Airforces Tornado tribute

5252 // TORNADO TRIBUTE http://www.airforcesmonthly.com

he RAF Tornado’s unparalleled combat

record dates back to Saddam Hussein’s

invasion of Kuwait in August 1990.

It triggered one of the most impressive

air campaigns of all time and included

the combat debut of the Tornado GR1.

It was ironic that an aircraft conceived for

low-level strike against Warsaw Pact forces

on the European front was first plunged into

combat in the Middle East. Indeed, it provided

the first glimpse of the Tornado’s usefulness

and versatility, as it demonstrated an ability

to adapt as missions and roles evolved.

As signs of an offensive air campaign became

clearer, the RAF deployed a first squadron of

Tornado GR1s to the Gulf on August 27, 1990.

It was No 14 Squadron, which departed RAF

Brüggen, Germany, for Muharraq, Bahrain,

complete with a new ‘desert pink’ Alkali

Removable Temporary Finish (ARTF). RAF

Germany (RAFG) supplied the bulk of the

deployed forces for Operation Granby – as

the UK operation was known – as more

Tornados deployed throughout September.

Once the build-up was complete by January

1991, three reinforced squadrons, averaging

15 aircraft and 24 crews each, deployed to

Muharraq under the leadership of Wg Cdr

John Broadbent, Officer Commanding (OC) No

XV Squadron; Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, under

Wg Cdr Jerry Witts, OC No 31 Squadron;

and Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, led by OC No 16

Squadron, Wg Cdr Ian Travers-Smith.

In the background, several urgent projects

were accelerated, including improving

the type’s self-protection measures.

Jamie Hunter recounts the

first time the RAF Tornado

GR1 was used in anger –

above Iraq in 1991 during the

first Gulf War – in what were

some of the most daring and

intense combat missions

since the Second World War.

Operation Granby

T

Tornado GR1s on the fl ight line at Muharraq shortly before the air campaign began. ZA396 ‘GE’ (fourth

from left) was shot down by a Roland SAM as its crew attacked Tallil airfi eld on January 20. Flt Lts

David Waddington and Robbie Stuart ejected and were captured. Ian Black

Tornado

Tribute

Baptism of f ire