Gentlemen,
as this is a Group Build of Her Majesty's Fleet Air Arm I thought an update of current news would be in order. Our Harriers have recently returned home from Afganistan after a five year deployment, here's a few words and photo's from the Joint harrier Force webpage:
Harrier over Kijaki Dam
Harriers Come Home After Five Year Tour De Force
After a deployment lasting five years on operations in Afghanistan, the Joint Force Harrier’s last remaining squadron returned home today, Wednesday 1 July, to their base at RAF Cottesmore in Rutland. Personnel from 1(Fighter) Squadron returned to base to be greeted by their families, friends, the Minister of State for the Armed Forces, the Rt Hon Bill Rammell MP, and senior officers from the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy.
Mr Rammell applauded the efforts of the Harrier Force. He said:
“Over the past five years Joint Force Harrier has played a crucial role in Afghanistan, flying thousands of sorties to provide vital Close Air Support and reconnaissance information. Joint Force Harrier has made a significant and acclaimed contribution to coalition air operations and all those personnel involved can be proud of their many achievements.
“As they now hand over their responsibilities to the Tornado GR4 force, I am delighted to welcome the men and women of Joint Force Harrier back to the UK for a well-earned and deserved break from operations.”
The Joint Force Harrier fleet is a combined Royal Air Force and Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm unit that first deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan in May 2004 in support of the NATO led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). Since then the Harrier Force has flown in excess of 22,000 hours on a total of over 8,500 sorties mainly supporting ground troops in the southern province of Helmand.
As well as flying ‘show of force’ and reconnaissance missions the Harriers were most noted for their very successful Close Air Support role support to ground troops. Fitted with rockets and a range of guided bombs the Harriers flew over 2,000 Close Air Support missions during the deployment.
Commenting on five years of high intensity war-fighting the RAF Cottesmore Station Commander and Harrier Force Commander, Group Captain Ken McCann said:
“I must pay tribute to the outstanding and unflinching contribution the men and women of Joint Force Harrier have consistently delivered in providing peerless Close Air Support during this extended period. The Harrier Force has undoubtedly saved the lives of countless personnel, service and civilian, on the ground throughout the country – a magnificent effort.”
The Officer Commanding 1(F) Squadron, Wing Commander Dave Haines, described the impact the Harriers had on the enemy:
“Taliban fighters would flee in terror when they heard the deafening roar of Harrier jets giving shows of force when the troops were under fire.”
On Close Air Support he added:
“After ensuring we’re not going to harm civilians, we can fire our missiles from such a distance that the insurgents don’t even know we’re there; sometimes the last thing they hear is the crack of a missile’s sonic boom before it hits.”
Pictures from the deployment:
