Airforces

n 2016 the Royal Air Force’s Tornado

GR Force (TGRF) painted one

aircraft – ZG750 – in a ‘desert pink’

scheme to mark 25 years of continuous

combat operations. It was a nod to the

25th anniversary of the United Kingdom’s

participation in Operation Desert Storm,

codenamed Operation Granby by the British

armed forces. Granby marked the combat

debut of the then Panavia Tornado GR1s, which

provided a vital part of the coalition that helped

to liberate Kuwait from Saddam Hussein’s Iraqi

forces. The RAF Tornado GR1s were painted in

‘pink’ Alkali Removable Temporary Finish (ARTF)

to reduce their visual signature in the desert

environment. Following this baptism of fire,

the RAF Tornado ‘GR’ fleet – now in upgraded

GR4 standard – has been engaged in combat

operations almost constantly ever since.

In April 2019 the RAF will retire its last

Tornado GR4s as they make way for

Eurofighter Typhoons and F-35B Lightning

IIs to spearhead UK combat air power.

This summer, the time came for ZG750,

dubbed ‘Pinky’ by many, to be retired. July’s

Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) at RAF

Fairford, Gloucestershire, presented the ideal

opportunity to showcase this particular jet’s

history and pedigree, with ZG750 being one

of the stars of the show. As the Tornado

‘PINK Y’

BOWS OUT

A special Royal Air Force Tornado

GR4, painted in ‘desert pink’

colours as a tribute to Operation

Granby in 1991, has been retired

as the type enters its final

chapter in service, as

Rich Cooper reports.

I

92 // SEPTEMBER 2017 #354 http://www.airforcesmonthly.com

GRANBY TORNADO