On the edge of war: A V-Force pilot during the Cuban Missile Crisis

I had the honour of speaking with Tony Dobbie, a former RAF V- Force bomber pilot who joined the RAF in 1960.

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Tony shares amazing anecdotes from his training, including his experiences flying jets like the Meteor and the Vampire, and the transition to the mighty Victor bomber. He candidly discusses the realities of nuclear missions during the Cold War, revealing the tension and responsibility that came with such roles.

One of the most gripping parts of our conversation revolves around the Cuban Missile Crisis. Tony was on QRA on Black Saturday when US forces went to DEFCON Two, one step shy of war and US and British forces prepared for imminent conflict with the Soviet Union.

Tony’s book – click on the image to purchase

Tony also recounts a posting to the Bomber Command Operations Centre near High Wycombe in 1965, where a false alarm almost sent the V-Bomber force off to bomb the Soviet Union.

Special thanks to Matthew Dobbie (Tony’s son) for organising the interview and the Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker, who allowed the episode to be recorded in their BBC Studio.

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