Tony Blackman - Victor Boys

When I was asked to write this book I realised I could not possibly manage without getting assistance from someone who knew the Victor history in detail and who would be able to give me contacts and get photographs. This was particularly true since, while I was helping to develop the Vulcan, Handley Page was Avros, greatest competitor though my attitude changed when I found that my first job as chief test pilot was to bring the Victor Mk2s from Radlett to Woodford and turn the aircraft into tankers. I have been extremely fortunate therefore, to get unstinted help from Garry OKeefe who has been writing the immaculate Victor Association Newsletter for many years. Indeed I wouldnt have undertaken this book without the encouragement of the Victor Association.

This book could not have been written without the enormous help of Victor operators in fact much of it has been written by them. I was also fortunate to have great help from Johnny Allam who took over from Hedley Hazelden and did all the development flying until the Mk2 was turned into a tanker. Charles Masefield then completes the development story by relating the K2 flight testing which I started and he took over.

Another phase of development to the aircraft was when the Victor was fitted with the Blue Steel air-launched stand-off missile. This testing was done in Australia and John Saxon helped splendidly in relating the trials.

On squadron service, David Bywater and his navigator, Norman Bonnor, have supplied stories on both the B1 and B2 aircraft. Norman has also explained how the Victors, and the Vulcans for that matter, were navigated but unfortunately there has not been room to put this definitive article in the book. However, he has kindly allowed me to make it available on my website.

For the Falklands campaign and the key role that the Victors played I have been very fortunate to have had several inputs including Alan Brooks, Barry Neal and Bob Tuxford. In addition Dick Russell, who was with Martin Withers in Vulcan 607 Black Buck 1 as the refuelling specialist, has been a really great help and has given me invaluable support, not only in nearly every chapter of the book, such is his vast experience and knowledge of the aircraft, but also by checking the proof for mistakes. Gary Weightman has also told a story or two and provided the highly illustrative cartoon commenting on Black Buck 1.

In the years following the Falklands up to and including the wars in the Middle East and the retirement of the aircraft, there are splendid accounts by David Williams, Steve Carty, Syd Buxton and Bill Scragg who was on the very last flight. In addition Syd Buxton has been extremely supportive providing inputs, contacts and information.

There have been valuable contributions from George Worrall, John Jeffrey on the K1 tankers and from many many others.

With regard to photos, I am indebted to all our contributors and apologise for not .

I would especially like to thank my publisher for all his support, with his suggestions, superb editing and the speed in which he has turned the draft into a book to be proud of.

Finally I would also like to thank Margaret Blackman for her indefatigable editing and for giving me so many ideas and so much encouragement. Inevitably there will be errors and omissions for which I apologise and take full responsibility.