XH558 Vulcan Bomber - Vulcan To The Sky Trust

Mike Pollitt
Operations Manager

After a variety of civilian jobs, Mike has been in the Royal Air Force since 1974. Having completed flying training on Jet Provosts and Hunters and subsequently being posted to Phantoms; Mike was diverted to the Vulcan Force in 1978 en-route to Coningsby - which you should ask him about one evening, having bought him a beer! Having completed his co-pilot tour in 1981 and qualified as a captain, Mike was posted to the Central Flying School (CFS) to train as an instructor on JPs. He spent 4 happy years at Cranwell as a qualified flying instructor (QFI).

Following a tour at Training Command, which burnt to the ground 4 weeks after Mike's arrival and no one noticed any difference as a consequence, he returned to instructional duties but this time at Scampton on CFS. He had been operational for only one week after his refresher training when he was promoted and placed in command of the Sqn he had just joined!

During this time the RAF introduced the Tucano, and Mike was heavily involved in that process. Following many years enjoying himself at Scampton and a few ground tours including being on an RAF poster to boot, Mike returned to Scampton as the last CFS Chief Instructor in the mid-90s. Unfortunately, after working with some wonderful people at Scampton, the base was closed and Mike proceeded to Cranwell as OC Flying and instructed on the Jetstream and Bulldog as well as flying the Dominie.

Then followed a spate of ground tours most notable as Strike Command Flight Safety officer and on the staff at the Royal College of Defence Studies Ð a time delightfully and thankfully broken since 1998 by being able to return to the Vulcan at Bruntingthorpe and Wellesbourne, to taxi 558 and 655 with David and Barry.

Mike is still serving with the RAF and occasionally flies with the RAF Brize Norton Flying Club. He is married to Rita and his other interests include motorcycling, travelling overseas, French wine and medieval history.

Martin Withers
Pilot

Born in Purley, Surrey, Martin Withers studied at Trinity School, Croydon and then went on to Birmingham University to study Law, where he discovered the University Air Squadron (UAS), and fell in love with flying and the RAF.

Although he did gain his LLB (Hons), it was not long before he elected to change professions.

He joined the RAF in 1968, trained at RAF Stations at Church Fenton, Syerston and Oakington, with spells at Manby and Strubby (all of which no longer exist as RAF stations) and was then posted to the Vulcan. His first tour as a co-pilot was at Waddington on 44 Sqn and he then served as a captain on 50 Sqn, also at Waddington.

In 1976 he became a Qualified Flying Instructor on the Jet Provost. After a tour at Linton-on-Ouse, he returned to the Vulcan as a flying instructor on 230 OCU at Scampton.

When the OCU closed, he moved to 101 Sqn at Waddington as the squadron QFI and Pilot Leader. He was later selected as the captain of one of the crews to take part in 'Operation Corporate', now known as the Falkland Islands Conflict.

For his part in bombing the runway at Port Stanley he was awarded the DFC, with the crew 'Mentioned in Dispatches'.

Martin then returned to Linton-on-Ouse, ending up as Deputy Chief Instructor (DCI) and OC Standards Squadron, before leaving to become an airline pilot.

He flew turboprops (SD360 andF27) before moving up to the Airbus A320 and the old Boeing 757, with Caledonian and Thomas Cook Airlines.

He has recently joined the new airline 'Zoom', as a founder member, flying back and forth across the Atlantic in a 767, to 'keep his hand in', for when he pilots 558!

He is married to Laura, and lives near York with their two children.

Kevin Rumens
Pilot

Kev joined the RAF in 1984. After Flying Training he was posted to fly the Victor K2 on 55 Sqn at RAF Marham. During his tour on the Victor, Kev also joined the Vulcan Display Team and flew XH558 on the display circuit for 2 seasons.

After leaving 55 Sqn, Kev was posted to RAF Scampton to undertake Flying Instructor Training and subsequently moved to RAF Cranwell to instruct on the Jet Provost T5 and then the Tucano T1.

