XL161 started it's life as a B.2 in 1961 and was used for the Blue Steel missile trials in Australia. During the trials it went into a supersonic stall, the missile had to be jettisoned and the pilot deployed the braking parachute which allowed him to regain control. Converted to B(SR)2 in March 1966 and taken on charge by 543 Squadron at Wyton. Converted to K.2 standard in 1974, later allocated maintenance serial 9214M and scrapped in 1996.

The Victor tankers of 55 Squadron were relatively common visitors to Leuchars, often temporarily detached on air defence exercises with the local Phantoms. The barbed wire coils in the foreground of this shot give something of the flavour of base security during the Cold War.

55 Sqd. to 9214M

Built as a Victor SR.2. Converted by BAe at Woodford to K.2 tanker and operated by the Marham wing. It wears 55 Squadron's insignia at Boscombe Down in 06.90. Retired in 1993 as 9214M.

Taken at my then place of work where photography was prohibited! A number of these Victors were in open storage at Radlett in Hertfordshire for many years but with the demise of Handley Page they were flown to Woodford where this aircraft awaits conversion to a K.Mk 2 tanker.