Vulcan On The Line

by Brian Carlin, Geoff Supple, Tom McCormick

The Cold War! Britain’s V-Bombers poised to respond to any first strike by the USSR! The most nerve-wracking time – the Cuban Missile Crisis when all available V-Bombers were armed up with nuclear weapons, and maintained at 5 minutes readiness to scramble, despite the British Prime Minister’s denial that Britain had any involvement.The ground crews who waited underneath these formidable aircraft, ready to launch them on their one-way mission now have stories to tell. The same ground crews who maintained the aircraft, keeping them ever ready to perform their lethal mission.We learn of a hush-hush visit to a British V-Bomber base by a sitting U.S. President or about an unwilling stowaway facing the prospect of a potentially fatal flight in a Vulcan, while another perfectly willing stowaway ends up hundreds of miles from his home. Russian KGB espionage and subversion are also revealed. The author and some of his colleagues from that long ago era tell their stories that range from the frigid iciness of Goose Bay in northern Canada to the sun-drenched island of Malta, but mostly take place on our own British V-bomber bases. Learn about some of the behind-the-scenes activities that it took to service and maintain a Vulcan bomber and some facts versus fiction concerning the Vulcan’s brief role in the James Bond film, Thunderball. Share the low point and heart-wrenching grief when an entire aircrew is lost in a tragic accident, contrasted with the high jinks during an overseas detachment. All this and much, much more. This book is a must read for V-Bomber veterans or anyone with an interest in the magnificent Avro Vulcan.

Genres: Nonfiction, Military Fiction

226 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 30, 2019

Reviews

[J. Mclelland]

Fascinating Memoir

As a former RAF serviceman from 1970 onwards I am always interested in books such as Vulcan on the Line. This is a great read giving an insight into what it was really like working on these magnificent aircraft and of course the way of life of the ordinary serviceman. Enjoyed this book immensely.

[Peter John WEST · Rating 5 out of 5]

I much enjoyed Brian's book. It was well researched/remembered, interesting to me as I served on Vulcans as an AEO, two tours with 12 Sqn, Coningsby and Cottesmore, then as an EW instructor on the OCU. Later I returned to the Vulcan with 44 Sqn then 27 Sqn the last two as AEO Leader. I had no more flying tours and did three staff appointments retiring as a Wg Cdr in 1985. Our groundcrews were magnificent and rarely received the credit due to them. Brian's recollections were of the happy and often hilarious times enjoyed by most of us who served in the RAF. I was a bit surprised that he did'nt seek a transfer to the flying branch as an AEO, he would have made a good one. Thanks Brian for a good read and for your service.

[Mr DJ Marchant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Service on the Vulcan

A very enjoyable book! Well written! I was particularly interested as I served as a Copilot and Captain in the Vulcan B1a from 1962 to 1967. I retired from the RA F in 1995 after 35years service.

[Alan Mayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

Having seen xh558 on one of its final flights over Dunsfold and read many Vulcan books from a pilots perspective this is a great insight into the crucial work of the ground crews.

[Anthony King · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucky Brian

5 stars because the book was more than worth it! As a former member of HM forces I have an attraction to the V bombers, the Vulcan in particular, strange for a 'squaddie' you may think, but that's how It is.

[M G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent recollection of the author's time as RAF Vulcan bomber groundcrew in the 1960

[patrick banks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vulcan line

As an ex Vulcan “liney” at Waddington some of this took me back to when I was a young lad straight from training. Marshalling a Vulcan for the first time, scarey !

[Paul Cooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent story, refreshing to read a perspective other than aircrew.

[Richard Bell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite an interesting read though some of the technical details of aircraft electrical systems were behind my understanding.