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Haynes RAF V-Force Operations Manual
1955 to 69 – Insights into the organisation, aircraft and weaponry of Britain’s Cold War strategic nuclear strike force
Author: Andrew Brookes
The term V bomber was used for RAF aircraft (Vickers Valiant, Handley Page Victor and Avro Vulcan) during the 1950s and 1960s that comprised the UKs strategic nuclear strike force known officially as the V-Force.
The V-Force reached its peak in June 1964, with 50 Valiants, 70 Vulcans and 39 Victors in service. During the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962, RAF V-Force bombers were brought to readiness on 15-minute notice with the aircraft armed and crews ready beside them. The RAFs V-Force remained Britains nuclear deterrent up 1969 when the strategic role was assumed by the Royal Navy with its Polaris nuclear submarines.
Author:Â Andrew Brookes completed RAF pilot training after reading history at Leeds University. Following reconnaissance and strike tours on Victors, Canberras and Vulcans with 543, 85, 100, 35 and 101 Squadrons during which he logged 3,500 flying hours, he served as a UK Nuclear Release Officer in NATO and was the last operational RAF Commander at the Greenham Common cruise missile base. He publishes and broadcasts widely and is the author of twelve aviation titles including Vulcan Units of the Cold War, Victor Units of the Cold War and Valiant Units of the Cold War for Osprey. He received the Defence Aerospace Journalist of the Year Award in 2004 and 2006.
