Table Of Content

MICHAEL LEEK has long had an Through a collection of dramatic and interest in all the various technological informative photographs, supplemented by cutaway developments of military aviation. In illustrations, this book highlights the addition to writing books, it is through agility and flexibility of this dedicated digital photography that his interest in RAF aircraft. Throughout the course military aviation continues. He is the of its career, it has formed the author of The Art of Nautical Illustration backbone of the RAF across its many and The Encyclopaedia of Airbrush different theaters of operation. Utilized Techniques, and has contributed to in a strike, anti-aircraft, air superiority, many others. His book, Military Low air defense, reconnaissance, Flying in the UK, was published by Pen electronic warfare and fighter-bomber capacity, this aircraft type has enjoyed & Sword in February 2012, with The an immensely varied career. Each British Aerospace Hawk: A aspect is illustrated in this Photographic Tribute published in 2014. photographic celebration. His aviation photographs have been This book includes digital published in many magazines. He lives photographs by the author and a in Portknockie, Scotland. select number of other amateur photographers, with the vast majority of photographs – never previously published – taken low level around the hills and mountains of England, Scotland and Wales. This impressive new photographic publication is presented in full colour and is sure to be prized as a collector's piece amongst fans of the genre. Dustjacket photographs by the author. Jacket design: Dominic Allen For a complete list of current titles ring or write to: PEN & SWORD BOOKS LIMITED 47 Church Street, Barnsley uk £30.00 • us$55.00 South YorkshireS70 2AS E-mail:[email protected] Tel: 01226 734222 Orvisit our website at: QRS CCAOND TEH FEO R uk £30.00 www.pen-and-sword.co.uk MORE AVIATION HISTORY us $55.00 OVER 5000 TITLES AVAILABLE. BOOKS FROM www.pen-and-sword.co.uk PEN AND SWORD www.pen-and-sword.co.uk The Panavia Tornado After a long and relatively successful career in Royal Air Force service the Panavia Tornado GR4 is scheduled to be retired in 2019, even though its original out-of-service date was to be 2025. Indeed, substantial investments in avionics, reconnaissance and weapons systems have been made and tested through 41 (R) Squadron at RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire, to facilitate the aircraft’s service to 2025. With continued international concerns over developments in the Middle East, resulting from ill-conceived wars in the region, in the Ukraine and in the Baltic, amongst other places, the need to retain a viable and proven aircraft for the reconnaissance and ground-attack roles has been highlighted – yet again. With the Eurofighter Typhoon still not fully multi-role capable and the controversial Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II many years away from front-line operational service with either the RAF or Royal Navy we could see the Tornado’s service life extended beyond 2019, as previously intended. Whatever the short-term future holds, the Tornado, the RAF’s last front-line remnant of the Cold War, is nearing the end of its service career. This image of an unidentified Tornado GR4 taking off from RAF Lossiemouth, Moray, in Scotland, under a dramatic mid-winter sky on 19 December 2006, is perhaps a poignant statement of a sight that will soon be the end of yet another chapter in the RAF’s history. When this photograph was taken there were four Tornado squadrons at RAF Lossiemouth. Now, in February 2015, there is only one, XV (R) Squadron, the aircraft’s much reduced Tornado Operational Conversion Unit. Sony DSC-H5; 72mm, 1/800 sec at f/5.6, ISO 125. (Photo by Michael Leek) The Panavia Tornado A Visual Tribute to the Royal Air Force, Germany, Italy and Saudi Arabia’s Successful Multi-Role Combat Aircraft Michael Leek With additional photographic contributions from Steve Barnett, Giorgio Ciarini, Iain Common, Graham Farish, Brian Hodgson, Alex Klingelhöller and ‘PhotoRich’. Special tail GR4 ZA469/029 is shown turning over Grasmere lake as the pilot lines up for the climb towards Dunmail Raise, on 20 June 2008. This GR4 commemorates 25 years of the Tornado GR variant and includes the IX (B) Squadron ‘Bat’ logo, which is traditional to the squadron as their motto is Per noctum volamus (‘Throughout the night we fly’). In 1944, during the Second World War, equipped with Lancaster bombers, the squadron took part in the successful sinking of the German battleship Tirpitz when she was lying off Tromso in northern Norway. As a result of this operation IX (B) Squadron aircrews would often use the radio callsign ‘Tirpitz’ when conducting sorties in the UK! Canon 30D; 330mm, 1/500 sec at f/5.6, ISO 400. (Photo by Graham Farish) DEDICATION To the memories of Flight Lieutenant Nigel Morton RAF and Flight Lieutenant Kenneth Thompson RAF of 43 Squadron, RAF Leuchars, Fife, Scotland, who died when their Tornado F3, ZE982 (BLACKSMITH 1) crashed at Glen Kinglas, Argyll, Scotland, on Thursday 2 July 2009 and to Squadron Leader Samuel Bailey RAF Flight Lieutenant Adam Sanders RAF and Flight Lieutenant Hywel Poole RAF of XV (R) Squadron, RAF Lossiemouth, Moray, Scotland, who died when their Tornado GR4s, ZD743 (ASTON 1) and ZD812 (ABBOT 2) collided over the Moray Firth, Scotland, on Tuesday 3 July 2012 May their loss not be in vain First published in Great Britain in 2015 by Pen & Sword Aviation an imprint of Pen & Sword Books Ltd 47 Church Street Barnsley South Yorkshire S70 2AS Copyright © Michael Leek 2015 ISBN 978 1 78159 297 7 The right of Michael Leek to be identified as the Author of this Work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission from the Publisher in writing. Typeset in Ehrhardt by Mac Style Ltd, Bridlington, East Yorkshire Printed and bound in the UK by CPI Group (UK) Ltd, Croydon, CRO 4YY Pen & Sword Books