The Squadron's 75th Year

On a not-so-sunny day in 1991, 208 Squadron was minding its own business on exercise out of St Mawgan with the Navy, when the Western Coalition went to war over Kuwait, part of 208's old stamping ground. Everyone was glued to the television sets and then, on 23rd January, the Squadron was called back to Lossiemouth and ordered to deploy to Muharraq, where it had spent its last days as part of Air Forces Gulf just 20 years earlier. Now, the task was to support Operation Granby, an element of Operation Desert Storm. All this after a press statement had been released the day before saying: 'I can tell you it is extremely unlikely that the Buccaneers will be sent to the Gulf.'

The Royal Air Force moved with a speed of decision and action not witnessed since World War II as 2 'desert pink' Buccaneers flew out to Muharraq on 26th January, followed by 2 more the next day and 2 more on the 28th. finally, 12 aircraft and 18 crews were located in Bahrain. They flew with such aircraft names as 'Glenfiddich,' 'The Macallan,' 'Glen Elgin,' 'Famous Grouse,' and 'Tamnavoulin.' During February, 107 sorties were flown without a single mechanical mishap. Initially, the Buccaneers provided laser designation for the Tornados, amongst which their targets were bridges, fuel / oil depots, then airfields, hardened aircraft shelters, silos and storage bunkers. Interestingly, the Buccaneer flew higher, faster and further than its counterpart and ultimate successor, the Tornado GR1. The laser designation of targets worked perfectly, and not one sortie was lost. Then 208 came into its own, carrying its own laser guided bombs as well as the laser designator to take out its own targets, including Iraqi aircraft left out in the open. In a press conference before the Buccaneers arrived in the Gulf, it was asked of the Defence Minister, Tom King: 'Why are we sending a 30-year-old aeroplane to a high-tech war?' The answer came back: 'to increase the accuracy of the precision bombing,' which is exactly what it did. But the best quote of all was Wing Commander Bill Cope's: 'I compare the Buccaneer with my Grandmother: old, but formidable.'

As the ceasefire was declared, so activities closed down and the Squadron prepared to head for home. On 17th March, a tanker connection was organised across the return route and all 12 'Buccs' were flown home safely. After a total of 33 years of service, 17 of them with 208 Squadron, the Buccaneer had well and truly proved its worth. To quote the Squadron's own notes: 'Now, with a couple of years left to run, the old lady of Brough will be able to retire content.' And retire she did, but not for another 3 years as the Buccaneer Wing at RAF Lossiemouth was to continue in operation until April 1994, when its squadrons would be replaced with Tornados. There was a period of deep apprehension as the news came out that 208 was unlikely to be converted to the Tornado; disbandment being the more likely fate of one of the RAF's longest-serving squadrons, with a substantial history, a fine record in battle, and a deep tradition.