The Victor, along with the Valiant and Vulcan, made up the V-Force which for a time was responsible for the UK’s nuclear deterrent. John Fricker provides a revealing report of what it was like to fly on this nuclear bomber
Airborne in the Victor by John Fricker
TWO squadrons of Handley Page Victor B.1s are now operational within No. 3 Group, Bomber Command, at R.A.F. Cottesmore (Gp. Capt. A. D. Mitchell, D.F.C., A.F.C.), and these high-performance medium-bombers make an effective spearhead to the potent V-Force. No. 10 Squadron (Wg. Cdr. R. B. Phillips, D.F.C., A.F.C.) was the first to receive the Victor, when it re-formed in April, 1958, its crews having been trained at the O.C.U. (No. 232) at Gaydon. No. 15 Squadron (Wg. Cdr. J. G. Matthews, A.F.C.) followed on at Cottesmore in September of the same year, the station having been extended to take these large aircraft.
