RAF Valiants For Christmas Island Tests, Original caption reads: 'Four Valiant bombers of No 49 Squadron (Wing Commander K G Hubbard OBE DFC) Royal Air Force Bomber Command, based at RAF Wittering, Northants, left in March (1957) for Christmas Island in the Pacific to take part in Britain's nuclear tests later in the year. The Valiants have been treated with anti-thermal radiation (anti-flash) paint and the cockpit windows have been fitted with shields to protect the crews from glare. Valiant crew number 2 of the detachment - (left to right) Flight Lieutenant David H Crowther (24) , navigator (of Stamford, Lincs and Grimsby, Lincs); Flight Lieutenant Donald W Bridges DFC (32), co-pilot (of Lealholm, Whitby, Yorkshire); Squadron Leader Arthur George Steele AFC (33), captain and pilot (of Hampstead, London NW3); Chief Technician W R Quinlan, the crew chief; Flight Lieutenant Wilfred A Jenkins (32), navigator and bomb aimer (of Bigsweir, St Briavels, Gloucestershire); and Flying Officer Charles J Scanlan (24) air-signaller (of Peterborough), March 1957. (Photo by Royal Air Force Official Photographer/ Imperial War Museums via Getty Images)
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