York Guides

By ALISON BELLAMY

The British-made Hunting Engineering WE 177 Type B Thermo Nuclear was 30 times more powerful than the device used at Hiroshima. The H-bomb was carried on board Victor V bombers but never used, and is the only nuclear bomb to go on show in the UK.
Adam Phillips, 11, was visiting the museum during half-term with his dad and saw the now-disarmed weapon.
He said: "I am not scared of it. I like finding out about things like bombs and aeroplanes. It's great."
This particular bomb was first delivered to RAF Cottismore in 1966 and was also carried by Vulcan, Buccaneer, Jaguar and Tornado bombers.
The exhibition also includes several conventional iron bombs including the 250 kg and 500 kg general purpose bombs that have been in use since the 1930s.
The aviation and war museum features the only fully-restored Halifax bomber in the world, and the first powered aeroplane built by the Wright brothers.
Ian Reed, director of the museum, at Elvington, near York, said they were expecting a flood of people to come and view the bomb.
Mr Reed said: "In the 1960s and 70s people really believed that nuclear war could potentially happen. They grew up with it, but now it does not seem like a possibility.
"Until the Berlin Wall came down in 1989 people lived and grew up with the constant threat of nuclear attack.
"The H-Bomb had a huge effect on a whole generation, yet virtually no-one has ever seen one. "
Yorkshire Air Museum is at Elvington, off the A64 near York. Log on to www.yorshireairmuseum.co.uk .