// TORNADO TRIBUTEW
When first fielded by the Royal Air Force, the Tornado GR1’s primary
responsibility was to provide a credible nuclear deterrent against
Warsaw Pact forces massed to the east. RAF Germany was the tip of
the spear, as Air Marshal (Ret’d) Greg Bagwell CB, CBE recounts to
Thomas Newdick.warrior
Cold War
hen Fg Off Greg Bagwell first arrived
in RAF Germany in January 1985, the
service was introducing the Tornado
GR1 at a remarkable rate – a new squadron
was forming almost every six months.
He was posted to the first in Germany: No
31 Squadron based at RAF Brüggen close
to the Dutch border. That winter, No 17
Squadron was being established at the same
base and it would be followed by No 14
Squadron, before No IX (Bomber) Squadron –
the first frontline Tornado operator – arrived
at Brüggen from RAF Honington, Suffolk.
During the same period, the Tornado
Wing at RAF Laarbruch was also building
up, and would comprise Nos XV, 16 and
II (Army Co-operation) Squadrons – the
latter a reconnaissance unit, flying specially
equipped Tornado GR1As. In the meantime,
Nos 27 and 617 Squadrons had already
been established at RAF Marham, Norfolk.
Apart from No II(AC) Squadron, all these
units had a nuclear role. At its peak, Brüggen
alone had five nuclear-armed aircraft held
on round-the-clock readiness. Initially,
each squadron at the base provided one
aircraft and one crew, but this was later
increased to five, and crews took it in turns.The Tornado GR1B was converted for the maritime role and was fl own by Nos 12(B) and, as seen, 617
Squadrons, both based at RAF Lossiemouth. Aircraft ZA457 was built in 1983 and modifi ed to GR1B
standard in 1994. It last served with No II(AC) Squadron and is today preserved at the RAF Museum
London.A smart, stacked line-abreast
formation of Tornado GR1s from
the four squadrons of the Brüggen
Wing, resplendent in their 1980s-era
green and grey wraparound
camoufl age. From nearest camera:
Nos IX(B), 14, 17 and 31 squadrons.
All photos WO (Ret’d) Rick Brewell50Tornado
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