RAF Tornado fleet returns home ahead of retirement

The Panavia Tornado was a pan-European collaboration between the UK, Italy and West Germany. Having first entered service with the RAF in 1979, the Tornado has enjoyed a career spanning almost 40 years. Its first combat duty came during the Gulf War in 1991 (GR1 model) and it has played an active role in Kosovo, Afghanistan, Libya, Syria and Iraq (GR4 model), most recently helping with the bombardment of Islamic State. The fleet was welcomed back to its home base of RAF Marham in Norfolk for the final time on Tuesday, February 5^th.

“As a Tornado GR4 pilot myself, I have seen the aircraft develop over its nearly 40 years of service into an outstanding combat aircraft, flown, maintained and supported by similarly outstanding air and ground crew,” said Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier.

“The Tornado Force has been continuously deployed on operations since 1990, serving with immense distinction in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Libya and the Balkans.”