When Britain Nuked America....Twice!

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Special thanks to Warren Ryan for suggesting this splendid topic!

The story of how British Vulcan bombers successfully penetrated US air defences in the early 1960s to conduct mock nuclear attacks on American cities.

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Thanks: Norwich Aviation Museum
Thumbnail: Tony Hisgett

[SkyBlueNeil]

My Dad worked on the Vulcan in the 50's fitting the electrics and Anti Radar, his favourite story was that because him and his mate were the only ones that could fit inside the fuel tanks to fit sensors they got paid extra lol, He is 85 now and has Dementia so is forgetful but still remembers his time in the RAF, Great Man, Obviously did a good job, well done Dad.

[chrisgates]

I remember reading something from a Vulcan pilot when they were doing cold war exercises with the American's. The Brits sent their American counterparts a photo of the Pentagon taken by one of their spy planes.
A week later the American's sent a smug note with a picture taken from their spy plane of the British spy plane taking a photo of the Pentagon. So the Brits sent one back taken from a Vulcan circling above them of the American spy plane, taking a picture of the British spy plane taking a picture of the Pentagon.

[winstonchurchill]

That’s for dumping tea in the harbour!

[KENKENNIFF]

Bar tender "You ever been to Chicago before" Vulcan Pilot "Yeah, you could say I hit town a couple of times"

[SuperEdge]

The Vulcan is surely one of the most beautiful aircraft ever built.

[fuferito]

I'm old enough to remember how a private German citizen landed his single engine plane in a still very Soviet Red Square, in the 80s.

[lostinpa-dadenduro]

On a positive note, it did prove that the Vulcan was up to the job it was designed for.

[fusilier]

A Vulcan did a fly over North Manchester after the Falklands War in 82, our teacher in School lined us all up by the windows to see it... never forgot it.

[MrGouldilocks]

US Air defenses: 99% effective, 50% of the time.

[otyliciu]

Of course the Vulcans never "came in anger" ... the Vulcans pride themselves on their ability to suppress emotion and act according to pure logic. Live long and prosper.

[davidthefirst]

Something tells me they didn't ask the Vulcans back for Sky Shield 3

[ambiancesb]

Actually, I'm not embarrassed at all by the results of this, In fact we could use more of these drills so we can understand our strengths and weaknesses. 'If you know yourself, but not the enemy, for every victory you will also suffer a defeat.' - Sun Tzu. Knowing how you could be defeated was valuable information from this exercise. I'm personally glad it was Britain teaching the lesson than the Soviets. I'm not even embarrassed by a Swedish submarine sinking an aircraft carrier. It proves that there are weaknesses that must be addressed, and covering it up is stupidity.

[Vorpal_Wit]

I still have trouble comprehending that we went form the first powered flight in 1903 to having hightly manouverable jet bombers, with electronic jamming equipment, simulating high altitude nuclear bomb attacks....just 49 years later. A historical eye-blink.

[penhullwolf]

" New York Tower this is Vulcan 3.
Have just vapourised Manhattan and am requesting permission to land.
Put the kettle on.
Over."

[BarlimanButterburr]

From 1965 to 1969 I was stationed at RAF Scampton, as an instrument and electrical mechanic servicing those big, beautiful, old birds. I didn't know about the exercises, presumably because of the tight security, but I did hear many times from old hands that Vulcans had been over America twice, without being detected. It's nice to finally get the full story...

Personally, although it's hard not to feel just a little smug about what happened, I don't see it as any reason to knock the Americans. The whole point of the exercises was to learn from mistakes in simulated attacks, so they wouldn't get caught if it happened for real...

If push ever comes to shove with the Russians or Chinese, we're all going to need to stand together...

[daniellimach]

US: fight me
UK: ok
Uk: *wins*
US: _you weren't supposed to do that_

[omaramin]

*Everybody is a Gangster until The Empire strikes Back*

[franciscampagna]

"Top Secret" often translates to "Embarrassing".

[retrograde]

I bet those two RAF officers in NORAD when the exercise took place couldn't stop snittering during the whole thing, especially as the exact same thing happened again.

[ericoxford]

As an American, I believe the Vulcan is one of the sexiest aircraft ever built. I had the pleasure of seeing one in person at the Midland Air Museum in Coventry, UK back in 2018.