Ltd incorporates the imprints of Pen & Sword Archaeology, Atlas, Aviation, Battleground, Discovery, Family History, History, Maritime, Military, Naval, Politics, Railways, Select, Transport, True Crime, Fiction, Frontline Books, Leo Cooper, Praetorian Press, Seaforth Publishing and Wharncliffe. For a complete list of Pen & Sword titles please contact PEN & SWORD BOOKS LIMITED 47 Church Street, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, S70 2AS, England E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.pen-and-sword.co.uk Contents Acknowledgements ...................................................................................................................................................................8 Chapter One Context ...................................................................................................................................................11 Chapter Two The Panavia Tornado ...........................................................................................................................15 Chapter Three Service and operations: the United Kingdom ..................................................................................26 Chapter Four Service and operations: Germany, Italy and Saudi Arabia ............................................................36 The Photographs Royal Air Force .....................................................................................................................................41 Luftwaffe .............................................................................................................................................197 Aeronautica Militare ..........................................................................................................................217 Royal Saudi Air Force ........................................................................................................................225 Appendix: Bibliography and sources ......................................................................................................................................230 Index .......................................................................................................................................................................................236 Acknowledgements A s with the first in this mini-series of corners of Dumfries and Galloway, and most places photographic aviation books dedicated to in between, Graham has travelled widely for his three significant and long-serving RAF aircraft photography. Of particular note are the well-used I must record my sincere thanks to the contributors, low-flying areas in northern England, where few all of whom, like me, are amateur photographers. amateur photographers visit, probably because these Those who contributed to The British Aerospace Hawk: locations lack the convenience of The Mach Loop in A Photographic Tribute and who stayed the course by central Wales. Graham’s home is in the English county offering their photographs for this volume are Iain that will always be associated with the RAF. In the Common from Scotland, Graham Farish and Brian interests of aviation history we can only hope that Hodgson from England, and Alex Klingelhöller from Graham will one day produce his own book – it will, south-west Germany. by default, be a very large book too! Iain Common has spent many hours on the hills Close on Graham’s heels is Brian Hodgson whose around Pitlochry photographing military aircraft. work is not widely known, but should be. He too Considering that Scotland north of the central belt is not averse to travelling some distance for his is the largest designated low-flying area in the photography, his most recent being a visit to the UK, the one trait that is needed in abundance by USA photographing low-level USN and USMC F-18 photographers is patience, and having spent many Super Hornets and AV-8B Harriers from the Naval hours with Iain I can testify that patience he has. His Air Weapons Station China Lake in California! Brian’s patience over many years has paid dividends when aviation photography development runs parallel to it comes to capturing the rare or unusual in Scottish the development of digital photography itself, as will skies. Unfortunately the resolution quality of some be evident from some of his photographs and the of Iain’s early photographs were too low, which equipment he has used; updating as the technology restricted the numbers that could be used in my Hawk has improved (he took up low-flying photography book. However, I’m pleased to say that this has been in 2002). A personal commitment to his low-level rectified in this volume, thereby offering readers the photography has resulted in Brian having recorded opportunity to see Tornados operating in a low-level some unusual or rarely seen aircraft, particularly in a environment through some of the most beautiful low-level environment. Brian is also prepared to travel of landscapes in the UK, an environment rarely in order to record on camera a particular aviation witnessed by the majority of aviation photographers. event, anniversary or a different low-flying location, Indeed, as I write this Iain is by Loch Ewe where he’s and is on a hillside as I write these words! In fact been photographing Falcons, Hawks and Swedish Brian is on a hill between Loch Merkland and Loch Air Force Gripens during the second of 2014’s JOINT Shin, above Merkland Lodge, in remote but beautiful WARRIOR exercises. Sutherland. Having worked with Graham Farish on three Alex Klingelhöller is a keen amateur photographer aviation photography books I can now state with of military aviation who has the advantage of having some conviction that, when it comes to the low- completed compulsory military service with German flying system in the United Kingdom, Graham is army aviation. He has developed good relationships probably the most widely travelled amateur low- with his local Lufwaffe