The Vulcan to the Sky Trust will host a Falklands War event on May 2 at the Wombwell Playhouse Theatre, Wombwell, Barnsley, UK, featuring a detailed look at the RAF’s Black Buck missions and a presentation by former Group Captain Barry Smith. Click HERE to get yourself an e-ticket. The evening will begin with doors opening at 6 p.m., followed by an introduction at 6:30 p.m. to Operation Corporate, the codename for British military operations during the Falklands conflict.
At 6:45 p.m., a screening of Falklands’ Most Daring Raid will be shown. Falklands’ Most Daring Raid recounts the RAF’s April 30, 1982, mission to bomb the runway at Port Stanley, one of the longest bombing operations ever attempted at the time. The film follows how a single Avro Vulcan, supported by a complex chain of 13 Victor tanker aircraft, carried out the 8,000-mile round trip under tight constraints. With only a handful of aging bombers available, crews had to quickly relearn air-to-air refueling and conventional bombing, often relying on improvised equipment and last-minute calculations. Despite mechanical issues, poor weather, and limited fuel, the mission succeeded in disabling the runway with just one direct hit, a result that proved strategically significant during the conflict.
After a short interval at 7:45 p.m., guests will have an opportunity to meet Barry Smith and attend a book signing before the main presentation begins. The second half of the evening, starting at 8:15 p.m., will feature a talk and Q&A session with Smith, who served as a navigation plotter aboard Vulcan XM597 during Black Buck missions 4, 5, and 6. His presentation will focus in part on Black Buck 6, including the aircraft’s diversion to Rio de Janeiro following a failed refueling probe during the return flight.
The event will conclude at approximately 10 p.m., with archival footage of Avro Vulcan XH558 shown as attendees exit. Organizers say the program is intended to provide both historical context and first-hand insight into one of the Royal Air Force’s most complex long-range operations. For more information and to support the Vulcan to the Sky, click on this link: vulcantothesky.org.
