First Strike of The Falklands War
There is no doubt it was an incredible mission during the Falklands War. The RAF launched a Vulcan bomber 8,000-miles to put the runway at Port Stanley out of action. A logistical nightmare, the Cold War-era Vulcan needed 13 fuel tankers to reach its target and return to the Ascension Islands. The 16-hour flight on April 30 and May 1, 1982, was the longest non-stop bombing mission in history. The result was that one of its load of 1,000lb bombs hit the runway, denying the Argentines the the chance to use it for their fast jets – a key, early victory in the battle for air supremacy.