This has probably already been answered somewhere on the forum but is the Tornado GR1/GR4 wired to carry the AIM9 and AMRAAM missiles?

What is the original serial number of the B17?

During WW2 how often would RAF bombers have USAF fighter escorts and USAF bombers RAF escorts?

I always thought the F3 ‘prettier’ than the GR1 but the GR4 beats both!

Not so. Six RAF Tornados were lost during Operation Granby, only one of those aircrafts were JP.233 carriers.

17 January 1991, an RAF Tornado GR1 was shot down by after delivering 1,000lb ‘Dumb’ bombs at low level. Hit by a SAM, possibly two were fired at the aircraft, second hit.

On 17 January 1991, RAF Tornado GR1 was lost on a JP.233 sortie. A successful weapons release was made on an Iraqi airfield’s runway, all four aircraft delivered their weapons and headed to their destinations, as the aircraft left the target area another crew member saw an explosion which was one of the Tornados hitting the ground. It seems to be inconclusive as to what caused the crash.

On 19 January, RAF Tornado GR1 was shot down at low level by a SAM, pre-weapon release. Weapons were 1,000lb ‘Dumb’ bombs.

On 22 January 1991, RAF Tornado GR1 was lost, a successful attack was made by dropping 1,000lb ‘Dumb’ bombs, but the aircraft was lost shortly afterwards. The leader of the following formation witnessed a fireball erupt in the distance. Closer investigation revealed a series of fires on a hillside to the right of track where the fireball had been. As above, it seems inconclusive as to what caused the crash as the crash sites were inaccessible to the investigation team, several possibilities were made for each incident.

On 24 January 1991, RAF Tornado GR1 was lost while carrying 1,000lb ‘Dumb’ bombs, initially the pilot’s believed they were hit by a SAM at the moment of weapons release. Conclusions were made that after the investigation fragments from the downed Tornado were found and the Accident Data Recorder was recovered from the wreckage, it was learned that the aircraft loss was caused by an early detonation after release of one, or more, 1,000lb bombs and caused extensive damage to the aircraft.

On 14 February 1991, RAF Tornado GR1 was shot down by two SAMs, pre-weapons release, while on a medium altitude sortie carrying LGBs.

Over 100 JP.233s were released on Iraqi Airfields, so around 50 JP.233 sorties providing the two JP.233 pods are classed as ‘one weapon’ on a single Tornado. So, be it 50+ or 100+ JP.233 sorties with just one loss, taking into account of the low level release under heavy AAA and SAM fire (and rather poor communication from the US side regarding “intelligence”), that is a rather outstanding ratio for such a dangerous mission.

Which one of these was John Peters and Nichols aircraft?

WP840,
Not all warbird pilots are ex-FJ. Some are ‘straight through’ civilians who progress from PPL – CPL – ATPL for a living (ie to the airlines) and somewhere on the way they pick up a penchant for aerobatics and/or taildraggers. Some of the best pilots at Dux have never been in the military. Others are ex-service Multi or Rotary pilots – in many case the latter make good piston pilots as we’re used to flying very low and dealing with torque (plus the natural suspicions we have about the reliability of our improbable flying machines!). As for conversion times, it’s a thorny issue. Hours on ‘big piston’ aircraft are rare and expensive so a thorough grounding in Tiger/Chippy is the norm followed by a short stint in the T6. For the Spit/P51 a dual checkout is possible, but still expensive. For a FJ pilot to convert to ME in the service it’s a ME Cross-Over (MEXO) followed by full OCU, so it could be 8 months or so. The bottom line, as explained to me once whilst sat in a P51, is that with my Service background, I could probably fly a P51 with 10-15 hrs in a Chippy and 3-5 in a T6/P2/Yak 11 – however, the hardest thing about flying a P51 is someone phoning you up and asking you to do it……

:eagerness:
Thanks!

And of course the famous (if untrue) story that links the two…

Whilst Guy Gibson is on his lecture tour of the US and Canada after the raid, someone mentions the Belle and it’s 25 missions, then asks how many he has done. “174” replies Gibson….

:highly_amused: