19th February, 1984. RAF Elvington, Yorkshire.
Vulcan bomber QRA state: 5 minutes.
“Sir, what I don’t understand is why we are doing nothing while our colleagues in the fast jet force, not to mention the guys in the army, are fighting for their lives. During the Falklands War we spent a great deal of time an effort upgrading our conventional capabilities which would be very useful for what is going on now.”
“I understand where you are coming from, Mike, but we are part of SACEUR’s nuclear reserve. We both know how things are going in Germany and I think that our role is more important than ever.” The Commanding Officer of 44 Squadron replied over the phone. “The Vulcan force has to remain at full strength to allow the Tornado force to be used to its maximum capacity.”
Squadron Leader Winters could understand the Wing Commander’s point. Without the Vulcans standing on their doomsday watch some of the RAF’s fleet of Tornado GR.1s would have to be held back for the role, which would have had noticeable effects on the air battle raging over Europe.
Winters hung up the phone and returned to the temporary crew-room. Outside within a minute’s sprint were four fully armed Vulcan B.2s, including XM594, dwarfed by the huge concrete apron that had originally been built for SAC B-47s.
“What did the Boss say?” Flight Lieutenant Tootal asked.
“We remain on nuclear alert for the foreseeable future.” Winters said resignedly.
Tootal swore.
“We could be dropping Paveways on railways bridges in East Germany, or Poland right now. The Tonka force can’t manage that!” He said forcefully.
“I know, Ted, but ‘our is not to reason why’…”
“Ours but to do and die.” Tootal completed the sentence.
“It won’t come to that, Ted, nobody on either side is crazy enough to start setting off nukes. You know the saying about what happens when one flies?”
The co-pilot nodded.
“They all fly.” He said.
21st February, 1984.
‘From: RAF Strike Command
To: All groups and H.Q RAF Support Command.
‘Nudet in West Germany near Kassel confirmed. Reports from SHAPE fragmentary at the moment but it appears that at least two tactical weapons were dropped on advancing Soviet forces by USAF FB-111A bombers at instigation of local US Army commander.
‘Nuclear release was UNAUTHORISED repeat UNAUTHRORISED. US President is currently on the Hotline to General Secretary of the USSR. Important that all RAF nuclear capable forces remain at existing alert level and take no action that would suggest plans that they are about to use nuclear weapons.’
‘FLASH…FLASH…FLASH.
‘A Soviet tactical nuclear weapon has initiated over the Kassel Pocket. Casualties amongst NATO ground forces are reported to be near total. All RAF nuclear armed forces to go to immediate cockpit alert.’
RAF Elvington, Yorkshire.
Vulcan bomber QRA state: 2 minutes.
Squadron Leader Winters settled into the Martin Baker ejection seat. At least with the move to cockpit alert there would be no need for the mad dash across the concrete apron to the aircraft when the order to scramble came and Winters was now convinced that the order was now inevitable.
He put thoughts about his family to the back of his mind and thought only of how he, his crew and XM594 would fight their way through to their two targets in the Western USSR.
***
