The Panavia Tornado GR 1 and F 3 bore the brunt of RAF operational
tasking (and combat losses) during the first Gulf War in 1991. Featuring
many first-hand combat accounts, this book tells the story of the
backbone of the RAF frontline from the 1980's and 1990's.
When
the Gulf Crisis of 1990 was triggered by the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait,
the RAF responded by sending Tornado F 3 fighters to Saudi Arabia to
help defend the country against further aggression. These aircraft were
followed by the deployment of Tornado GR 1 strike/attack aircraft to
Bahrain. Eventually three wings of Tornado GR 1s were established in
Bahrain, Tabuk, and Dhahran, as well as a detachment of Tornado GR 1A
reconnaissance aircraft. At the start of hostilities in January 1991,
the Tornado GR 1 wings carried out night-low-level attacks against Iraqi
Main Operating Bases using the JP233 runway denial weapon. Meanwhile,
Combat Air Patrols from the Tornado F 3 wing ensured the integrity of
Saudi airspace.
Once air supremacy had been established, the
Tornado GR 1 force moved to medium-level operations, initially by night
and later by day, to attack the Iraqi oil production and storage
infrastructure. The arrival in theater of a laser designation capability
with Pave Spike/Buccaneer and TIALD/Tornado enabled precision attacks
against the Iraq transport system to cut off the frontline troops from
resupply and reinforcement and then to carry out a systematic
destruction of the airfield facilities. Tornado GR 1A reconnaissance
operations played a major role in the location of Scud missile launchers
and in the planning and execution of the land offensive. Throughout the
conflict, the Tornado F 3 wing at Dhahran carried out defensive
counter-air operations to ensure the safety of the base areas. This
volume, publishing 30 years after the conflict to free Kuwait, provides
detailed first-hand accounts of the missions undertaken by the Tornado
crews. It is illustrated by photographs taken by aircrew involved in the
operation and includes 30 newly commissioned profile artworks and
detailed nose art views of the aircraft ranged against Iraq.
