RAF Tornadoes at War Andy Evans Looks at the Role of the GR.1 in the Gulf War
WWW.SAMPUBLICATIONS.COM 46 OPERATION GRANBY COMBAT-ZONE ZA809/BA ‘Awesome Annie’ carrying a pair of LGBs CREDIT: Steve Morris Operation Granby RAF Tornadoes at War Andy Evans looks at the role of the GR.1 in the Gulf War or the RAF, Desert Storm could he The former RAF Muharraq - now Bahrain 14, plus Nos.13 and 617 Squadrons later on. truly described as the ‘Tornadoes International Airport - was first to receive GR.1s On station at Tabuk were fifteen Tornados, of war’. Representing three-quarters when a dozen aircraft left Bruggen, on 27 which seven were equipped to carry ALARM of the British air attack force at the August 1990. A second squadron of Laarbruch- missiles as an alternative to the usual bomb opening of hostilities, the GR.1 strikers based aircraft, but with Marham crews, load. Dhahran had fifteen GR.1s and six recce Fundertook assaults on Iraq’s war machine, began arriving there on 19 September, but GR.1As, and its RAF component came under hitting its airfields, weapon storage sites repositioned to Tabuk, in far north-western the command of Group Captain Cliff Spink and communications centres. Despite early Saudi Arabia, from 8 October onwards. A who, unlike his two fellow base commanders, misfortunes – the aircraft emerged from the further twelve Bruggen aircraft arrived on 3 was an air defence rather than ground attack conflict with its reputation immeasurably January 1991. The reconnaissance element, flyer. Also at Dhahran, No.31 Squadron led strengthened. In addition to bombing, the provided by Laarbruch, was of six GR.1As by Wing Cdr Jerry Witts was reinforced by aircraft hastily, yet successfully, introduced ferried to Dhahran between 14-16 January.
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