Vickers Valiant at RAF Cosford

Entering service in 1955, the Vickers Valiant was the first of the British V Bombers to enter service. Believing it’s speed and operating altitude would help it avoid fighter aircraft, the Valiant had no defensive armament! The Valiant was the first British aircraft to drop an atomic bomb in 1956.

The Valiant was retired early from service in 1965 when metal fatigue was discovered on a number of aircrafts’ wing spars.