The V Force consisted of three four-jet bombers, the Valiant, the Vulcan and the Victor, all required as part of the nuclear deterrent in the Cold War following the end of the Second World War. The Valiant was less aerodynamically advanced than the other two and went into service in 1955. The Vulcan entered service in 1956 and the Victor a year later. The Valiant finished operating in 1965 and the Vulcan in 1984. The later Victors were converted into refuelling tankers and carried on until 1993. V Force Boys contains a fascinating collection of previously unpublished stories by V Force ground and aircrew for all three V bombers. Among other highlights, the book includes a first-hand account of dropping the last UK H Bomb, a description of how all the aircraft navigated before the days of GPS, the training the crews received and an armourer's account of how the nuclear weapons were moved with complete safety but not in the regimented way that might be expected. In addition there are chapters which tell of incidents that would not be found in the RAF historical annals but show how the vigilant guarding of the UK had its lighter moments. A must for all Vulcan, Victor and Valiant enthusiasts.

PRAISE FOR V FORCE BOYS:

A fascinating collection of previously unpublished accounts and unseen photographs that enliven a superb account of this chapter of the Cold War. Airfix Model World

Strongly recommended. RAF Historical Society Journal

This book is a must and a great companion to the V bomber trilogy from Grub Street. War History Online

With a physics degree from Trinity College Cambridge, Tony Blackman joined the RAF to train as a test pilot. From there he became chief test pilot at Avro testing the three V Bombers, Nimrod and Avro 748 aircraft. His next career was as an avionics specialist with Smiths Industries where he was an aerospace director. Finally he served as technical member on the UK Civil Aviation Authority.

He was a fellow of the American Society of Experimental Test Pilots and the Royal Institute of Navigation, as well as a liveryman of the Honourable Company of Air Pilots. Tony Blackman spent his whole life in the aircraft industry and all his books, non-fiction and fiction, are aircraft and aerospace related.