Dropping Britain's First H-Bomb: The Story of Operation GRAPPLE, 1957/58Pen and Sword, 31. 10. 2008 - Počet stran: 160 On 15 May 1957 Vickers Valiant V-Bomber X.D.818 under the command of Wg. Cdr. Kenneth Hubbard, O.C. 49 Squadron R.A.F., dropped Britains first live thermonuclear bomb. The success of Operation Grapple broadcast to the world that the UK had the resolve and the capability to protect her own democracy and that of her Commonwealth. It was a major breakthrough that ensured Britain maintained her place in the most senior influential positions of the United Nations and other corridors of world power, and in the ensuing years provide Britains deterrent throughout the decades of the Cold War.The theme of this book is to explain how the R.A.F. selected and trained the crews who would be responsible for the precision dropping of the several weapons that would detonate during Grapple. It also provides a complete background to the parts played by all other services during this unique period in British history. |
Obsah
Introduction to the Valiant | |
Arrival at Wittering | |
Squadron Preparation | |
Christmas Island | |
Grapple Chapter 8 Return to Wittering Chapter 9 Grapple | |
Grapple | |
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49 Squadron achieved Air Cdre Ginger airborne aircrew airfield Alan Washbrook altitude arrived Arthur Steele Barney Millett Bill Caple Bob Bates Bob Beeson bomb aimer bomb bay bomb line bomb run Bomber Command Canberra captain Cdre Ginger Weir checks Christmas Island climb cloud co-pilot cockpit completed course Crew Chief Dave Roberts Decca detachment detonation dispersal engines ensure equipment escape manoeuvre final flight Flt Lt flying Goose Bay Gp Capt ground crew HMS Narvik HMS Warrior Honolulu initial instrument John Grandy landing live drop live weapon Malden Island megaton Mess Namao navigator Officer Operation Grapple personnel phase pilot radar radio RAF Manby RAF Wittering Royal Air Force runway Scientific Director Shackleton sortie speed Sqn Ldr Staff Station Commander switch take-off target Task Force Commander taxied telemetering training programme Travis Valiant XD818 visual bombing weapon drop weapon release weather Wg Cdr