Recent Operations
in Jun 2009 the Sqn trailed 10 jets to Cyprus, 8 of which continued to Kandahar. This was the advent of Tornado GR4 operations in Afghanistan, replacing the Harrier GR9 in theatre. For over 4 months they successfully provided support to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), including Close Air Support for, amongst others, British, American, Canadian and Afghan troops in all parts of the country. On the 16th Oct 2009 12(B) Sqn returned to Lossiemouth after having handed over to a Marham-based GR4 sqn.
Between subsequent Op HERRICK Deployments during 2011, 12(Bomber) Squadron was deployed in support Operation ELLAMY. Op ELLAMY was the codename for the UK’s participation in the military intervention in Libya under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973 which stipulated that "all necessary measures" shall be taken to protect civilians. This saw 10 aircrew deploy to Gioia del Colle to bolster the Tornado component during the peak of operations. The remainder of the Squadron was held at readiness to move to RAF Marham to launch Storm Shadow raids on hardened Libyan targets. These missions required three air-to-air refueling brackets on the outward journey and one further on return to Gioia Del Colle.
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Famous quotes containing the word operations:
“Plot, rules, nor even poetry, are not half so great beauties in tragedy or comedy as a just imitation of nature, of character, of the passions and their operations in diversified situations.”
—Horace Walpole (1717–1797)
“You can’t have operations without screams. Pain and the knife—they’re inseparable.”
—Jean Scott Rogers. Robert Day. Mr. Blount (Frank Pettingell)