After his story was featured in the
D&S Times, helped by some gentle persuasion from a friend and having increased time at home during lockdown, Squadron Leader Peter Odling was finally persuaded to write his memoirs. Entitled Higher and Higher – A Vulcan Pilot’s Story, Peter Odling’s account of his life in the RAF will probably never be matched. Starting as a 14-year-old air cadet, he flew as a jet trainee at Middleton St George, and was later a flying instructor at Leeming, with much of his career spent as the captain of a nuclear-armed Vulcan bomber. During his time in the RAF and in retirement he amassed more than 4,500 flying hours, the equivalent to spending six months constantly in the air. He flew 14 different types of aircraft, ranging from a Meteor Jet which he flew solo at 18 to Vulcan V bombers; even breaking the sound barrier in a Hawker Hunter.