Hellos and goodbyes as Tornados end their duties at RAF Marham

It has served this country well since it was introduced into service in 1979, but now after 40 years of flying the Tornado is taxiing to a close.

Eight Tornado G4s arrived back at RAF Marham this week after being station at Akrotiri in Cyprus and taken part in the fight against IS in Syria.

Their crews were given an ecstatic welcome by families delighted to see their loved ones back from flying over a warzone.

But there was also an air of sadness at the departure of such a warhorse of the airforce - even though exciting times lie ahead for the base.

The first five jets made the five-hour return flight on Monday, and the last three flew back on Tuesday.

The Tornado G1 was first used in combat during the first Gulf War. It will leave service before the end of next month. Tornados also saw action in Kosovo and in this century’s wars in Iraq and Afghanistan

In its place will be the existing Typhoon fighter jets and the new American-made Lightning F-35, which will continue to be based at Marham.

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said: “The combination of our state-of-the-art F-35s and the Typhoon’s new weapons systems will keep us as a world leader in air combat for a generation.”