Exercise Northern Wedding ’78
by Adrian Sumner

Bodo, Norway, 4th - 15th September 1978.

The article in the Association’s last Newsletter (Autumn 2022) sparked my memory, as I was also on the detachment to Bodo Norway for the NATO Exercise ‘Northern Wedding’ in 1978. By that time, having completed 2 years as a Vulcan Captain on 44 Sqn, I had left in September1974 and graduated as a Qualified Flying Instructor (QFI) at the Central Flying School at RAF Little Rissington. I then completed a short tour on Glasgow & Strathclyde University Air Squadron (UGSAS) before being promoted to Sqn Ldr, and returning to Vulcans as a Flt Cdr on 50 Sqn at RAF Waddington in March 1977.
Hence, in September 1978, my crew participated in Exercise ‘Northern Wedding’ at Bodo in Northern Norway, inside the Arctic Circle, where we took 5 Vulcans, and operated in the open on an extremely small dispersal (see attached photograph).  However, despite the ‘tight’ fit, the detachment passed without incident.  Of course, the Norwegian F104s based at Bodo were completely the opposite as they were housed in their famous palatial hangars which were carved into the mountains.
My crew flew 4 sorties simulating low level enemy attacks from the North Sea against targets on the Norwegian mainland.  I remember being extremely impressed by the skills and professionalism of the Norwegian F104 pilots, as, on every penetration, we ended up with a fighter (sometimes two) on our wing, regardless of the weather, which was often extremely poor, and our height at low level many miles from the coast!
My other memory was when I was on a liaison visit to 331 Skv, who flew the single engine Starfighters, and I was standing in their crew room when an airman approached the Flt Cdr with whom I was speaking.  After a few words the airman left and I asked what he had said.  Basically, one of their pilots had run out of fuel whilst taxiing in from a sortie and I asked what did the Flt Cdr say?  He said, “He will learn about flying from that!!!!”
 

The dispersal at Bodo - a tight fit!