Valiant tankers

Thanks for your help guys

An interesting question!

Well, the two Valiant tanker units were 90 Sqn and 214 Sqn, so you might want to do a search for them. Cammo was only introduced onto the Valiant around early summer 1964 and the whole Valiant fleet was grounded at the end of January 1965 – so the timeframe is very short. Also, I believe that the Marham Wing was the focus of the cammo repaints.

I will have another look for you later today.

Just had another quick look. I have found references to the following being painted in cammo. Where I have been able to find a pic so far, I have made reference. You might want to do a search on these serials.

wp217
wp221-pic-207sqn
wz345
wz367 – pic 148 sqn
wz393
wz395-pic
xd814
xd818-pic
xd819
xd821-pic
xd825-pic49sqn
xd828-pic
xd857-pic
xd862
xd868
xd870

I have had one last look, and I must say that it appears very doubtful that a cammo Valiant would have refuelled Javelins. Most of the cammo Valiants served with the bomber squadrons – logical given their low level role. I did find one reference that suggests that XD870 served with 214 Sqn (a tanker unit), but that’s about it!

http://www.janesoceania.com/christmas_bombers/index2.htm
http://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/valiant/gallery2.html

They are indeed very thin on the ground, only found a couple of pics.