12(B) Sqn stood down as RAF prepares for Tornado retirement

The UK Royal Air Force (RAF) has disbanded 12 (Bomber) Squadron as it prepares for the retirement of the Panavia Tornado GR4 strike aircraft in 2019.

The unit from RAF Marham in Norfolk flew its final operational sortie over the Middle East in December 2017, ahead of its formal close-down as the service’s third Tornado unit on 13 March.

This is actually the second time in recent years that 12(B) Squadron has been disbanded. In 2014 the unit was stood down after concluding its final mission over Afghanistan, only to be reconstituted less than a year later as the United Kingdom began its counter-Islamic State operations over Iraq and later Syria.

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