Malcolm English was privileged to join 57 Squadron for an air-to-air refuelling sortie just before the unit retired its long-serving Handley Page Victor K.2s
When 57 squadron disbanded on June 30, 1986, it was almost 60 years to the day since its formation. At that time, due to a quirk of fate, it had been operational for 57 years. The squadron had f lown a previous generation of Britain’s nuclear deterrent, the Boeing Washington B.1 from 1951 and, two years later, in May 1953, it received its first jets – English Electric Canberra B.2s – which it f lew until disbandment on December 9, 1957.
It reformed on January 1, 1959, at Honington, Suffolk, as part of the Medium Bomber Force flying Victor B.1s. On June 1, 1966, it moved to Marham in Norfolk, where it became an in-flight refuelling squadron with Victor K.1s. It received its first Victor K.2s in 1976.
At the time of my visit to Marham in March 1986, there were 22 Victors on the strength of 232 Operational Conversion Unit (OCU) and the two resident squadrons, numbers 55 and 57. Both squadrons were established for eight aircraft and the OCU for three; the remaining three machines were held in reserve. With the disbandment of 232 OCU on April 4…
