Vickers Valiant bombers, the first of Britain's "V-bomber" force designed for nuclear deterrent missions during the Cold War. The image shows a line-up of these bombers, likely at RAF Gaydon in the mid-1950s. The Valiant first flew in 1951 and entered service in 1955, featuring a high-mounted swept wing and four Rolls-Royce Avon turbojet engines. The entire fleet was grounded and retired in January 1965 due to structural failures.