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Friday, December 13, 2024 Military Aviation » Royal Air Force Luqa » Major Exercises » Vulcan  
 

Vulcans

This page lists Vulcans on exercise other than major ones like Dawn Patrol.
        
 

November 1975

These five Vulcans B.2s from RAF Waddington arrived on the 5th, during an APC by 43 Squadron (Phantoms).

Whether this was a coincidence, or were working with the fighters mentioned remains unknown, at least to this writer.



SERIAL SQUADRON HISTORY NOTES
XH562 44 Completed 30.11.60. Olympus 201 engines. 35 Squadron 1.3.63, 230 OCU 11.3.63, 35 Squadron 30.4.63, 230 OCU 19.9.63, Cottesmore Wing 1.8.65, 50 Squadron 8.3.66, Waddington Wing 10.2.67, Cottesmore Wing 24.4.68, Akrotiri Wing 15.1.69, Waddington Wing 9.5.75, 230 OCU 27.9.77, 35 Squadron 16.12.80, 9 Squadron 7.81, 101 Squadron 6.82. Firefighting School Catterick 19.8.82 (8758M). Scrapped 1984.  
XM609 44 Completed 28.1.64. Olympus 301 engines. 12 Squadron 29.1.64, Coningsby Wing, Cottesmore Wing 3.3.65, 230 OCU 7.8.67, Cottesmore Wing 1.10.67, Waddington Wing 8.3.68, 9 Squadron 9.75, 44 Squadron 4.76. To St. Athan 12.3.8 1. Sold to W. Harold & Co. as scrap 31.8.81.  
XM648 44 Completed 5.5.64. Olympus 301 engines. 9 Squadron 6.5.64, Coningsby Wing, Cottesmore Wing, Waddington Wing 25.1.68, 101 Squadron 5.72, 44 Squadron 5.75, 101 Squadron 3.77, 9 Squadron 9.80, 101 Squadron 10.81. Grounded 10.9.82. Sold to Bird Group as scrap 8.12.82. Did not have the fin-mounted ECM fairing.
XM650 44 Completed 27.5.64. Olympus 301 engines. 12 Squadron 5.6.64, Coningsby Wing, Cottesmore Wing, Waddington Wing 20.12.67, 44 Squadron 5.75, 50 Squadron 1.77. To St. Athan 28.1.82. Allocated 8748M 16.3.83. Sold to Boumewood Aviation as scrap 22.3.84.  
XM652 44 Completed 12.8.64. Olympus 301 engines. 9 Squadron 17.8.64, Coningsby Wing, Cottesmore Wing, Waddington Wing 24.12.67, 44 Squadron 9.75, 9 Squadron 10.81, 50 Squadron 10.82. Sold to Boulding Group 20.2.84. Dismantled and transported to Sheffield 7.5.84. Nose to Burntwood 2.85, rest of airframe scrapped 2.85.  


        
 

August 1976

The following Vulcans were all logged on the same day, 09.08.76. Also on a month long deployment was 111 squadron with F-4 Phantoms.

This was the official start to my spotting days, and details are sketchy, just the aircraft type. No Vulcans were recorded on my next visit on the 13th.


