A/C SERIAL NO

A/C SERIAL NO.XM598

  SECTION 2B

   INDIVIDUAL HISTORY

  AVRO VULCAN B.MK.2 XM598/8778M
  MUSEUM ACCESSION NUMBER 84/A/1172

22 Jan 58 The fifth and final contract KD/B/01 CB.6 (a) was awarded for 40 Vulcan
B.MK.2
aircraft with serials in the XM569 - XM657 range.A total of 89 Vulcan B.Mk.2
aircraft were built and incorporated provision to carry the Avro Blue Steel air to
surface missile.

30 Aug 63 Awaiting collection from Hawker Siddeley Aviation (Avro Whitworth Division)
At Woodford.
XM598 was originally built to carry the Skybolt standoff bomb but this project
was cancelled. The redundant Skybolt fixtures were put to use during the South
Atlantic Campaign to take Martel and Shrike anti - radar missiles.

04 Sep 63 To No.12 Squadron at RAF Coningsby.
The RAFM photo collection includes two of XM598 at RAF Lynham during
exercise 'Kinsman' in 1963 (P013788 - 013789) in overall white colour scheme.

7 Nov 63 Flown by Flt. Lt Haven on round trip to Goose Bay, Canada - Offutt AFB USA -

Goose Bay - returning to Coningsby on 12

November. Colour photo, in overall

white scheme, upon its return; Aeromilitaria Winter 2004 rear cover.

16 Jan 64

Flown in ‘Exercise Kingpin’ - pilot Flt. Lt. Haven.

1 Mar 64

Became part of the Coningsby Wing when all three Coningsby based Vulcan
Squadrons, Nos.9, 12 and 35 were amalgamated and centralised into one large unit

7 Nov 64

Transferred with No. 12 Squadron from Coningsby to RAF Cottesmore as part of
the Cottesmore Wing.

01 Dec 64 To Hawker Siddeley for modifications.

05 Jan 65 To Nos.9/12/35 Squadrons at RAF Cottesmore.

29 Jan 66 To Hawker Siddeley for modifications.
From 1966 the Vulcan B2 Squadrons became fully operational as a low level
penetration force using newly developed terrain following radar and nuclear
weapons.

02 Mar 66 Returned to Nos 9/12/35 Squadrons.

1966

Noted on a detachment to RAF Seletar, Singapore, wearing the No. IX Squadron
‘bat’ on the fin.

29 Dec 66 To Hawker Siddeley for further modifications.

13 Mar 67 Returned to Nos.9/12/35 Squadrons.

29 Nov 67 Damaged - Cat 3R (Repairable on site.)

01 Dec 67 Repaired on site by No.60 MU.

24 Jan 68 Returned to Nos 9/12/35 Squadrons.

21 Feb 68 Further Cat.3R repairs.

09 Apr 68 To Nos 44/50/101 Squadrons at RAF Waddington.

16 May 68 Further Cat 3R damage.

20 May 68 Repaired on site by No. 60 MU.

29 May 68 Back on charge with Nos.44/50/101 Squadrons.

15 Oct 68 To Hawker Siddeley for modifications.

21 Nov 68 Returned to Nos 44/50/101 Squadrons.

1970-71

Reported in service with No.27 Squadron at RAF Scampton, Lincs.

20 May 71 Again to Hawker Siddeley for modifications.

13 Oct 71 Returned to units at Waddington.

5 Feb 74

Pilot’s Logbook of Flt Lt Jonathan Tye records 3.20 hour ECM flight with 101
Squadron.

16 Sep 75

Pilot’s Logbook of Flt/Lt Jonathan Tye records four –hour ‘Convex’ flight.

29 Sep 75 To Hawker Siddeley at Bitteswell for maintenance and modifications including

fitment of a fintip mounted passive RWR ECM pod.

09 Jul 76 Returned to Nos 9/44/50/101 Squadrons.

23 Nov 78 To RAF St Athan for major overhaul.

26 Feb 79 Returned to units.

9 Mar 79

Accident damage during Flight Test following the major servicing; crew of five.
At the top of the climb the AEO noticed that the oil temperature on No.4 engine
alternator constant speed drive unit was excessive and the engine was shut down as
a precaution and the aircraft returned safely.

Investigation revealed that a clamp had been incorrectly locked during the major
servicing and became detached from the ECU air ducting, allowing hot gas to leak,
damaging electrical looms and airframe structure.

23 Mar 79 To British Aerospace Bitterswell for structural modifications.

24 Jul 79 Returned to Nos 9/44/50/101/Squadrons.

6 Feb 80

Noted visiting RAF Manston, Kent as part of No. 50 Squadron.

28 Jul 80

Noted at RAF Valley on No. 9 Squadron strength.

6 Sep 80

Noted visiting RAF Lossiemouth. Served with No. 9 Squadron until June 1981,
and had rejoined No. 50 Squadron by October 1981.

16 Oct 81

Noted at RAF Coltishall

26 Oct 81

Noted at RAF Wildenrath, West Germany.

With the rundown of the Vulcan force and its replacement by Tornados, by the
end
of March 1982 the Vulcan B2 fleet had been reduced to Nos 44/50/101Squadrons,
all based at RAF Waddington. These were expected to disband by the end of June
1982.The Falklands conflict caused these plans to be revised due to the need for a
strategic bomber force.