In 1993 Kev completed a Fast Jet Crossover and was posted to fly the Tornado GR1. After completing his Tornado GR1 OCU, Kev was posted to 14 Sqn at RAF Brüggen in Germany. In 1998 Kev moved to RAF Lossiemouth and was an instructor on the Tornado GR1 OCU for 3 years. Kev was then promoted to Squadron Leader and he completed a further 2 tours at RAF Lossiemouth during which time he converted from the Tornado GR1 to the GR4. Throughout his time flying the Tornado Kev flew many combat missions over Iraq policing the no fly zones which were set up over Iraq after Gulf War 1. He then flew in Gulf War 2.

Kev retired from the RAF as a Squadron Leader in 2004 and now flies the Airbus A340 for Virgin Atlantic flying all around the Globe on Long Haul Airline duties. He is married to Mary and lives near Lincoln with their 3 children.

Barry Masefield
Air Electronics Officer

After completing his schooling in Torquay, Barry joined the Royal Air Force in 1959 as a radar technician apprentice at RAF Locking. After the three-year apprenticeship he spent a year in the 'field' at RAF Wyton servicing the airfield radars. It was in 1963 that having been accepted to undergo aircrew training as an Air Electronics Operator he was posted to RAF Topcliffe in Yorkshire. Qualifying as Sergeant aircrew he then spent the next 17 years flying Shackletons and Nimrods at bases throughout the world including RAF Ballykelly in Northern Ireland, RAF Changi in Singapore, and RAF Kinloss in Scotland.

In 1979 having reached the rank of Master Aircrew Barry then applied for a commission. He successfully completed the commissioning course at Henlow and was awarded the Best All-Round Cadet trophy. This was followed by a complete change of course in his aircrew career by a posting to the Vulcan OCU at RAF Scampton. On completion of the OCU he was posted onto 617 Sqn. This completed his long-time ambition of both flying Vulcans and serving on 617 Sqn. 617 was disbanded as a Vulcan squadron in 1982 and Barry was posted across the city of Lincoln to 50 Sqn at RAF Waddington.

Shortly after his arrival on 50 Sqn Barry and his crew were chosen to be one of the 3 crews to be trained to participate in the Falklands War in the South Atlantic. His crew flew the bombing raid Black Buck 2. After the conflict was resolved he remained flying on 44 Sqn, the sole remaining Vulcan squadron, which was retained until it too was disbanded in 1983 and was then sent to the Victor tanker fleet at Marham. During his 10 years on the Victor aircraft Barry participated in the first Gulf War in 1993, his Squadron being based in Bahrain. He finally retired in the rank of Squadron Leader from the Royal Air Force in 1994.

Barry then undertook retraining as a Chiropodist/Podiatrist at the Chiropody college in Sheffield and after completion of his training he set up his own highly successful practice in King's Lynn. With the ever increasing demands of getting XH558 through her schedule of air tests in order to gain her Permit to Fly it became increasingly obvious that Barry would have to give up his business in order to be continuously available to fly. This he did on May 1st 2008 and he now devotes all his energies into flying XH558 in front of her devoted public

Phil Davies
Air Electronics Officer

Phil Davies joined the RAF in 1972, and following initial aircrew training at RAF Topcliffe, and Nimrod MR1 conversion training on 236 OCU at RAF St Mawgan, he joined 42 Sqn as an Air Electronics Operator. After a successful first tour in Maritime Command, he was selected for commissioning and graduated as an Air Electronics Officer (AEO) at RAF Henlow in April 1977, and was posted to the Vulcan B Mk2. Following conversion training on 230 OCU at RAF Scampton, Phil joined 44 (Rhodesia) Sqn at RAF Waddington.

