27 Sqn

Avro Vulcan B.2A MRR XJ823

Avro Vulcan B.2 XJ823 served two distinct tours with No 27 Squadron RAF at RAF Scampton:

20 April 1961 – January 1963: Delivered brand-new as the first Vulcan on the squadron’s books when 27 Sqn re-formed, flying in the all-white high-altitude bomber scheme before being passed to 35 Sqn.

April 1977 – April 1981: After Maritime Radar Reconnaissance (MRR) conversion at St Athan, XJ823 returned to Scampton and became one of the nine “B.2 (MRR)” aircraft that 27 Sqn used for long-range sea-surveillance sorties over the GIUK Gap and North Atlantic. It wore the squadron’s “Dumbo” tail badge during this four-year stint, leaving the unit for 35 Sqn in April 1981.

In total, XJ823 amassed just under six years on 27 Sqn—first as a nuclear strike Vulcan and later as a maritime radar scout—making it one of the airframe’s most significant squadron associations.

Avro Vulcan B.2A MRR XJ823