacity passing to the submarine fleet.

This last image, shows the attack markings and the Brazilian flag, to mark her stay in that country.

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Text source - internet.
Imagery taken by myself during a visit to the Museum (the only day it did not rain solthum)

[03Fox2/1]

Back in the summer 1963 I was a young lad of 13 and a proud member of the Royal Sea Cadets. We lived in Wembley, Middlesex and it was a beautiful day, with the sky a deep blue and almost cloudless, like in your first photo. Because my Dad was career Marine, I had quite an interest in all things military and I still remember vividly a special event that has always stayed with me. I was in our back garden when all of a sudden, low and slow, a beautiful delta wing aircraft roared by, in a circular pattern. It was white, with British Royal Air Force markings and against the blue sky, it was both beautiful and menacing to me. I watched it fly around and away, forever impressed, as only a young boy can be. It was this aircraft, a Vulcan bomber. Semper Fi

[Bombardier]

I also remember when I was a boy and living near the Avro factory now BAE systems in Manchester seeing a Vulcan flying low and in a circular pattern over my house. Like you 03Fox2/1 i was impressed with the sight of this huge aircraft.

Brilliant post Matzos and great pics (Y)

[John A Silkstone]

Living in Lincolnshire, I’ve always been very luck seeing all the different aircraft that fly over my house including the Vulcan.

In the early sixties there was a NATO exercise against the USA to test their early warning system. Reports came back that two Vulcan’s succeeded in entering USA airspace at very low altitude. One flew over New York on a photo bombing run and the other at tree top height bombed an air base and was gone before they could scramble their interceptors.

Silky

[Matzos]

There was once an account that was going around the RAF in the late 70’s about a flight of Vulcans flying to the US to take part in the annual NATO bombing competition RED FLAG. It was said that they flew under radar all the way across the Atlantic only appearing on US radar screens as they crossed the US Coast line. :eek:

The flight commander got into major trouble when he landed there, but on this return to the UK became folk hero on his squadron. ;)

I will try and do some digging and see if there is any other information on this.

[John A Silkstone]

Hi Matzos,

You could be right and it could be the 70s and not the 60s. The only thing that I do know is then nor that I an 21 (WOULD I LIE TO YOU) my mind plays tricks on me at times.

Silky