Publisher's Synopsis
Following the end of the Second World War, Britain developed and maintained a huge fleet of technically-advanced and futuristic-looking jet bomber aircraft. Their sole purpose was to deliver nuclear weapons into the heart of Russia should the need arise, with crews being kept on constant alert. A change of defence policy resulted in the handing over of Britain's nuclear capability to the Royal Navy and this, with the ending of the Cold War, has seen the last of these impressive aircraft withdrawn from service.;This text tells the story in detail of why the V-Force was created, explains how Britain's nuclear deterrent was kept ever-ready for action, with details of the three aircraft that made up the V-Force: Avro Vulcan; Handley Page Victor; and Vicker Valiant. It features the record-breaking Vulcan bombing mission to the Falklands in 1982 and the later use of the Victor as a tanker aircraft including operations during the Gulf War. In addition it focuses on the infrastructure required to support this force, from airbases to bomb stores and missile sites, and what survives to the present day.
