The Tragic Story Of Vulcan Bomber 'VX 770'

In this video we look at the tragic plane crash involving an iconic British Cold War V-Bomber aircraft. The Vulcan Bomber is synonymous in Britain as a plane that could have dropped the nuclear bomb should it needed to during the Cold War. The Vulcan's unmistakable size and wing shape have led it to go down in history as a truly recognisable British aircraft.

Today though we look specifically at the story of Vulcan Bomber 'VX770.' It was one of the first prototype Vulcans built however suffered a rather tragic fate when it crashed in 1958. It was Battle of Britain day across the United Kingdom and many RAF bases were throwing open their doors to visitors and hosting fly pasts. RAF Syerston in Nottinghamshire was doing this too, and they had hastily arranged a Vulcan flypast following the aircraft completing a routine testing mission checking out it's new Rolls-Royce engines. However tragedy would soon hit with the aircraft breaking up and crashing, leaving the spectators watching on horrified.

In this video we look at the tragic story and crash of Vulcan Bomber VX770 and look at why this iconic aircraft broke up, killing in total 7 people.
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**Apologies for any pronunciations. (left-tenant) Also correction, Britain not England.


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Music by: I am a man who will fight for your honour by Chris Zabriskie

[johndavey]

I understood that the pilot exceeded the terminal speed limit. However , l've noticed a comment from Neil Foster that suggests that the Vulcan had been overstressed by the previous pilot. I can only comment that these were the halcyon days of jet technology and many aeroplanes and pilots lives were lost in the pursuit of incredible advances in design and performance. It is unfortunate that some comments are very demeaning and disrespectful to all those involved in this pioneering technology. Perhaps they should reflect that they are fortunate that the sacrifices made by those pioneers enabled these same people to live thier lives as they wish. Thankyou.

[davidgapp]

My father worked on RR jet engines at the time of the crash. Privately he thought a starboard engine had exploded with a turbine disk compromising the main spar, ribs and fuel cells. The Conway engine was very advanced for the time but extremely noisy and troublesome throughout development. The engine intake to the Vulcan had to be modified for the bypass design and may possibly have been a factor in compromising the air-frame either structurally or through vibration. The Vulcan would endure worse, however, as the Olympus engine which followed was also a problematic engine with numerous failures. Eventually the bugs were ironed out but it was an almost entirely new version of the motor that saw service in Concord.

[Stephen.Bingham]

As the footage of the later Vulcan shows, the wing - especially the leading edge - was redesigned. Possibly related to this accident?

[andrewsear]

As it says at the end " no-one who was there will ever forget". I was there, as a six year old. I recall the aircraft flying past and what appeared to be parts coming off the wing, almost like paint peeling off. Then it disappeared in a fireball at the end of the runway. For many years I had never known when and where this had taken place. I looked in books, but could find no mention of it. I knew it must have been somewhere fairly close to where we lived in Nottinghamshire. Eventually with the advent of modern technology I found a grainy film of the event on the Internet. It made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up as I watched those events of fifty years earlier. Just as I remembered. I was surprised to find I had only been six at the time, thinking probably eight or nine.

[drdoolittle]

My 1st encounter with this crash, thank you for bringing to us!

[alexhatfield]

Excellent well-informed post of a tragic event involving an iconic British aircraft. The Vulcan still looks extraordinary even today.

[fw]

Back in the mid to late 70’s I was stationed at Barksdale AFB where they had the International Bombing Competition. The Britts would be there with the Vulcan and Victor. They always put on an incredible performance at the annual air show. The Vulcan is an amazing bomber.

[roberthanson]

A really interesting video. My grandfather was Sgt Charles Hanson, who died in this crash. I've never seen a photo of him, so I've started to do some research. I'd be interested to hear from anyone who may point me in the right direction.

[davetaylor]

I'm 70 this Christmas and and can clearly remember a Summer's afternoon at an Air Display at Finningley, UK when I was still very young. Three Vulcans scrambled at once which was brilliant until they got level with us and the noise became so painful not only to the ears but the bones in my face and chest seemed to be being crushed with the vibrations. A brilliant aeroplane, sadly missed.

[markjohnson]

My Great Uncle was the pilot of the crashed Vulcan. My Uncle is named after him. Keith Sturt RIP

[Optikification]

I worked on 4 squadrons of these at RAF Waddington 1980-1984 when they got phased out and I went to RAF Bruggen. Great Bomaaahs

[richtrost]

The Vulcan is an impressive aircraft, really spectacular. Hats off the the Brits!

[davidabney]

The profile, the engine-howl, the great endurance, all rolled into one heck, of a futuristic looking jet bomber. The Vulcan bomber blasted daylights out of the runway at the airport in the Falklands War keeping those Argentine jet fighters away from the Brit warships in the Atlantic. The Vulcan was a favorite of mine, with a rich history of service. Heck, a Vulcan bomber was used in an early James Bond movie.

[jeffhenderson]

My dad was one of the Project Engineers on the XB-70. Lots of good stories growing up about what they had to figure out and overcome. All of this with slide rule technology.
I can’t remember now what it was I asked him, (he was in his late 80’s) and the answer I got was, “That’s still classified.” After 50 years he was still acting as if his work was still Top Secret.

[drpoundsign]

One of those puppies crashed in Detroit, back in 1958. NO survivors among the Crew, but no casualties on the ground (but a few homes were lost.) The remains were buried in Detroit. Reporting was actually more explicit back then. "No body part larger than a collarbone."

[spreader]

I remeber as an 11 year old boy comeing out of the school to go to the toilet at the bottom of the play ground and seeing the Vulcan go down about 3 miles away and seeing 2 parachutes comeing down .probably the most exciteing thing i ever saw .

[howardgoy]

What on earth is a " bommah"?

[gazza]

I love flying (particularly military) and I'm afraid to say morbid curiosity brought me here.
Interesting and yes, very sad story.
It could have been much worse.

[thetreblerebel]

Shows how maintenance and design and testing is a MUST, when it comes to aircraft, if not, people die. No room for cutting corners. Inspections as well must be done at regular intervals.
Always time and room for safety!
The Vulcan was the envy of the Western air forces. A very striking and beautiful aircraft. No bomber like it really

[annskinner]

Wasn’t at the show, but saw it nearly hit our house in Caythorpe.
Immensely sad, we in the village loved our Vulcans.