INFORMATION SHEET for TRIBUTE TO THE V-FORCE
NEWARK AIR MUSEUM 22/23RD MAY 2004
(THE V-FORCE REUNION WEEKEND)

The weekend of May 22/23rd 2004 sees another in what is growing into an interesting and successful series of events. The subjects of the “Tribute to” this year are the aircraft of the V-Force. The major advantage of these events is the opportunity to put all of the focus of the event onto one subject. And what better subject than those three legendary aircraft, that collectively, made up the V-Force, the Valiant, Vulcan and Victor. As with other events of this type special displays are planned and special guest displays are invited.

A major difference to this special event weekend however involves a never before attempted reunion. At Newark Air Museum, for this weekend only, we invite members of the V-Force to join together for a reunion in the relaxed setting of this museum. This part of the event is being run by a team of former V-Force officers, who are taking on the full responsibility for this aspect of the weekend.

A website has been set up on www.militarycollectables.co.uk/reunion to keep everybody up to date with plans for the reunion. People wishing to attend, or to find out more details about it, should contact:

Don Chadwick (Vulcan) on Foxbarn@btopenworld.com or 01254 771756,
or for Victors/Valiants contact Alan McLoughin at almacmedal@aol.com or 01326 573509.

A Vulcan Crew Chief Register is also set up, for this contact Tony Regan at Turbo542@aol.com or 01297 20280.

This reunion is aimed at everybody who worked with these aircraft, in whatever capacity, whether this was in building, flying or servicing them. An evening do is planned, but places are limited, so if this aspect appeals to you call Mike Pearson on 01442 264552 ASAP.

During the reunion “ops desks” will be manned for you to sign in, and be badged up, these are staffed by members of the organisational team, who will request £1 from each of you to pull back the costs of organising the reunion. Name badges will help you to identify others, and for them to identify you therefore making the whole gathering worthwhile. A special priced ticket, for both days, will be available at the museum for those who wish to make the most of this unusual opportunity, after all you never know who you might meet again, or on which day, so this could be worth taking advantage of.

This special event is aimed at everybody who has an interest in the aircraft of the V-Force, with the reunion being only one part of the weekend. The museum are planning to put on extensive displays about these aircraft, just for the weekend, and have also been granted flypasts, from the BBMF Dakota and the Red Arrows on the Saturday, and the Lancaster on the Sunday.

The guest list of visiting V-Force displays looks more like a who’s who of the V-Force heritage world, and is expected to include displays by:

There will be others, but as many of these will be private individuals, who will put on private displays of their own material we will not be naming them.

We also plan to have an open cockpit weekend on a number of the museum's larger aircraft, and hopefully the NAM Vulcan (XM 594) will perform a systems demonstration on each day. So for everybody that has a love for these aircraft, this is an event not to miss. Join us for “Tribute to the V-Force”, enjoy the displays, see the aircraft, and meet the people, as for this weekend we salute the aircraft that won the Cold War.

Bill O’Sullivan
Events Co-ordinator
Newark Air Museum