SERIAL SQUADRON HISTORY NOTES
XH557 9 Completed 13.5.60. Olympus 201/301 engines. To Bristol Siddeley for engine trials 21.6.60. Fitted with Mk.301 engines in outer nacelles, later fitted with four 301s. First B.2 with enlarged intakes. Cottesmore Wing 6.12.65, Waddington Wing 8.2.66, Akrotiri Wing 19.4.74, Waddington Wing 15.1.75, 50 Squadron 3.81. Sold to Bird Group as scrap 8.12.82.  
XJ389 9   There doesn’t appear to be a Vulcan with this serial, so this could be XL389, which did serve with no. 9 between 06.74 – 07.79.
XJ780 9 Completed 10.1.61. Olympus 201 engines. 83 Squadron 16.1.61, 12 Squadron 26.11.62, 230 OCU 16.8.63, Waddington Wing 10.10.67, Cottesmore Wing 6.12.68, Waddington Wing 18.4.69, Akrotiri Wing 12.1.70, Waddington Wing 17.1.75. Modification to B.2(MRR) standard 31.3.76. 27 Squadron 23.11.76. Allocated for spares recovery 31.3.82. Sold to Bird Group as scrap 11.82.  
XL388 44 Completed 13.6.62. Olympus 301 engines. Blue Steel modifications. 9 Squadron 14.6.62 (Coningsby Wing), 230 OCU 19.4.71, 617 Squadron 15.9.72, 230 OCU 29.9.72, 617 Squadron 2.2.73, 230 OCU 14.5.73, 617 Squadron 1.11.73, 230 OCU 5.3.741 617 Squadron 6.3.74, 44 Squadron 1.4.74. To Honington fire dump 2.4.82 (875OM). Sold to Swefeling Group as scrap 13.6.85.  
XL391 9 Completed 22.5.63. Olympus 301 engines. Blue Steel modifications. A & AEE 22.5.63, BCDU 15.6.65, A & AEE 6.1.66, Cottesmore Wing 31.7.68, Akrotiri Wing 5.2.69, 9 Squadron 17.1.75, 101 Squadron 6.80. Selected for 'Black Buck' modifications, but not used operationally. 44 Squadron 21.6.82. Sold to Manchester Vulcan Bomber Society 11.2.83. Delivered to Blackpool 16.2.83.  

        
 


July/August 1978 - The Last Farewell *

* With apologies to Roger Whitaker

This was the last detachment before the decommissioning of RAF Luqa as an RAF station.


SERIAL SQUADRON ARRIVED DEPARTED HISTORY NOTES
XL360 35 01.08.78   Completed 28.2.62. Olympus 201 engines. Blue Steel modifications. 617 Squadron 2.3.62, 230 OCU 13.7.71. Waddington Wing 18.8.75, 230 OCU 21.10.75, 617 Squadron 5.12.77, 35 Squadron 31.5.78, 101 Squadron 5.1.82. Sold to Midland Air Museum 26.1.83, delivered to Baginton 4.2.83.  
XL361 35 01.08.78   Completed 14.3.62. Olympus 201 engines. Blue Steel modifications. 617 Squadron 15.3.62, 230 OCU 7.10.70, Scampton Wing 19.11.70, 230 OCU 30.11.70, Scampton Wing 5.4.71, OCU 12.5.71, 27 Squadron/230 OCU 14.1.74, A & AEE 7.8.75, 617 Squadron 3.9.75, 35 Squadron 3.8.77, 9 Squadron 13.4.81. Accident at Goose Bay, Canada, 13.11.81. Grounded 21.12.81, and placed on display at Happy Valley, Goose Bay, 7.6.82.  
XL444 35 31.07.78   Completed 29.10.82. Olympus 201 engines. Blue Steel modifications. 27 Squadron 1.11.62, Scampton Wing, 230 OCU 18.6.66, Scampton Wing 19.6.67, 230 OCU 5.4.71, 27 Squadron 11.5.71, 617 Squadron 9.71, 230 OCU/617 Squadron 19.7.72, 617 Squadron 18.12.73, 35 Squadron 31.5.78, 9 Squadron 6.4.81. grounded 10.9.82. Sold to Bird Group as scrap 8.12.82. c/s MTJYB.
XL445 35 31.07.78   Completed 19.11.62. Olympus 201 engines. Blue Steel modifications. 27 Squadron 26.11.62, Scampton Wing, Waddington Wing 30.9.66, Cottesmore Wing 18.4.68, Akrotiri Wing 15.1.69, 35 Squadron 16.1.75, Waddington Wing 16.6.77, 35 Squadron 1.10.77, 230 OCU 16.10.78, 35 Squadron 1.7.81, 44 Squadron 18.11.81. Conversion to K.2 25.5.82. 50 Squadron 22.7.82. Allocated 8811M 22.3.84 for crash rescue training. Delivered Lyneham 1.4.84. Later scrapped. c/s MTJYA
XM611 101 16.08.78   Completed 12.2.64. Olympus 301 engines. 9 Squadron 14.2.64, Coningsby Wing, Cottesmore Wing, Waddington Wing 28.5.68, 101 Squadron 5.72. To St. Athan 27.1.82. Sold to T. Bradbury as scrap 2.6.83.  

        
 
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