Thor's Hammer

0635hrs 19^th January 1991

Approximately 40 miles South East of Tallil,

Iraq

The Tornado GR.1 of RAF 617 squadron, better known as the Dam Busters roared across the Iraqi desert at just under one hundred feet and three hundred and fifty miles per hour. In the front seat Flying Officer ‘Pom’ Denton kept a close eye on the terrain and his heads up display. In the rear of the aircraft ‘Tigger’ Marshal had his head down concentrating on the radar and other instruments.

This was the third sortie they had flown in less than thirty hours.

The Tornado was in the second wave of aircraft to attack their current objective. The first wave, flying ten minutes in front of them, was made up of American F-16swho were tasked with destroying the radar and Sam systems leaving the way for 617 squadron to destroy the scud launchers and weapons depot.

The current 617 squadron flew out of RAF Lossimouth and had been in the Gulf since hostilities started a few days earlier.

‘Last way point passed coming left twenty degrees. Point Alpha in two minutes.’ Said Marshal from the back seat.

‘Roger. Attack run in two minutes.’ Confirmed Denton.

At three hundred and fifty miles per hour they would cover the one hundred feet to the desert floor in two tenths of one second thus the margin for error was vanishingly small. The risk was made worse at this time of day, an hour or so before dawn, as the sky turned an overcast muddy brown making it indistinguishable from the desert floor rushing by beneath them.

‘Alpha in ten seconds, begin climb’

Denton eased back on the stick and the warplane started to rise effortlessly into the clear, cold Iraqi sky.

‘Passing Alpha in, Three…Two…One…Mark.’ Said Marshal as he flicked several switches giving basic flight control over to the computer. The plane would now approach the target at a pre-designed speed, altitude and direction. Denton would take control at the last few seconds as they performed the ‘pop-up-sling-shot’ manoeuvre. Until then the aircraft would fly itself leaving its crew free to check the switches and settings. Denton kept his hand resting lightly on the stick ready to take control at the slightest hint of trouble.

‘How’s it looking back there?’ said Denton over the in plane communication system.

‘Everything set and ready. Flight is on course and speed. Ready for pop-up in one minute…Mark.’

The Tornado GR.1 was in a loose three-plane formation coming it thirty seconds apart. Denton and Marshal would be the second plane on target.

‘No threat detected, looks like the Americans have done a damn good job.’ Reported Marshal.

‘All set for pop up. Give me a five count and prepare for drop.’

‘Roger Pom.’

The manoeuvre was designed to pull the plane up into a steep climb whilst maintaining forward momentum. At just the right moment their bomb would be released and once free of the aircraft continue on a parabolic course terminating in the destruction of their target.

‘Pop-up in... Five…four…three...two...one... POP-UP.’

Denton pulled back smoothly on the stick and felt the Tornado leap into the sky. Holding it steady whilst feeding in power he said, ‘Prepare for release…NOW.’

He felt the jolt as the bomb released and went on its predetermined way.

Pulling back hard and to one side he stood the plane on its wing a