Pilots and other aircrew at RAF Marham in Norfolk were working on Wednesday to get two Tornado jets ready to fly out to reinforce UK planes already in action as quickly as possible after the House of Commons vote.This will bring the total number of Tornados to 10, allowing the RAF to increase sorties from two a day.
Capt Richard Davies, a Tornado pilot and station commander, said: “We have aircraft at a readiness state so they are prepared and ready to deploy.”
How soon could the RAF be in action over Syria, he was asked before the vote by MPs. “If a vote yes, if Tornados flying at that time and if there is a target in Syria, UK bombing could happen overnight … If all those ducks are aligned and the aircraft are airborne at that moment and a target comes up they will go. It depends where they are. If we are airborne in Iraq and the vote is yes, we could be targeting on that mission,” Davies said.
Engineers and ground crew were working on the two jets while the aircrew underwent last-minute training in the air and with simulators.
Some of the staff have already flown missions over Iraq and see little difference in expanding into Syria other than relishing the prospect of the freedom of being able to continue the pursuit of Islamic State on the other side of the border.
One of the weapons crew, who has to remain anonymous, was asked what it felt like when he knew he was going to fire a weapon. “Blood pressure goes up, heart rate increases. You hear breathing rates increase and you know the next event will be potentially the weapon coming off the aircraft. Once you get over that initial ‘right, this is it’, it is part of the routine.”
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