Vulcan 607 – An awesome book!

Sqn Ldr Neil McDougall had the probe problem on XM597, after a SEAD mission – diversion was to Rio de Janerio rather than Uruguay, though. Required a rather impressive bit of flying to get the Vulcan in to land safely (Neil McDougall was awarded a DFC as a result).

I heard that Neil McDougall was partial to a good cup of Brazilian Coffee and this was the reason for the diversion

Sqn Ldr Neil McDougall had the probe problem on XM597, after a SEAD mission – diversion was to Rio de Janerio rather than Uruguay, though. Required a rather impressive bit of flying to get the Vulcan in to land safely (Neil McDougall was awarded a DFC as a result).

I heard that Neil McDougall was partial to a good cup of Brazilian Coffee and this was the reason for the divesion

I don’t know anyone who’s read this who didn’t like it. You only have to read the comments on here to see how well it is regarded.

I agree this is a great book, read my copy to find that toward the end instead of the correct pages there are duplicated earlier pages only, so I had to borrow a copy to finish it, good read though.
I am a First Officer with Flybe and everytime I fly with a new captain (new to me) I always ask them about there background and one of the guys I fly with was a Victor pilot on the raids, very interesting to talk to in the cruise.

Can’t coment on her condition as I know nothing about that sort of thing, However I was there Friday and she looks good on the outside.
She’s veiwable from the A15 at RAF Waddington

Good to know she’s receiving the appropriate t.l.c for such an historic aircraft and not just scrapped…. Thankyou

Ron:)

Do a quick search on the historic forum as she did recieve a complete repaint and a repositioning onto a purpose built pad.

Can’t coment on her condition as I know nothing about that sort of thing, However I was there Friday and she looks good on the outside.
She’s veiwable from the A15 at RAF Waddington

Hi Peter,

Here is a shot of XM607 that I took a few weeks ago, I can’t vouch for her condition though as I haven’t seen her up close.

Septic.

Hi S

About to re -read Vulcan 607 again. 26 years on after the raid (almost to the day and month!) Any idea how she’s fairing right now? Did you say where she,s stored, possibly open to the public?
Great photo, but almost 2 years on is she as good now?

Cheers
Ron

Having met him I have to say that I found Martin Withers to be a very modest and unassuming chap.

Thread title changed – the book is hardly new any longer.

Moggy
Moderator

Lots in the media about XM607. I was on ASI as part of the Mobile Met Unit team that briefed those Black Buck sorties in 1982 during Op CORPORATE.
At the same time as the first mission returned there was an aircraft that looked remarkably like a C-141 on the pan at ASI. But it bore no national ident markings, or airframe numbers. It was crewed by persons in totally plain flying overalls, again with no rank badges or national markings – but with severe crew-cuts. I think you may get the scene!!!
The C-141 crew were either deplaning or emplaning when the first Black Buck mission arrived back at ASI. There was a small Meeting Party and as the Vulcan crew deplaned there was a muted round of applause. The C-141 Captain said “What gives?”. It was explained to him that the Vulcan had just bombed Port Stanley airstrip in an 8000 mile round trip. “Jeez” says Captain Crew-Cut, “That must be longest bombing mission ever. Now if that had been the USAF then there would have been a band here, at least the Vice President – if not the President – and the place would have been festooned with yellow ribbons. I’ve done a tour in UK, and all you Brits can do is give the guys a round of applause like they’ve just scored a goddam Four at Lords!”.
Two nations divided by a “common” language/culture!
Peter Davies

XM607 has just had a repaint for the anniversary year, although it was done by a group of volunteers from the Station rather than the Ptr & Fnr tradesmen.

Not sure what level of preparation or final finish was applied, but whatever the case, at least she has another protective coat on her.

Just finished this, and thoroughly enjoyed it; well recommended, everyone! 🙂

Agree with everyone on this one – fantastic read! One reference in the book mentioned that the Buccaneers were considered but it was deemed that there was not enough oil in the engine system to get there and back. Being a former “Bucc Sooty” I find that statement a bit strange!

I was serving on 16 Squadron at Laarbruch at the time and remember that we “Sooties” were taken into a room and informed that what we were about to be told was classified as “Top Secret” We were informed that several 12 Sqn Buccs were coming to Laarbruch and that we would be fitting ferry tanks into the bomb bays. As this was during the “run-up” to the Task Force sailing it could be assumed that they had thought about dispatching the Martel equipped aircraft south.

Found it a bit of a come down after being sworn to secrecy when on going into the football club bar that very night that the main topic of conversation was the aircraft coming to have tanks fitted to fly to the Falklands!

Well finished reading my copy yesterday and must agree with all, its avery good read.
Now time to move on to the rest of the book case, just hope i can read a few more books before I’m back at work.

Paul

My copy arrived from Amazon last week, started it Friday and finished by Monday. Excellent read, keeps you hooked the whole way through. I never realised what a close run thing it was, or the lost skills that had to be rapidly relearnt.
Regardless of whether it was strategicaly necessary or not it was a hell of an effort and must have had the Junta somewhat concerned.

John

I was very fortunate to win a copy of this book in a competition held on the Thunder and Lightnings Web site.
I have hardly put the book down since it arrived in the post.:D

Just noticed the heads-up re. the paperback, and have just gotten myself a copy from Tesco. Cheers!

Endurance was on her last patrol when the invasion began – obviously events changed that.

I can recomend a read of Captain Nick Barker’s book ‘Beyond Endurance” for filling in some detail.

Also, having just finished Vulcan 607 I have to say that it was a very good read but suffered from a few errors here and there. One repeated (found in at least two places) error is, if my other sources are correct, that the Vulcan was designed with a one man cockpit. I believe this is far from the case.

Also the Vulcan prototype VX770 first took to the air powered by early versions of the RR Avon (RA.3 I think) was then powered briefly by Sapphires before being fitted with early Olympus (not much in common with Concorde engines other than name IMHO) as intended.

I have nothing but admiration for the courage of the crews who flew all missions connected with Black Buck and also the fortitude and adaptability of the ground engineers without which the aircrew could have done nothing. But I am with Sharkey Ward, and others, who doubt the military value of these raids.

If the FAA had not suffered such drastic pruning, partly as the result of Air Staff lobbying and disinformation (distorted maps of some areas of the world) in the corridors of power (I still have a snip of the Sunday Times about 10 years ago where a serving RAF officer was making a case against new carriers with a letter title ‘Leviathans that Eat Our Wealth’ – so they were still at it then), then there would have been no need. Phantoms on CAP (and even strike) and Bucc’s for strike could have easily taken on the Argentine air arms and put that runway out of action. Also the biggest hole, in fleet AEW radar coverage would have been plugged.

To be sure some will argue that the SHAR could perform deck operations in seas that would have caused conventional carrier aircraft problems. However, this would be to ignore the seemingly suicidal launches of Swordfish etc during WW2 in heaving seas. When needs must, operating parameters are stretched to accomodate.

But then of course I am biased.:D

The paperback version is now available, got mine this morning from a very well known UK supermarket for the sum of £3.73 its No2 in their chart.
See this link www.tesco.com/books/chart/paperback.asp

Off work ill at the moment so should be able to read this and some of the other hundred odd books I’ve bought over the years and never got round to reading.

Paul

Thanks for the tip. I allowed myself to be dragged to Tescos. 🙂