Air International 2019-04
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??? - Tornado battle hardened at retirement /Military/ (1)
To mark the Tornado GR's retirement from RAF service, paint crews at RAF Marham painted aircraft ZG752 in the colour scheme originally applied to all Tonkas when the type entered service in 1980. The aircraft's spine features a crest of each and every RAF unit that operated the Tornado GR.
The original Tornado GR squadron, IX(B) has an illustrious history which goes back to December 1914 when it was formed at St Omer, France with BE 2s. During World War Two, IX(B) Squadron Lancaster bombers sunk the German battleship, the Tirpitz in Tromso Fjord, Norway. During the squadron’s Tornado years, IX(B) participated in many combat operations throughout southwest Asia. It is, and always will be, the best bomber squadron in the Royal Air Force.
Kandahar airfield, Afghanistan. A 31 Squadron Tornado GR4 loaded with a Paveway IV precision-guided munition and a RAPTOR pod under preparation for a night time mission during Operation Herrick.
Tornado walk. Twelve Tornado GR4s taxi down runway 19 at RAF Marham on February 28, 2019 following the nine-ship flypasts at RAFC Cranwell and Marham. This was the final day of RAF Tornado operations from RAF Marham.
A Tornado GR4 on patrol over Iraq in 2007 during Operation Telic.