units that were, until closure, flying photographer in the UK. I have seen more of close to his home in south-west Germany. One of his photographs than can be reproduced here – and his photographs included in this book is of an RAF not just of Tornados – and it is obvious that distance Tornado GR4 low-level. It was taken on Alex’s first is no barrier to Graham seeking out new locations, trip to The Mach Loop in mid-Wales in the summer often with a high degree of success. From Ullapool of 2014, where he and his family took a holiday. in Wester Ross to the south-west of England, obscure Unfortunately whilst he was in Wales the number of THE PANAVIA TORNADO 9 low-flying movements were few and far between – a was through Tony’s wife Nicky that we met. I needed situation that is now, sadly, the norm – otherwise I a number of inoculations prior to extended visits have no doubt that this book would have contained to Vietnam and South-east Asia, and Nicky was the more of Alex’s excellent photographs. Since Alex’s nurse tasked with giving them to me. Her screen saver contributions to my Hawk book, he has upgraded his – an elevated panoramic photo of a classic Scottish equipment and now has an impressive Canon suite. highland landscape that she took herself – got us For this book the newcomers are Steve Barnett, talking about photography and eventually aircraft a former RAF technician who spent many years flying low-level through the glens. This led Nicky to working on the Tornado F2 and F3, the fighter variant telling me about her husband who then worked at of the original Tornado MRCA, and who now works RAF Lossiemouth. The rest, as they say, is history. for Rolls-Royce maintaining Tornado RB.199 Mk Of course I must also record my thanks to the 103 turbofan engines and soon to be doing the same wider RAF, particularly those who worked with on Eurojet EJ200 engines used in the Eurofighter the Tornado, be they from RAF Coningsby, RAF Typhoon. Secondly is Giorgio Ciarini from Novara, Leeming, RAF Leuchars, RAF Lossiemouth or RAF a few miles south of the Italian air base at Cameri in Marham. Without their professionalism in servicing, northern Italy. The third and final ‘newcomer’ wishes maintaining and operating the Tornado it would only to be known by his online username, ‘PhotoRich’, not have been possible to take the photographs although it will be obvious to all that ‘PhotoRich’ has reproduced in this book. Whenever I have come into connections with the RAF as there’s no other way he contact with the people who fly and maintain the could have taken air-to-air photographs of Tornado Tornado I have always been made welcome. F3s over the Falklands! I would have liked to have involved the RAF in As with other amateur photographers – the author this book but the draconian ‘rules’ laid down by the included – the contributors all have lives outside faceless bureaucrats in the UK’s Ministry of Defence military aviation photography so it is with my (MoD) following Operation TELIC and Operation gratitude that they responded as they did in order that HERRICK prevented it. These ‘rules’ now preclude this book should be completed, representing as wide a any involvement by any of the British armed services selection of photographs of Tornados as was possible unless there is a moneymaking spin off for the MoD. within the space limitations of the book. A sad state of affairs compared to not so long ago Not surprisingly, considering the length of service when the Royal Navy, the British Army and the Royal of the Tornado in RAF, German and Italian service, Air Force went out of their collective ways – within the number of photographs to choose from would the bounds of security and operational requirements have made it easy to fill a number of volumes. The – to help those members of the public, amateur vast number of images from all concerned made the photographers and authors who, by their interests, selection process extremely difficult and whilst I actively supported the work of their country’s armed make no apology for my very personal and subjective services. choices, be they my own photographs or those of the It will be obvious that a number of photographs contributors, putting this book together was far more have been taken at the fence line at RAF Lossiemouth, demanding than my Hawk volume. Inevitably, space in Moray, Scotland. RAF Lossiemouth was one of restrictions have meant that some images previously the major Tornado fast jet stations, but since further selected for inclusion have had to be removed and Tornado squadron disbandments in 2014 it is sadly because of this I would like to add to my thanks, now relegated to hosting the much smaller Tornado appreciation and gratitude to the contributors for their Operational Conversion Unit, XV (R) Squadron. understanding. However, over many hours photographing departing, For help confirming details of Tornados in Italian arriving and taxiing Tornados, and waiting for service I must thank Giorgio Ciarini again. Giorgio is ‘something different’ to appear (reminiscent of the a noted aviation photographer and writer. From the Cold War days when Lossiemouth was alive with German perspective, Alex Klingelhöller, in addition visiting aircraft from practically every NATO country, to supplying photographs, kindly checked my service and more), I have got to know many other enthusiasts. history for Tornados in Lutwaffe service. However, Whilst they have not contributed to this book, I would any errors in my listings of squadrons and units from like to acknowledge them if only because of their these two countries are mine and mine alone. company, good humour and sometimes passionate A special thanks must be extended to Warrant interest in the Tornado and in other military aircraft, Officer Anthony Hughes BSc RAF, formerly of RAF be they RAF or from elsewhere. They include Tom and Lossiemouth. Such are the ways of the world that it Sally Tolman, Paul Dalton, Les Goodison, Chris Milne,