During his tour on 44 (R) Sqn, Phil’s involvement in Electronic Warfare (EW) quickly developed, becoming the youngest EW instructor on the V Force at the time, and flying EW trials in the Vulcan on the EW training range at RAF Spadeadam. His tour on 44 (R) Sqn finished on a decided high, as the AEO on the winning crew of the last Double Top bombing competition in which the Vulcan participated. Early in 1982, Phil left 44 (R) Sqn and was posted to the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment (A&AEE) Boscombe Down. Whilst at Boscombe, Phil flew more than 20 different aircraft types as AEO, Weapon Systems Officer and Flight Test Observer. During 1982, Phil flew many trials directly supporting the Falklands War campaign and the conversion of the Vulcan to the tanker role. He flew the heavyweight take-off and landing trials at Boscombe Down in XH 558 and, as part of a three man crew, delivered XH558 to RAF Waddington in the tanker role on the 30th Nov 1982.

Following his tour at A&AEE, Phil was selected for the GD Aerosystems Course at RAFC Cranwell, and on graduation was promoted to Squadron Leader and posted to a NATO EW appointment in HQ 2ATAF in Germany. Returning to the UK in 1990, Phil joined 360 Sqn at RAF Wyton, initially as the EWO Leader and then Flight Commander Operations, flying the Canberra T17 in the EW training role, until the aircraft’s retirement from service in Oct 94.

Following 360 Sqn, Phil took command of Electronic Reconnaissance Operations Support Sqn (EROS Sqn), responsible for the mission support to 51 Sqn’s Nimrod R1 and supported numerous operational deployments to the Middle East and the Balkans. After EROS Sqn, Phil moved internally within the Air Warfare Centre to become OC Defence EW Database Sqn. In Dec 2001, Phil was promoted to Wing Commander and sent on a 6 month operational deployment to Pristina Kosovo. Phil’s final 2 tours were in MOD London, within the Directorate of Targeting and Information Operations and the Defence Export Services Organization. Phil retired from the RAF in April 2007, and now works for SELEX GALILEO, as a Business Development Manager for EW Operational Support. Phil is married to Hazel and they have two grown-up daughters Kate and Laura. In addition to aircraft, Phil’s interests include computing, foreign travel and classic cars.

Andy Marson
Navigator and Commentator

Born in Lincolnshire and educated at King's Grammar School, Grantham, Andy decided to join the RAF in 1970 and after completing his training at Finningley was posted as a Vulcan Navigator Plotter on 50 and 44 (Rhodesia) Squadrons.

He then served 3 years as a Navigation Instructor at Finningley before returning to the V force in 1980 with 35 Squadron at Scampton. Next came a brief tour with 44(R) Squadron where he was involved in trials flying during the Falklands Conflict. Conversion to the Tornado GR1 in 1982 was followed by 3 years in Germany at Laarbruch and Bruggen before being posted to RAF Cranwell as an Initial Officer Training Flight Commander. He returned to the Tornado in 1990 with 13 Squadron at Honington in the Reconnaissance role. He was Lead Navigator on the introduction to service of the Thermal Imaging Equipment during Gulf War 1 and was then posted to Cottesmore as an OCU instructor on the Italian Squadron.

In 1997, in what was to be his final posting, he returned to Cranwell where he served as a navigation instructor flying Dominies in the low level role on 55 Squadron. In 1998 in addition to his primary duty Andy joined the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and flew in both the Lancaster and Dakota for 7 years before retiring from the RAF in 2006. Andy's total flying hours are in excess of 6600 of which 2009 are on Vulcans.

Kevin 'Taff' Stone
Crewchief

Born in Neath and educated in Port Talbot South Wales, Kevin or 'Taff' as he is widely known, joined the RAF in 1980 as an Electrician, spending 25 years within the service before requesting Premature Voluntary Redundancy (PVR) in 2005, leaving as an Avionics Technician to work on the Vulcan Project.

Taff's career in the RAF started at Waddington carrying out second line servicing on the Vulcan before moving onto the Vulcan Display Flight in 1984 for its first unofficial year. At the end of the year Taff was promoted and posted to the Red Arrows at Scampton working on first and second line as well as flying back seat, before being posted back to the Vulcan Display Team in 1991. When XH558 was flown into Bruntingthorpe in 1993 Taff moved across to the E3D Sentry at Waddington until posted to Coningsby on 29(F) Sqn Tornados at the end of 1994. When 29 Sqn disbanded in 1998 Taff took over the roles of Wiring Husbandry SNCO and Precision Termination Tooling (PTT) Co-Coordinator until posting back to Waddington in 1999 to the Sentry Aircraft Engineering Development & Investigation Team (SAEDIT) writing modification and servicing procedures for the E3D.

