After supporting a Tornado attack, transport aircraft were seen on the ground and Buccaneers attacked them in a steep dive dropping two Paveway 1,00lb bombs each.
One pair hit a cub transport. Although the bombs failed to explode, 2,000lbs of iron at terminal velocity is very effective! The second, marked by the Squadron Commander's navigator, Carl Wilson, hit a captured Kuwaiti Hercules and destroyed it. A fitting climax to the final sortie.
A video of the strike on the Cub transport
Throughout the detachment, the ground crew worked wonders. Under the outstanding leadership of Squadron Leaders G Barber and D Tasker they achieved an unbelievable record of 100 per cent serviceability under very difficult conditions. By the end of the war, over 200 sorties had been flown and there was always a spare aircraft in case of unserviceability. The Buccaneers dropped forty eight LGBs and 'spiked' 169 for the Tornados. As all aircrew know well, the ground crews have always played a vital supportive role; one that becomes even more important in wartime. They are a familiar face to strap the crew in, offer a word of support and comfort and wave them away, and they are the first to welcome them back and share in the success. Without them, there would have been very little success.