09 Apr 82 Personnel at Waddington placed on standby for possible action in the South
Atlantic.At this time XM598 was on the strength of No50 Squadron.
Five Vulcans, including XM598, were selected for possible deployment to the
South Atlantic as the only remaining aircraft still fitted with forward and aft
Skybolt missile attachment points and refrigeration ducts. The aircraft were given

extra ECM and navigation equipment, including jamming pods carried on locally
devised starboard underwing pylons and Carousel inertial navigation equipment.
Squadron insignia was removed from the fin and the undersides painted Dark sea
Grey.The co - pilot received triple offset radar boxes which had been salvaged
from a scrap skip at RAF Scampton.

13 -17 Apr 82 Air - Air refuelling training carried out with Victor K2's from RAF Marham.

26 Apr 82

Noted parked, on airfield unmarked, at Waddington.

29 Apr 82 The first two Vulcans, XM598 flown by F/L Withers and crew and XM607
departed Waddington on a non - stop flight to Ascension Island supported by
Victor K2's from Marham.Leaving Waddington at 0900 each Vulcan required
two in - flight refuellings, arriving at Wideawake at 1800 after a flight of 4000
nautical miles. Colour photo at Wideawake - Wingspan International May/June

2001 p.71.

01 May 82 As part of the overall operation 'Corporate', the first of the 'Black Buck' Vulcan
missions from Ascension Island were directed against the runway at Stanley
airport with the intention of making the airfield unusable by high performance
fighter aircraft.On this date the first strike ('Black Buck 1') was launched with
XM598 as the primary aircraft piloted by S/L Reeve.However the Captain's
direct vision window,although slammed shut on departure refused to seal
properly, so the crew were unable to pressurise the aircraft, necessitating a

Decision to return three minutes after takeoff. Therefore XM598 returned to
Wideawake and Vulcan XM607 successfully bombed the airfield after an eight-
hour flight from Ascension Island. Both aircraft carried 21x1000lb bombs.

03 May 82 XM598 acted as flying reserve aircraft for 'Black Buck 2'

07 May 82 XM598 and XM607 flown back to Waddington.

26 May 82 XM598 arrived at Wideawake Airfield, ascension Island as reserve aircraft for

AGM-45 Shrike missile armed anti radar missions, the missiles being carried on
underwing pylons, the mountings for these being built by No 5 Squadron RAF St
Athan.XM597 flew Shrike armed missions Black Buck 4, 5 and 6 on 28/29, 30/31
May and 2/3 Jun with XM598 as back - up aircraft on each occasion.

14 Jun 82 XM598 and XM607 returned to RAF Waddington.

22 Jun 82 XM598 transferred to No. 44 Squadron at Waddington.

12 Jul 82

No. 44 Squadron markings applied by this time.

17 Dec 82

Withdrawn from use by this date, and stored at RAF Waddington pending disposal.

21 Dec 82 No 44 Squadron, the last with Vulcan bombers disbanded at RAF Waddington.
(No 50 Squadron operated six Vulcans in the flight-refuelling role at Waddington
until 31 Mar 84). XM598 retired from operational service.

04 Jan 83 Allocated maintenance serial 8778M.

07 Jan 83 Attempted morning delivery flight to Aerospace Museum Cosford. Due to severe

rainstorms, coupled with having to land on a short runway, the landing was
aborted. The rain started as the pilot made his first approach and he made three
more attempts before aborting. The aircraft made a second attempt to fly to
Cosford that lunchtime but had to return after a few minutes due to a birdstrike.

The aircraft overflew Cosford and returned to RAF Waddington; the after flight
inspection revealed thatXM598 had suffered a bird strike in number three engine.
The engine was changed and a 2nd delivery flight arranged, using the same crew.

20 Jan 83 Flown to Aerospace Museum Cosford for display following repairs to the

damaged engine.

At 12.30 pm the aircraft made a practice approach from the east, on Runway 25.

The Captain, S/L John Reeve made one 'touch and go' landing followed by a final

15 minute circuit before finally touching down at 12.50 pm.The brake parachute
deployed immediately and the aircraft stopped in less than two thirds of the
runway's length.The crew were met by a welcoming committee and a handing -
over ceremony took place. The crew who flew the Vulcan from RAF Waddington
were S/L Reeve, co - pilot S/L McDougal,navigator F/L Fletton,and air electronics

operator F/L Davies.

The taxiway at Cosford is narrow and because of this the decision was made to

tow XM598 to the main museum hangar.The starboard main undercarriage leg
became bogged down in the soft grass at the edge of the taxiway, and had to be
towed out.Photo - Flypast Jan 1992 p.35.

XM598 had made a total of 1520 flights and 5404 flying hours. It remained on

outside display at Cosford.

2004

Repainted prior to moving into position for incorporation onto new
Cold War display building. Photo as repainted – Aeroplane January
2005 p.7.

5 May 06

Moved into new National Cold War Exhibition building at the
Royal Air Force Museum Cosford, which opened to the public 8
February 2007. Photo on display – Aeroplane March 2007 p.13.