Michael Napier Bücher

When the Gulf Crisis of 1990 erupted due to Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, the RAF deployed Tornado F 3 fighters to Saudi Arabia for defense. This was followed by the arrival of Tornado GR 1 strike/attack aircraft in Bahrain, establishing three wings across Bahrain, Tabuk, and Dhahran, along with a Tornado GR 1A reconnaissance detachment. At the onset of hostilities in January 1991, the Tornado GR 1 wings executed night-low-level attacks on Iraqi Main Operating Bases using the JP233 runway denial weapon. Simultaneously, Tornado F 3 wings conducted Combat Air Patrols to secure Saudi airspace. Once air supremacy was achieved, the Tornado GR 1s transitioned to medium-level operations, targeting Iraqi oil production and storage facilities both at night and during the day. The introduction of laser designation capabilities with Pave Spike/Buccaneer and TIALD/Tornado facilitated precision strikes on Iraq's transport system, effectively isolating frontline troops from resupply. This was followed by systematic destruction of airfield facilities. Additionally, Tornado GR 1A reconnaissance missions were crucial in locating Scud missile launchers and aiding in the planning of the land offensive, while the Tornado F 3 wing at Dhahran conducted defensive operations to protect base areas throughout the conflict.

The Tornado units were deployed in many operational missions in the most recent conflicts over the Middle East and the Balkans. Featuring many first-hand combat accounts, this book tells the story of the backbone of the RAF frontline through the 1990s and up until 2019. After the Gulf War of 1990, No Fly Zones (NFZ) were established over northern and southern Iraq and the Tornado GR 1 force stepped up to operations over the southern NFZ. The Tornado GR 4 took responsibility for RAF combat air operations in Afghanistan from the Harrier force in 2009, and in 2011 was involved in missions against the Gaddafi regime in Libya. The unique multirole capabilities of the aircraft enabled it to support ground operations with the Raptor reconnaissance pod, Brimstone missiles and Paveway IV laser-guided bombs until withdrawal in 2014. The Tornado GR 4 was also used for operations over Iraq and Syria against the ISIL terrorist organisation. Intensive air operations were flown between 2014 and 2019, when the Tornado GR 4 was finally withdrawn from RAF Service. This volume, written by former RAF pilot Michael Napier, provides detailed first-hand accounts of the missions undertaken by the Tornado crews during the most recent conflicts over the Middle East and the Balkans.

This illustrated study charts the development and combat history of the Vickers Wellington units, the mainstay of the RAF heavy bomber force during the first half of World War II.