AirForces Monthly – June 2018

TORNADO TRIBUTE // 63

It was fitting that No 31 Squadron

concluded Operation Herrick in November

2014 when the squadron flew the last sortie

from Kandahar. Four-month rotations had

been covered by Nos II(AC), IX(B), 12(B),

13, 31 and 617 squadrons – employing the

latest Dual-Mode Seeker (DMS) Brimstone

missiles, Raytheon Paveway IV laser/Global

Positioning System (GPS)-guided bombs, and

the Mauser BK27 27mm cannon when kinetic

effect was the last resort. The ISR taskings

also utilised the Litening III targeting pod, as

well as the Goodrich DB-110 Reconnaissance

Airborne Pod Tornado (RAPTOR) pod.

As Herrick wound up, the then British

Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon

commented: “The Tornado remains the

fast jet workhorse of the RAF and has

performed superbly over many years

in Afghanistan, supplying life-saving

intelligence and precision weapons

in support of our mission there.”

Wg Cdr Richard Yates, Officer Commanding

No 31 Squadron, at that time added: “It

has been an honour to be the last squadron

of the Tornado Force’s combat mission

in Afghanistan supporting the Afghan

government and people. I am hugely proud

of my personnel who have worked tirelessly

and continued the good work of all those

who have been here before, both on the

Tornado Force and the Harrier Force.”

The last deployment marked No 31

Squadron’s fourth tour of Afghanistan.

Leading the last combat sortie was Flt Lt Oli

Payne. He was quoted in a media release: “To

lead the last sortie was a real privilege. It was

a hugely poignant day as it brought to a close

about ten years of constant fast jet operations

by the RAF in Afghanistan, so it was a big

moment for both the crews and the RAF.”

During operations in Afghanistan

Tornados flew over 33,500 hours and

conducted 600 shows of force.

Above: The RAF squadrons left some unmistakeable GR4 ‘art’ at Kandahar during the Tornado’s tenure

from 2009 to 2014. Neil Dunridge Below: A GR4 gets airborne at Kandahar with the standard fi t of

Litening pod, a triple rack of DMS Brimstones and two Paveway IVs. Neil Dunridge

Left: High above Helmand Province, a Herrick
GR4 moves in for fuel from a USAF tanker. Note
that it carries the infrared countermeasures pod
on the outer wing pylon, a modifi cation of the
BOZ pod developed for the Afghanistan theatre.
USAF/MSgt William Greer Right: The Tornado GR4
detachment at Kandahar was on call around the
clock to support UK troops. Crown Copyright

AFM