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Vickers Valiant

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Vickers advert from 1957. RAF recruitment advert from 1957. Illustrates a slightly panicky RAF I feel, underlining the need for manned bombers and aircrews to go with them, just after Duncan Sandys had made his famous announcement about the future being all-missile. RAF recruitment advert from 1962. Shows a Valiant in the main picture but then talks about stand-off missiles which the Valiants didn't carry (though they did carry 2/3 scale model ones for aerodynamic testing).

The Deacon Collection

These pictures were kindly donated by Ray Deacon. They are for your personal use only and may not be reproduced or redistributed in any form. Ray has a sizeable collection of photos of aircraft, taken throughout his service in the RAF and available for publication - contact him for details.

An early production Valiant B.1, WP223, was operated by 18 Squadron based at RAF Marham when this shot was taken of it visiting RAF Khormaksar, Aden, in 1962. Only a handful of Valiants were converted to the photographic reconnaissance role and all were operated by 543 squadron based at RAF Wyton. In this photograph, B(PR).1, WZ392, taxies towards the RAF Muhurraq (Bahrain) Station Flight pan in 1963. Following their downgrading from the nuclear bomber role, many Valiants were converted to airborne tankers and reclassified BK.1. They were to be seen all over the globe as illustrated in this view of RAF Honnington-based 90 Squadron's XD820 taxiing in at Embakasi Airport (Nairobi) in October 1963. Also based at RAF Honington were these three 90 squadron BK.1s, with XD867 nearest the camera. They were photographed during a stop-over at RAF Khormaksar in 1963 while escorting Javelin squadron to Singapore.

The Hitch Collection

These pictures have been kindly contributed by Gerry Hitch, an ex-Vickers employee, from his large collection. They are for your personal use only and may not be reproduced or redistributed in any form. From Peter Martin, an apprentice electrician at Vickers from 1952 to 1958: "The 'windows' in the bomb bay (seen in the second picture) provided access to cable, pipe and control runs between bomb bay and outer skin. The average man was too large to get into the area, but because I was a shrimp I could wriggle my way down and was required to install the wiring from front to rear of the bomb bays. It cost me a few bruised ribs I remember."

Valiants on the production line; the forward pressure bulkhead is very obvious. View inside the bomb bay of a Valiant - the window-shaped depressions provided access to cable, pipe and control runs between the bomb bay and outer skin. Maintenance being undertaken, giving us a good look at the heavyweight drop tank attachment. Superb shot of the Type 600 Valiant prototype, WB210. This aircraft was lost on 12th January 1952 after an engine fire broke out. The 3rd production Valiant B.1, WP201. The 3rd production Valiant B.1, WP201. WP201 was the first aircraft assigned to 1321 Flight (later C Flight of 138 Squadron) for the nuclear weapons release trials (using dummy bombs). WP201 was the first aircraft assigned to 1321 Flight (later C Flight of 138 Squadron) for the nuclear weapons release trials (using dummy bombs). WP201 was the first aircraft assigned to 1321 Flight (later C Flight of 138 Squadron) for the nuclear weapons release trials (using dummy bombs). Fifth production B.1 WP203. B.1 WP213 (I think - hard to tell!). Nice head-on shot of WP213. B.1 WP214 became quite an unusual aircraft, in that it was fitted with a lot of additional electronics, mainly ECM equipment, and spent most of its time with the Bomber Command Development Unit and Vickers themselves, serving only briefly in squadron service (with 138 Squadron). WP221 was the fourth B(PR).1, a dual role version with reconaissance capability. WZ365 formates on the camera ship with airbrakes extended. 365's sister ship WZ366 would be the first British aircraft to drop a live nuclear weapon. B.1 WZ376. This aircraft was soon put to use in flight refuelling trials. B(K).1 WZ376 again, demonstrating what the (K) is for! The other aircraft is probably WZ390. XD816 survives in part at the Brooklands Museum in Surrey; the nose section is displayed there in the Barnes Wallis-designed stratospheric test chamber. B(K).1 XD818 is another survivor, but a whole one, displayed at the RAF Museum at Hendon. WP204 lurks in the background of this shot. XD818 again; this aircraft dropped Britain's first hydrogen bomb. Great shot of XD823. The sole Valiant B.2, WJ954 in a marvellous shot that clearly shows the extended nose and undercarriage-holding fairings added to the wings. WJ954 sweeping in over the runway threshold to land.

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Site contents copyright © 2012 Damien Burke/Handmade by Machine Ltd.
This page last updated on Thursday 19th January 2012

Visitor Comments

9 people have commented on this page. This is comment section 1 of 1.

Malcolm Tandy from Coven, Staffordshire Flag

Posted at 3:10pm on Wednesday, July 27th, 2011

I was an aircraft electrician on BCDU "B" Flight from early 1961 to mid 1962 WP214 was "my" aircraft, i remember the undercarriage leg not coming down, it was due to the main actuator icing up.

John Todd Jnr from Cupar ,Fife Flag

Posted at 7:47pm on Saturday, May 28th, 2011

Thankyou,my old dad remembers WP214 from BCDU days at Finningley where he got his Sergeants tapes ,but best of the lot he said he had never seen a picture of this aircraft anywhere thanks for posting it

John Godfrey from Suffolk Flag

Posted at 4:39pm on Thursday, December 10th, 2009

Marco, Yes, the aircraft in The Liquidator is a Valiant. I only saw the end of the film.

Jeff O from NN10 6ag Flag

Posted at 2:31pm on Friday, October 16th, 2009

Valiant WZ309 also visited Aden in 1960 and performed during the Open Day at Khormaksar on Friday 18th November. JKO.

Marco Vallentin from Denmark Flag

Posted at 6:44pm on Monday, August 31st, 2009

Recently TCM showed "The Liquidator" (1966) with Rod Taylor as Boysie Oakes. At the ned of the movie is sequence with a large bomber. Isn't that a Valiant ? If anyone knoww where I can more info about this sequence (which plane was used, etc) then I'd love to hear from them ;-)

BEST regards,
Marco/

Colin Fairbairn from Aberdeen Flag

Posted at 3:43pm on Monday, April 27th, 2009

Remember WP214 from BDCU days, dropping the engines doors a few times built up your arm muscles.

Anthony Phipps from Norfolk Flag

Posted at 8:32pm on Wednesday, October 29th, 2008

Saw remains of valiant B2 at wisley in 1962. whilst baby sitting WP214 for BCDU under going a trials fit. On return to BCDU flew approx 200 Hrs in WP214 as a special equipment operator and a trials observer. As at this time I was only a junior technician I am probably the lowest ranking crew man to fly V force operations. I was part of V Force during the Cuba crisis and to ad insult to no flying pay was on board 214 when the much vaunted electrical syste refused to lower the left Under carriage leg. This fa... read more »read more »

Graham Carter from Bathurst Flag

Posted at 8:01am on Tuesday, October 14th, 2008

As a modeller whi is contemplating tackling the Contrail vacform of this iconic beastie I find your site a mine of info - thankyou for operating it and well done. I have already made extensive use of it to build my Lightnings, Typhoon, Sea Vixen and Hunter models and recommend it to all my modelling mates.

J.Leighton Jones. from Chorley,Lancashire Flag

Posted at 8:18pm on Tuesday, September 30th, 2008

I went to Weybridge ,Surrey to do my Apprenticeship and it was on these Aircraft. I worked on both types and helped strip all useable electrical components out of the Black one at Wisley. Your collection of Photos bring back happy memories both of Weybridge Works and Wisley. 1954-77

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