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Aviation History
1957
1957 - 0859.PDF
An Avro Vulcan B.I uses its Irving braking parachute on landing at Waddington. "Flight" photograph mand are considered almost ideal for bomber support. The Cometis particularly valued, because it has a speed only fractionally less than that of the bombers it would have to follow up. Britanniasare also eagerly awaited, because of their range and high capacity. The Beverley is excellent for carrying the most bulky equipment,though its range is not so great. An important factor increasing the range of the V-bomber forceis the probe-and-drogue flight refuelling system, for which all three types are fitted.A proportion of the Valiant force is equipped to operate variously in die bombing, reconnaissance or tanker roles, and some Valiantshave therefore joined the Canberra P.R.3s and P.R.7s in the reconnaissance force. The work done by these machines is co-ordinated by the Central Reconnaissance Establishment and fulfils the requirements of all three Services and other agencies. Now Avro Vulcan B.l's of No. 230 O.C.U. at Waddington. "Flight" photograph BOMBER COMMAND . . . and for Vulcans at Waddington naturally being administered byNo. 1 Group. The other group runs Valiant and Victor O.C.U.s together at Gaydon. It also administers the Central Reconnais-sance Establishment, which co-ordinates reconnaissance problems and operations, and the Bomber Command Development Unit,which carries out operational trials of new equipment. The. Canberra force was, of course, distributed through bothgroups, but a reorganization programme is now well under way to concentrate these aircraft in No. 1 Group and to concentratea larger number of Canberras in each of a rather smaller number of squadrons. This is being done purely as an administrativeeconomy. A number of Canberra squadrons are also being re- equipped with V-bombers, and the aircraft so released are beingused to re-equip squadrons already under the command of the Middle East and Far East Air Forces. All V-bombers will remain under the direct control of BomberCommand and will have their main bases in the United Kingdom, but at very short notice groups of these aircraft can be deployedto airfields in the Middle and Far East; and in such cases they might be placed under the operational direction of the localcommander-in-chief. An example of this rapid deployment was seen in the Suezoperations last year, when Canberras and Valiants began opera- tions from Malta and Cyprus a matter of hours after being orderedto move from their English bases. In cases of this kind Transport Command aircraft follow up with servicing personnel and equip-ment. The heaviest ground equipment for servicing, which is not easily air-transported at short notice, is already pre-stocked ata number of bases abroad for just such an eventuality. Transport support for operations abroad is obviously a vitalfactor in maintaining true mobility for a bomber force; and so far Transport Command has always provided the necessary aircraft,even at very short notice. It is not, therefore, considered necessary that transport units should be permanently attached to bomberwings. In addition, new aircraft now reaching Transport Com- Left, a Valiant crew at briefing. Middle, leaving the aircrew centre. Right, boarding a Valiant from one of the new aircrew buses.
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