RAF Tornados join NATO partners to put
defences to the test

1,100
personnel and 48 aircraft from 7 NATO nations, including the RAF’s 31 Sqn “The
Goldstars,” have descended on Leeuwarden Air Force Base in the Netherlands for
the start of the two-week-long “FRISIAN FLAG” exercise.

The
local Dutch population have been treated to the spectacle of Tornados,
Typhoons, Mirage and F16 aircraft taking off on the exercise, which is
organised by the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) and runs from 27 March to
7 April 2017.

The
RAF has deployed six Tornado GR4s for the exercise in which they will at times
simulate the “Red Force Element, effectively playing the part of the enemy that
will attempt to breach the defences of opposing forces from the USA, France,
Germany, Portugal, Belgium and the Netherlands, they will also be playing
“Blue” friendly forces.

EX
FRISIAN FLAG aims to provide aircrew with experience of the planning, execution
and debriefing of large scale composite air operations (COMAO) in realistic
scenarios by allowing partner NATO nations to work alongside one another, test
each other’s capabilities and develop a close working relationship. Missions
being flown include various air defence scenarios including protection / escort
of high value aircraft and the attack of ground targets on land and sea in a
high threat environment, which include opposing fighter aircraft and ground
based Patriot and SA-6 missile batteries.

Wing
Commander Matt Bressani, OC 31 Squadron & the Detachment Commander of the
RAF contingent at FRISIAN FLAG, said: “Working with NATO countries helps us to
better understand our own strengths and weaknesses by testing each other’s
defences. With the Tornado GR4 going out of service in a few years’ time, this
is an ideal opportunity to train our crews for their future beyond this air
frame. The time working alongside our allies means that we will expose both air
and ground crews to working closely with Typhoon deployments from our partner
nations, allowing our boys and girls to get up close to an aircraft they could
be working on themselves in the near future. The aircrew will get to see
German, Dutch and Portuguese Typhoons in action and see how they work alongside
the American and French aircraft too.”

The
Commander of the Royal Netherlands Air Force, Lieutenant General Luyt said: “In
the current security situation, air superiority can no longer be taken for
granted. Our colleagues from the army and navy count on us to achieve air
superiority wherever required. Large-scale deployment as part of a NATO air
campaign can no longer be ruled out. What’s more, we could be called on as
early as tomorrow. As the Royal Netherlands Air Force, we must once again be
prepared to meet the challenge.”

Editor – Ken Pike

© MOD Crown Copyright 2017

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Updated: Veteran’s Gateway formally launches to the public

RAF LOSSIEMOUTH’S XV(RESERVE) SQUADRON
DISBANDS

XV(Reserve) Squadron, the
final Royal Air Force Tornado squadron based in Scotland, disbanded on Friday 31 March 2017 with a
private military ceremony at RAF Lossiemouth.
The disbandment of XV(Reserve) Squadron marks the end of the Tornado era
at RAF Lossiemouth. The Squadron
completed their final sortie on Friday 17 March.

The last parade of the Squadron’s
standard before it is laid up marks the end of the 102 year old Squadron’s
history. 750 invited guests attended the
event that saw members of the Squadron, led by their Commanding Officer, Wing
Commander Paul Froome, carry out the emotional but precise military ceremony.

Led by the Band of the Royal
Air Force College, the personnel marched in two flights into the hangar and
formed up in front of their proud families and friends. The parade personnel were flanked in the
hangar by two Tornados, one being MacRobert’s Reply.

Parade Commander was Officer Commanding XV(Reserve)
Squadron, Wing Commander Paul Froome. No.
1 Flight Commander was Squadron Leader Mark Swinton, whilst No. 2 Flight
Commander was Squadron Leader Matt Smith (the Squadron’s Senior Engineering
Officer).

The Standard Bearer was Flight Lieutenant Sam
Williams, the Standard Escort was Warrant Officer Tam McEwan. Chief Technician Si Guillou and Chief
Technician Grant Hamilton were the armed escorts.

The parade Reviewing
Officer was Chief of Defence Intelligence, Air Marshal
Phil Osborn himself a Tornado navigator and a former Tornado squadron commanding
officer.

With the precision expected
of the UK Armed Forces, Wing Commander Froome and his Flight Commanders led
their troops through 131 orders to carry out the parade. Finally the Standard Party left the hangar to
the haunting tune ‘Sands of the Kuwait’ played on the bagpipes by Chief
Technician Al Sharp. The tune was
written to commemorate the Gulf War, which fittingly was XV(Reserve) Squadron’s
final battle honour.

Following
the parade Wing Commander Froome gave an emotional tribute to the members of
his Squadron, he said:

“I am incredibly proud today – members of
XV(Reserve) Squadron have provided a stirring finale to the Squadron’s
history. And to be able to share today with many past and present members
of the Squadron, as well as our families, has been wonderful.

“The hours of dedicated work the Squadron
engineers have provided to the Tornado Force over recent years has been
replicated in their efforts today in this arena. It was an absolute
honour to lead them through today’s parade, and I will be sad to leave them and
RAF Lossiemouth.”

Following the event there was
a flypast of the Station in the early afternoon by Tornados from RAF Marham.

The final Tornado aircraft will leave RAF Lossiemouth over the coming
months for RAF Marham where the RAF Tornado fleet is now based. RAF Lossiemouth will see growth in the near
future as a fourth Typhoon squadron is formed here and 9 P8 Poseidon Maritime
Patrol Aircraft are based here.
Currently the three Typhoon squadrons based at RAF Lossiemouth provide
Quick Reaction Alert (Interceptor) North, or QRA as it is commonly called,
protecting UK skies.

The final ab initio Tornado GR4 student left
XV(Reserve) Sqn in mid-February. Flight
Lieutenant Nathan Shawyer completed his training as ‘combat ready’ and was
posted to 31 Squadron, RAF Marham.

The future of the squadron number plate hasn’t been decided at this time,
therefore the Squadron’s standard will be laid up in the rotunda at RAF College
Cranwell, Lincolnshire in April.

Group Captain Paul
Godfrey, Station Commander of RAF Lossiemouth, paid tribute to the hard work of
the Squadron’s personnel both in recent years and in creating a fitting end to
the Squadron’s history. He said:

“I’m extremely
honoured to have been the Station Commander of RAF Lossiemouth in the last 18
months of XV(Reserve) Squadron’s time as a Tornado Operational Conversion Unit
and it is a sad day to see the Squadron officially disband, ending over 23
years of Tornado presence in Moray.

“The Squadron’s
output in terms of quality training that has provided the RAF with such skilled
air crew has been second to none and has been fundamental to the success of the
Tornado on operations. All of the Squadron’s members on parade today have
made a huge contribution to past and current operations worldwide and are
highly regarded for their professionalism and skill. That same high
standard of output and effort has been shown again today in an excellent
parade, which was a fitting end to the Squadron’s time here at RAF Lossiemouth.

“I am extremely
pleased that many of the Squadron personnel will transfer to our Typhoon
squadrons here at RAF Lossiemouth to support the future growth of the Station,
and I wish all members of the Squadron the very best of luck in their future
endeavours; every single one of them can have with a real sense of pride in
what they have achieved and it is obvious that they have maintained the very
highest of standards right to the very end.”

Editor: Flt Lt Ian Smith

© MOD Crown Copyright 2017

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