| Valiant Boys: True Stories from the Operators of the Uk's First Four-Jet Bomber Contributor(s): Blackman, Tony (Author), Wright, Anthony (Author) |
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ISBN: 1911621246 ISBN-13: 9781911621249 Publisher: Grub Street Publishing OUR PRICE: $20.66 Product Type: Paperback - Other Formats Published: April 2019 |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - History | Military - Aviation - Technology & Engineering | Military Science - Biography & Autobiography | Historical |
| Dewey: 623 |
| Series: Jet Age |
| Physical Information: 0.9" H x 6.1" W x 9.1" (1.20 lbs) 192 pages |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: Following on from the success of Victor Boys and Vulcan Boys, Tony Blackman, in collaboration with Anthony Wright, brings you Valiant Boys to complete the V Force set. This is a fascinating collection of personal accounts of operating Britain's first V bomber by aircrew and ground crew. The book tells the story from the aircraft's birth taking off from Vickers' tiny airfield at Brooklands to its premature death from fatigue. There are tales of testing atom bombs in the Australian desert, dropping hydrogen bombs in the middle of the Pacific and, as a complete contrast, attacking airfields with conventional bombs in Egypt during the very brief and abortive Suez campaign. We are reminded of how the Valiant provided the UK's first nuclear deterrent by always having some armed aircraft on standby twenty-four hours a day, supported by their air and ground crews, ready to be flown at a moment's notice on a one-way trip to launch an atomic war. Some Valiants were given a photographic role providing accurate images from high altitude and were used not only to gather military intelligence but also to survey the UK and countries overseas. Others were developed into flight refueling tankers breaking point to point records before enabling Britain's fighter aircraft to be refueled and fly anywhere in the world. This book completes Tony Blackman's trilogy of the three V bombers. As Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Michael Beetham makes it clear in his foreword: 'It is good to have a book written by aircrew and ground crew telling their stories and how they operated the aircraft so that all these things are recorded and not forgotten.' Not as well known as the Vulcan and Victor, the Valiant is often overlooked; this book will go a long way to redress the balance. |
Contributor Bio(s): Blackman, Tony: - Tony Blackman has spent his life in the aircraft industry as a test pilot, as an avionics specialist and then on the Board of UK Civil Aviation Authority as the Technical Member.Wright, Anthony: - Squadron Leader Anthony Wright BA joined the RAF in 1960. After navigator training he entered the V Force as a navigator radar flying Valiants and then Vulcans. After a tour in Singapore and completion of the Staff Navigation Course he was posted to Cranwell as station navigation officer and instructor. He returned to the Vulcan force as an instructor, followed by wing weapons and then radar leader on 50 Squadron. After an appointment at the MoD he became OC of a nuclear training squadron at RAF Armament Support Unit. On retirement he served at HQ Air Cadets until 2003. He now lives with his wife Rosemary in Rutland. |