Vulcan's first flight of the year will be to honour those who contributed to the recapture of the Falkland Islands 30 years ago.

On May 20^th, the pilot who lead the famous Black Buck 1 raid on Port Stanley's runway will be back at the controls of a Vulcan for the dedication of the new Falklands Memorial at the National Arboretum in Staffordshire.

The flypast by the last airworthy representative of Britain's V-Force will commemorate all those involved in the conflict, evoking the remarkable 8,000 mile mission by a solo Vulcan, supported by 11 Victor tankers, that began the recapture of the Islands almost exactly 30 years ago.

Two of the RAF's most powerful Vulcans took-off from Ascension Island on April 30^th 1982. The aging aircraft, which were about to be retired from service, had been rushed through an upgrade programme at RAF Waddington that included new Electronic Counter Measures and reinstatement of their air-to-air refuelling systems.

The tanker force was sourced from RAF Marham, where air-to-air refuelling specialists developed an elaborate logistics plan that would allow the bombers to reach their target and return to base.

Soon after take-off, a faulty window seal forced Vulcan XM598 (commanded by squadron leader John Reeve) to return to Ascension, leaving the back-up aircraft, Vulcan XM607 piloted by a young flight lieutenant Martin Withers, to complete the mission. At 4 am on May 1^st they approached the Islands at 300ft then climbed to attack height, Withers switching off his headset so he wouldn't be distracted by the sounds of enemy radar attempting to lock-on to his aircraft.

At 8,000ft the bombs were released, creating a crater on the runway, disrupting the runway's foundations and damaging the control tower. Withers turned his aircraft for home, scouring the horizon for the last Victor tanker.

"We were running on fumes," he later said. "Bob Tuxford and his crew coming over the horizon was the best sight on earth." Withers won the DFC for his part in the action and Tuxford won the Distinguished Flying Cross.

The last airworthy Vulcan, XH558The Spirit of Great Britain, is operated by a charity which is currently raising funds to complete her winter service. The dedication of the Falklands Memorial will be the aircraft's first public flight of 2012, beginning a spectacular Diamond Jubilee display season.

"I would like to congratulate the South Atlantic Medal Association (SAMA82) for creating this memorial, which I am proud to help dedicate in honour of all those who contributed to the protection Her Majesty's subjects during the Falklands Conflict," said Martin Withers, who is now chief pilot of Vulcan to the Sky Trust. "To fly this remarkable aircraft, knowing that so many people associated with the conflict will be watching and remembering, will be a deeply emotional experience."

How to help the Vulcan fly

The last flying Vulcan receives no funding from Government or the RAF, so is almost entirely dependent on public generosity. To find out how to help keep her flying, visit www.vulcantothesky.org where there is also a history of the aircraft and a wide range of Vulcan merchandise including the beautifully-illustrated 50^th Anniversary book and a limited number of the highly-regarded account of the Falklands mission,Vulcan 607, signed by Black Buck 1, Squadron Leader Martin Withers DFC.