Nose section under restoration. Had previously been used for ground instruction

Struck off charge in 1965. Photo from: Air Force Museum of New Zealand

XD826 was scrapped in the mid-1960s but its nose section was kept by the RAF and used for a period as a Navigation and Bomb-aiming System procedures trainer. It then passed through a number of hands over the years before eventually being gifted to the IWM, arriving at Duxford on 9 December 2022. It will eventually be restored for proper display.

From a batch built as convertable bomber / tankers. Retired in 1965 and scrapped. Photo from: Air Force Museum of New Zealand

Just one complete Valiant bomber exists today, whilst a handful of cockpit sections have survived the years. This is the flight control panel of one of those cockpit sections, now located at the Highland Aviation Museum on the airport perimeter.

On 12 August 1960, this Valiant crashed on the disused airfield of Spanhoe in England, in an attempt to make an emergency landing shortly after take off from RAF Wittering. This photo is on file at the Gilze-Rijen Heritage Room.