From Vulcan to Spitfire and Back: A Life in Aviation with Bill Perrins - Sunday 17th May
Join us for the official launch event of Bill Perrins’ new book, including a talk from the author and signing event alongside RAF Vulcan pilots and aircrew, as well as a new Limited Edition release by world renowned aviation artist, Philip West!
BOOK LAUNCH: From Vulcan to Spitfire and Back: A Life in Aviation
A humorous, unguarded, and often self-deprecating account of what it was like to be part of an RAF squadron during the Cold War—everything from burning pianos to a mid-air collision in a Tornado. It is also about the simple joys of flying, whether in the cockpit of the enormous delta-winged Vulcan or behind the sprightly controls of the inimitable Spitfire, and the camaraderie that comes with it, both in military and civil aviation.
Bill will give a short presentation highlighting his career and experiences, with an opportunity to answer any audience questions afterwards.
PRINT LAUNCH: New Limited Edition ‘VULCAN LEGEND’ by Philip West
A brand new edition personally signed by Flight Lieutenant BILL PERRINS (flew Vulcan during Op ‘Black Buck’) and Group Captain STEVE GREEN OBE FRAeS (Navigator with 617 and IX Sqns on Vulcan)!
Signers on the day:
Flight Lieutenant BILL PERRINS - flew Vulcans based at Ascension Island during the Falklands Campaign of 1982. He took part in four of the seven planned ‘Operation Black Buck’ missions, with the objective to attack Port Stanley Airport and its associated defences - which were the longest-ranged bombing raids in history at that time. Bill then became an RAF Qualified Flying Instructor and went on to fly Tornado F3s in the Air Defence role. In the world of civil aviation he flew Boeing 747s, 757s, 767s, 787s, and as a Training Captain with Virgin Atlantic Airways. Bill has also displayed various aircraft including Spitfires, P-51 Mustangs and Vulcan XH558. Having flown over 50 types, Bill is now gracefully retired and enjoying pottering about in a de Havilland Chipmunk aircraft. His debut book "From Vulcan to Spitfire and back" is out now!
Squadron Leader JOHN REEVE - joined the Royal Air Force at Cranwell in 1965 and, on graduation, was posted to RAF Scampton as a Vulcan co-pilot. He later served as a captain on Vulcans at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. After returning to the UK in 1975, he was posted back to Cranwell as a flight instructor on the Jet Provost, followed by three years in a ground role at Training Headquarters.
He resumed flying duties in 1980 as a Flight Commander on Vulcans at RAF Waddington, in time to take part in operations during the Falklands Conflict, including the Black Buck raids.
Following the retirement of the Vulcan, he went on to command a specialist Jet Provost unit before moving to RAF Brize Norton to fly the VC10. In 1991, he converted to the tanker role on the VC10K, serving during the First Gulf War.
After leaving the RAF in 1997, he continued flying commercially on the Airbus A300, later working as a Boeing 737 simulator instructor at Oxford Airport. Alongside this, he qualified as a light aircraft instructor and examiner, and still flies regularly for pleasure.
Squadron Leader JAMES VINALES - joined the RAF in Jan 1965, having hitch-hiked from Gibraltar the previous summer to attend the RAF Selection Course. He trained as a Navigator before being posted to Singapore, flying Canberra B15 bombers between 1967-1970.
On returning to the UK, he retrained as a Navigator Plotter on Vulcan B2s. Within a month of joining 44 Squadron at RAF Waddington in December 1970, he was forced to bail out with his crew when an engine exploded and the port wing caught fire — for which he was awarded the Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air.
In 1974, while serving with 101 Squadron, he was selected for the US Strategic Air Command Navigation and Bombing Competition (Exercise Giant Voice), where he won the Navigation category out of 51 participating aircraft — the only time this has been achieved by an RAF crew. He received a second Queen’s Commendation, as well as the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators Johnstone Memorial Trophy.
He later served as an instructor on the Vulcan Operational Conversion Unit at RAF Scampton, followed by a ground tour as a Strike Controller at RAF Bruggen in Germany.
Returning to Vulcan operations in 1981, he was selected for operations during the Falklands Conflict, flying two missions on Op Black Buck in 1982. He subsequently retrained as a fast jet navigator on the Buccaneer at RAF Lossiemouth, serving until 1988, before taking up the role of Squadron Leader Plans until retirement in 1994, after a distinguished career, having accumulated over 5,200 flying hours in military service.
PAUL BEECH - more details to follow
ANTHONY PALMER - more details to follow
This is a FREE-to-attend event, but you must please book your tickets here for entry, so we can comfortably manage numbers!
📍Aces High Gallery, Steventon, Oxfordshire, OX13 6SN
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