Vickers Valetta C1

A Vickers Valetta of 30 Sqn, Manchester Airport 1953.

In Oct 1950, two crews were sent to RAF North Luffenham to convert to the new Vickers Valetta as time was coming to an end for the Dakota. Some of 24 Sqn were absorbed in 30 Sqn where upon 30 Sqn were re-located to RAF Abingdon.

The Valetta was a more modern aircraft than the DC3 and was capable of carrying a heavier load over a greater distance - and in greater comfort! This new aircraft was the military version of the Vickers Viking civil airliner which was first flown in Jun 1945. It was powered by two 2000hp Bristol Hercules engines and had a range of 1460 miles at 211 mph cruising speed. The Dakota that the Sqn had flown previously, on the other hand, had a better range of 1600 miles but flew at a similar speed to Valetta. The main difference was the Dakota could only carry 7800 pounds of freight compares to the Valetta’s, more impressive,11500 pounds - a 47% improvement.

The Valetta took part in many campaigns, not least in Operation Musketeer, the Suez Campaign in 1956.  You can get a real feeling of the politics and events of the Suez crisis in this Youtube video:

The main role of the Sqn, as well as other Valettas and Hastings, was to airdrop paratroopers at Port Said. Thankfully, this was very successful and only one aircraft had a bullet hole in it. After that, the Sqn continued with resupply duties.

Normal service was resumed in January 1957 but the days of the Valetta were numbered!