Editing Avro Vulcan (section)

===Reconnaissance===
In November 1973, as a result of the planned closure of the Victor SR.2 equipped [[No. 543 Squadron RAF|No. 543 Squadron]], No. 27 Squadron reformed at RAF Scampton equipped with the Vulcan as a replacement in the maritime radar reconnaissance role.<ref name="Jones V p158-9">Jones ''V-Bombers'' 2007, pp. 158–159.</ref>{{refn|The other two squadrons of the Scampton Wing, No. 35 and 617 Squadron, also had a secondary maritime reconnaissance role.<ref name="WoF p67">Jackson ''Wings of Fame'' 1996, p. 67.</ref>|group=N}} The squadron carried out patrols of the seas around the British Isles, including the strategically important [[GIUK gap]] between Iceland and the United Kingdom, flying at high level and using the Vulcan's H2S radar to monitor shipping. In peacetime, this could be followed up by visual identification and photography of targets of interest at low level. In the event of war, a Vulcan would leave visual identification of potential targets to [[Blackburn Buccaneer|Buccaneers]] or Canberras and could coordinate attacks by Buccaneers against hostile shipping.<ref name="WoF p67,78">Jackson ''Wings of Fame'' 1996, pp. 67, 78.</ref> Though initially equipped with a number of B.2 aircraft,<ref name='Bulman87'>Bulman 2001, p. 87.</ref> the Squadron eventually operated nine B.2 (MRR) aircraft (also known by the unofficial designation SR.2).<ref name="Brookes83"/><ref name="jones V p159"/> The aircraft were modified for the role by removing the TFR (and its thimble radome) and adding the [[LORAN]] C radio navigation aid. The main external visual difference was the presence of a gloss paint finish, with a light grey undersurface, to protect against sea spray.<ref name='Brookes83'/>

The squadron also inherited its secondary role of [[National technical means of verification#Materials intelligence and Air Sampling|air sampling]] from No. 543 Squadron.<ref name='Brookes83'/> This involved flying through plumes of airborne contamination and using onboard equipment to collect [[fallout]] released from both above ground and underground nuclear tests for later analysis at the [[Atomic Weapons Establishment|Atomic Weapons Research Establishment]] at Aldermaston.<ref name="brookes vic p70">Brookes 2011, p. 70.</ref> Five aircraft had small pylons fitted to the redundant Skybolt hardpoints, which could be used to carry sampling pods modified from [[drop tank]]s.{{refn|Some sources state that the pods were modified from [[de Havilland Sea Vixen]] drop tanks.<ref name='Brookes83'/> while others claim that they were based on [[Hawker Hunter]] tanks.<ref name="jones V p159"/>|group=N}} These pods would collect the needed samples on a filter, while an additional smaller "localiser" pod was fitted to the port wing, inboard of the main pylons.<ref name="WoF p67"/><ref name="jones V p159"/><ref name='Bulman90'>Bulman 2001, p. 90.</ref>

The squadron disbanded at Scampton in March 1982, passing on its radar reconnaissance duties to the RAF's [[Hawker Siddeley Nimrod|Nimrod]]s.<ref name="jones V p159">Jones ''V-Bombers'' 2007, p. 159.</ref>