Flying Through a Nuclear Cloud

Robin Adams was born in Wendover, Bucks. In 1955, Robin, by then an RAF navigator who had served on front line Canberra, Shackleton and F4 Phantom squadrons during the Cold War, volunteered for ‘An Interesting Overseas Tour’. That mission was to collect samples from nuclear explosions by flying through the nuclear cloud shortly after detonation. This took place on 19 June 1956. His next posting was with Coastal Command flying Shackleton aircraft involved in the testing of thermonuclear hydrogen bombs on Christmas Island. After this, he joined 31 Squadron, a successful reconnaissance squadron, winning several NATO competitions. Robin was then redeployed as a reconnaissance instructor before being posted to fly F4 Phantoms on 14 Squadron as a Flight Commander with the rank of Squadron Leader. The squadron’s primary task was nuclear weapon delivery with secondary roles of ground attack and air defence. Robin now lives near Reading.