Operators

50 Years of Operation

	No. II (AC) Laarbruch, Marham Initially allocated HA - HZ codes, although never used. Used the following, S,H,I,N,E,Y,T,W,O,A,C and U, II & IV (HA - HZ later allocated to No. 111) No. II (AC) had received its first Tornados by 16th December 1988, although these did not have their reconnaissance equipment fitted. They provided aircraft and crews for the reconnaissance detachment at Dhahran during Operation Desert Storm. It's crews were also involved with the TIALD detachment at Tabuk. After arriving at Dhahran on the 13th January 1990 they flew their first of 128 sorties on the 17th January. As a result 'Gulf 1991' Battle honours were bestowed on the squadron. The squadron relocated from RAF Laarbruch to RAF Marham on the 3rd December 1991.
	No. 5 Received its first Tornado, ZE292 on 25th September 1987 (unit markings had appeared on ZE256 during June 1987) Formally stood up 1st January 1988 at RAF Coningsby, 3rd F.3 Squadron. Declared operational 1st May 1988 initially allocated CA - CZ codes Won The Seed Trophy for gunnery in 1989 & 1990 Deployed to Gioia del Colle for Operation Deny Flight 25th November 1993
	No. 5 Composite Formed on 29th August 1990 at Dhahran comprising of aircraft from No. 5 & No. 29 squadrons. Became No. 11 Composite Squadron during September 1990.
	No. IX Received its first Tornado, ZA586 on 6th January 1982 Formally stood up 1st June 1982 at RAF Honington Initially allocated AA - AZ codes
	No. 11 Received its first Tornado, ZE764 on 25th April 1988 at RAF Coningsby Formally stood up 1st July 1988 at RAF Leeming Declared operational 1st May 1988 Initially allocated DA - DZ codes
	No. 11 Composite
	No. 12 Formally stood up 1st October 1993 at RAF Lossiemouth Initially allocated FA - FZ codes
	No. 13 Received its first Tornado, ZA357 during the Autumn of 1989 Formally stood up 1st January 1990 at RAF Honington Declared operational 1st January 1991 Initially allocated KA - KZ codes although single letter codes have been used.
	No. 14 Formally stood up 1st November 1985 at RAF Brüggen Initially allocated BA - BZ codes
	No. 14 Composite
	No. XV Received its first Tornado, ZA411 on 5th July 1983 Formally stood up 1st November 1983 at RAF Laarbruch Declared operational 1st July 1984 Disbanded 31st December 1991 Initially allocated EA - EZ codes
	No. 16 Received its first Tornado, ZA458 on 13th December 1983 Formally stood up 1st March 1984 at RAF Laarbruch Disbanded 11th September 1991 Initially allocated FA - FZ codes
	No. 17 Received its first Tornado, ZD742 on 16th August 1984 Formally stood up 1st March 1985 at RAF Brüggen Initially allocated CA - CZ codes
	No. 20 Received its first Tornado, ZA461 during March 1984 Formally stood up 29th June 1984 at RAF Laarbruch Disbanded May 1992 Initially allocated GA - GZ codes
	No. 23 Received its first Tornado, ZE809 on 5th August 1988 Formally stood up 1st November 1988 at RAF Leeming Declared operational 1st August 1989 Disbanded 28th February 1994 Initially allocated EA - EZ codes
	No. 25 Received its first Tornado, ZE858 on 15th December 1988 Formally stood up 1st October 1989 at RAF Leeming Declared operational 1st January 1990 Initially allocated FA - FZ codes
	No. 27 Received its first Tornado, ZA609 on 29th June 1982 Formally stood up 12th August 1983 at RAF Marham Initially all airframes were numbered, later allocated JA - JZ codes followed by FA - FZ when reformed as No. 12 at RAF Lossiemouth
	No. 29 Received its first Tornado's during April 1987 Formally stood up 1st April 1987 at RAF Coningsby Initially allocated BA - BZ codes
	No. 31 Received its first Tornado, ZD712 on 13th June 1984 Formally stood up 1st November 1984 at RAF Bruggen Initially allocated DA - DZ codes
	No. 43 Received its first Tornado's, ZE961 & ZE962 on 23rd September 1989 Formally stood up 23rd September 1989 at RAF Leuchars Declared operational 1st July 1990 Initially allocated GA - GZ codes
	No. 43 Composite
	No. 56 Reserve (formerly 229OCU) Received its first Tornado's on 1st July 1992 Formally stood up 1st August 1992 at RAF Coningsby Initially allocated AA - AZ codes
	No. 111 Formally stood up 1st May 1990 at RAF Leuchars Declared operational 1st January 1991 Initially allocated HA - HZ codes
	No. 617 Received its first Tornado, ZA601 on 23rd April 1982 First Tornado GR.1B 14th April 1994 Formally stood up 16th May 1983 at RAF Marham Initially allocated single letter codes followed by MA - MZ codes. AJ-A etc is now used after the historic Dambuster raid Lancaster codes
	No. 617 Composite
	1435 Flight Received its first Tornado's, ZE209, ZE790 & ZE792 on 6th July 1992 Carry F, H, C & D codes ( Faith, Hope, Charity & Desperation)
	229 OCU (No. 65 ) Received its first Tornado's, ZA901 & ZA903 on 5th November 1984 Formally stood up 1984 Declared operational as an emergency air defence unit during December 1986 Initially allocated AA - AZ codes
	TTTE Received its first two Tornado's, ZA320 & ZA322 on 1st July 1980
	TWCU (No. 45 & XV Reserve) Received its first Tornado, ZA542 on 26th June 1981
	RAE, DRA
	DERA, DTEO, A&AEE Received its first Tornado, P.12/XZ630 on 3rd February 1978
	ETPS
	SAOEU Received its first Tornado, ZA393 on 11th November 1982
	F3 OEU Received its first Tornado on 1st April 1987