Corgi AA31605 Handley Page Victor B2 139 ‘Jamaica’ Sqn RAF Wittering 1964

The Handley Page Victor was the third and final of the RAF’s V Bomber trio to enter service and was also the last one to be retired. Avery advanced aircraft for its time, the Victor, like the Valiant and Vulcan, entered service as Britain’s airborne nuclear deterrent. Originally designed to operate at high altitude and deliver the nuclear payload straight to the target, the Victor was later able to carry the Blue Steel Intercontinental Ballistic Missile. This gave the RAF’s V bombers stand-off capability and made them a far more potent force. 139 Jamaica Squadron was formed in July 1918 in Italy as a fighter squadron equipped with Bristol F2bs. The Jamaica connection stems from an appeal by a Jamaican newspaper to raise money to purchase bombers for the Royal Air Force. In order to say thank you and boost morale, 139 Squadron received the title of Jamaica Squadron. The Squadron was disbanded in 1968.