Cold War Vehicle I-D: Vulcan, 70 years later!

Cold War: Approximately 1947 (due to U.S. President Harry Truman’s Truman Doctrine) to 1991 (Operation Desert Storm, collapse of Soviet Union).

The Avro Vulcan was a Cold war era NATO-United Kingdom nuclear bomber, first flying in 1952 (70 years ago).

Avro Vulcan B.1A, flying over Las Vegas, Nevada, during the World Congress of Flight air show, April 1959. XH502 started service with the Royal Air Force (RAF) in 1958, and was scrapped ten years later.

Vulcan B.2 XH535 over Edwards Air Force Base (AFB), California, 10JUL1961. XH535 would crash on 11MAY1964, in the United Kingdom, four of the six crew were killed.

Vulcan B.2 XH535 flies alongside B-52 00006, over Edwards AFB, California, 10JUL1961.

No information accompanied this U.S. Air Force (USAF) photo.

By 1968, the Royal Air Force (RAF) realized the bomber, intended to carry nuclear bombs, was not able to reach targets inside the Soviet Union as a ‘strategic bomber’. In the 1970s it acted as a tactical nuclear bomber. By the 1980s it switched to carrying conventional bombs and missiles.

XM650 taking part in the USAF Strategic Air Command’s Giant Voice ’71, in Florida in December 1971.

Buzzing a cottage near RAF Alconbury. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Jose Lopez Junior, 15JUN1982.

In 1982, the Vulcan was finally used in combat, during the Falkland/Malvinas War (40 years ago).

This Vulcan B.2 is flying over Castle AFB, California, 01JAN1983. According to the USAF, it was scheduled to be donated to a museum.

XL428 on the RAF Mildenhall flight line, 09JUN1984. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Jose Lopez Junior.

Vulcan B.2 XL426, 25MAY1985. XL426 is one of three surviving Vulcan bombers. USAF photo by Sergeant David S. Nolan.

XL426 on RAF Mildenhall, 25MAY1985. USAF photo by Sergeant David S. Nolan.

Vulcan B.2 XH558 retired from military service in 1992, marking the end of the undeclared Cold War. It was operated by a private organization for air shows, until 2015.

Farnborough International Air Show, United Kingdom, 14JUL2012. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Lee Osberry.

U.S. Air Force photo by Technical Sergeant Chrissy Powers/Best, 18JUL2015.

Avro Vulcan XH558 preforms for crowds at the Royal International Air Tattoo over RAF Fairford, United Kingdom, 19JUL2015. This Vulcan retired from air show duty in October 2015. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Chrissy Powers/Best.

Avro Vulcan XH558 flies toward Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, 27AUG2015. USAF photo by Senior Airman Trevor T. McBride.

XH558 was the final B.2 Vulcan to be delivered to the Royal Air Force and the last complete flying Vulcan in the world. USAF photo by Senior Airman Trevor T. McBride, 27AUG2015.