Taff has also worked part time as an IT Tutor for a local college. In his spare time Taff enjoys a round of golf and does charity work for the RAF Association (RAFA), where he is a member of the Area and Central Council.

Al MacDicken
Test Pilot

Al was born in Glasgow and joined the RAF in December 1965. In the mid 1960's, early officer training was carried out at South Cerney and it was here that he first flew the venerable Chipmunk. In 1966 he was posted to No. 6 Flying Training School at RAF Acklington. The aircraft flown were Jet Provosts Mks 3 and 4 and by this time he had married, much to the irritation of the training staff!

More interested in developing a social life, he and Ann, his new wife, decided that Cambridge would be more convivial than RAF Valley, so it was to RAF Oakington. Once there the awful impact of the error became evident in the form of the ancient Varsity but it was too late!

On graduation, a posting to Canberras was sought but there were none available. However, a Vulcan had earlier diverted into the base and it was this lucky event, which propelled him towards the V Force.

230 OCU at RAF Finningley was the next stop. At that stage Al realised it was time that he woke up and did some studying. Until then all exams passes had relied more on the power of prayer than hard graft! On completion he was posted to IX(B) Squadron at Cottesmore, a happy coincidence as the Squadron was headed to Cyprus in early 1969!

In 1970, a Captaincy was offered with 50 Squadron at RAF Waddington and promotion to Flight Lieutenant came with the job. Two children were born and life was very happy; until a ground tour was threatened.

Alarmed at the prospect, swift research revealed that application to the Empire Test Pilot School might just confound things sufficiently that some other poor chap might get the ground tour! It was then that Al became crewed with Andy (Sponge) Marston as the Wing Operations Crew, a happy, carefree few months ensued as the duo waxed lyrical in various bars around the world!

The ploy worked and Al was posted to Maintenance Command in 1974. It was hard work but a challenge and privilege to be there. From having flown only about four types of aircraft, ETPS offered a great opportunity to fly all sorts of machines, including helicopters. At the end of the course a posting to B Squadron, Boscombe Down ensued and Al remained here until 1980, as a test pilot and then as Senior Pilot, gaining promotion to Squadron Leader in 1976. A ground tour finally caught up with him but then British Aerospace offered employment as a test pilot engaged on military and civil projects.

After brief forays into management, but missing flying he went back to flight testing in 1989; becoming Chief Test Pilot in 1993. Al has around 10000 flying hours on some ninety types of aircraft, being a display pilot for over thirty years. The zenith of this last activity being with the Shuttleworth Collection. He is now self employed as a freelance test and delivery pilot.

Bill Perrins
Pilot

Born and brought up in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Bill joined the RAF in 1974. After flying training he was posted to fly Vulcans with no 44(R) Squadron. After this tour, which culminated in involvement in Operations during the Falklands Campaign, Bill spent a while instructing on Jet Provost and Hawk aircraft prior to converting onto Tornado F3 fighters. Throughout his time in the RAF Bill nurtured a keen interest in vintage aviation and flew Chipmunk aircraft with various Air Experience Flights in his spare time as well as acquiring a share in a Bucker Jungmann vintage biplane.

After leaving the RAF in 1993 to gain control of his destiny Bill entered the world of the airlines but continued to fly various light types including Yak 50 and 52s as well as instructing on Harvard aircraft. Having worked for a couple of charter companies Bill moved to Virgin Atlantic Airways where he is currently employed as a Training Captain flying Boeing 747-400s mainly to the USA and Caribbean. Bill's total flying is around 14000 hours.

In his spare time Bill indulges in flying various light aircraft including instructing on Stampe biplanes, Extra 300, Chipmunk and Bulldog aircraft as well as the huge privilege of displaying Spitfire and Mustang WW2 fighters.