Spitfire over Barnsley Gen tomorrow at...

As was their ability to “toss” bombs onto enemy targets.
Remember the Torre Canyon? 12 Squadron bombed that for two days and missed every time. And the furkin thing wasn’t even firing back!
It took an explosives expert “Derek ‘Blaster’ Bates” to tell them that you have to vaporise crude oil before you can set light to it.
Still, the aircraft was superb at flying at 50’ upside down. As witnessed from the balcony of the ATC at Honington one Friday afternoon

 

The problem on the Sea Eagle trial wasn't necessarily with the delivery platform. Some of them launched successfully, skimmed the water at the correct height but then ditched before hitting the target. Towards the end of the project we sent the whole Unit up to the Hebridean island of Benbecula to conduct live firing trials on a retired ship called HMS Devonshire. The hulk was towed out to the target area and observers were stationed on HMS Ark Royal to watch the fireworks. The Bucc roared in, launched the missile and....bingo, it hit the side of the ship. Unfortunately it went straight through before going bang on the other side, in the water . Next to try was a submarine which surfaced, launched a couple of torpedoes and waited for the sinking. Failed again! Finally a Harrier dropped a few bombs on the ship and down she went. Sailors on the Ark Royal, who had served aboard Devonshire, were in tears.

I'm sure you will agree with me that it was lots of fun serving in the RAF. I loved every minute of my 39 years .

 

There weren't many finer sights at an air display back then than a Buccaneer roaring down the runway, just off the ground, and then streaking off into the sky. Fabulous noise and spectacle