Hi TonyH, I was in the RAF (radar tech, servicing the aircraft) when the Vulcans were around, so been up close and they are impressive. And certainly so in a long row!
I was trained on the navigation radar (Green Satin / Blue Silk) they used which was also fed into the NBS bombing system. The NBS radar weighed a third of a ton! Not specially favoured by all of the crew as there was no way out if you were not a pilot.
I read a book that was labelled as fiction but clearly someone's crew experiences during the cold war and they were not happy with the way they were treated.
One of my friends when I was in the radio servicing flight had been a navigator (flying, Meteor NF 14's) but been re-classified to the radar trade (No.4, there were 22 trade groups then) maybe medical but do not know why. But he was not happy with the aircrew he had been working with and I remember 'clashes'.
I remember on Green satin when the ground signal got 'lost' there would be a curt remark in Form 700, 'lost red light', response was 'found red light'.
see
http://www.experienceproject.com/stories/Have-A-Weird-Sense-Of-Humor/1240622In those days all the heroes were the pilots but it takes 30 Other Ranks to keep him, no hers then, up there.
I am afraid that the expressions in use in the late 1950's hopefully gone now was Officers and their ladies, NCOs and their wives and Airman and their women. Does not encourage one, so to speak!
I spent my time on Canberras then on Vanguards and Comet 4's. Then a happy release after 4 years, but no regrets, I had a good time.
regards Roy