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Hawker-Siddeley Blue Steel

Aircraft & Exhibits, JUN 1962-DEC 1969, London, Hangar One, 71/O/378

Started privately by AV Roe in 1954, a contract was eventually placed by the Ministry of Supply in 1956 for a stand-off missile to carry a Thermonuclear device with a 1 mega ton yield.

Image pending

Recorded interview with Squadron Leader Robert Stewart and Air Commodore David Waddington, 2 February 2017

Film & Sound, In Storage, X008-3354

Robbie Stewart and Dave Waddington flew together as a Tornado crew during the 1991 Gulf War. During an operation over Iraq they were shot down and became prisoners of war.

Image pending

Recorded interview with Squadron Leader Derek Charles Tilford 27 June 2017

Film & Sound, In Storage, X008-3367

Recorded interview with Derek Tilford, who served as a navigator in Javelin fighters and Victor tanker aircraft, and was involved in planning Operation Black Buck during the 1982 Falklands War.

Image pending

Recorded interview with Wing Commander David Roger Herriot, 19 September 2017

Film & Sound, In Storage, X008-3391

David Herriot served as a navigator in Buccaneer and Tornado GR.1 aircraft in the UK and Germany during the Cold War. He describes his experience of operations in both aircraft.

Image pending

Hawker Siddeley Vulcan B.2, with its weapons on display at RAF Waddington

Photographs, In Storage, P021335

The Vulcan was the second of the Royal Air Force’s ‘V bombers’ and like the Valiant and Victor provided part of Great Britain’s nuclear deterrent force for fifteen years. The Blue Steel nuclear missile, which entered service in 1963, can be seen at the front of this photograph. This image dates from around 1982.

View of Vulcan bomber and armaments on a runway, © Crown

Recorded interview with Squadron Leader Martin Withers, 22 June 2021

Film & Sound, In Storage, X008-5673

Martin Withers served as an RAF Vulcan pilot before and during the 1982 Falklands War. He gives an account of Operation Black Buck 1 and comments on Black Buck 7.

Image pending

Recorded interview with Corporal Brian Burgess, 10 December 2021

Film & Sound, X008-5688

Brian Burgess joined the RAF Police in the 1960s. He served in the UK, Singapore and in Berlin, guarded nuclear weapons and provided cover for a civilian fire brigade strike.

Image pending

Recorded interview with Wing Commander David Castle, 15 February 2018

Film & Sound, In Storage, X008-4771

Interview with David Castle, who served as a navigator in Vulcan aircraft during the 1982 Falklands War, including Operation Black Buck, and in Buccaneer aircraft during the 1991 Gulf War.

Image pending

Vulcans and Lancaster at RAF Waddington c.1969

Film & Sound, In Storage, FC92/200

Film in which Lancaster and Vulcan bomber aircraft appear at RAF Waddington. A Vulcan is prepared for flight and the Vulcan’s crew prepare before boarding the aircraft and taking off.

Image pending

RAF Eastcote Collection - Blue Steel maintenance and handling, reel 2, circa 1965

Film & Sound, In Storage, FC98/132/2

Film in which RAF personnel work on Blue Steel missiles and their components. A Blue Steel is moved into position under a Vulcan bomber aircraft and the Vulcan takes off.

Image pending