Emotional return for Harrier crews

Emotional return for Harrier crews

By Philip Whiteside
At RAF Cottesmore

Emotional scenes greeted the return of nine Harrier jet crews to RAF Cottesmore after their tour of duty in the Iraq war.

The jets flew into the Rutland air base on Friday and their pilots were immediately met by waiting families.

The nine pilots from 3 Squadron were being followed overnight by more than 100 ground crew and support staff who had accompanied the Harriers.

All the Harrier pilots that went to Iraq returned safely

As the pilots stepped out onto the tarmac there were floods of tears from them and their families, who they had not seen for seven weeks.

First to step out of his aircraft after the seven-hour flight was Wing Commander Stuart Atha, who was met by his wife and five children.

He said: "We are extremely happy and relieved to be back.

"The worst thing about being away is leaving your family behind, but the best thing is seeing them when you get back.

"When you are up there you are thinking of your family, but you have a job to do and you have to be concerned with that."

Perfect day

Wing Commander Robin Adlam, who had been acting base commander while the crews had been in the Gulf said in the last few days there had been an amazing sense of anticipation.

He said: "They did their last operation on Tuesday and since then the base has just been on a sense of high excitement.

We did not know what to expect. It was the fear of the unknown

Wing Commander Stuart Atha

"Today is just perfect. The sun is shining and the atmosphere is almost like a wedding day.

"We are delighted they are back. They have done a tremendous job out there and we can be very proud of them."

The pilots had flown several hundred missions over Iraqi territory, with some sorties lasting up to eight hours.

On their first few missions they had taken out strategic targets but the majority of the war was spent providing close support for troops on the ground.

While their anxious families remained worrying at home the pilots had to endure regular anti-aircraft fire exploding around them.

Wing Commander Atha added: "I don't think anyone expected it to turn out the way it did. It was a lot quicker than any of us expected.

A piper welcomes Wing Cdr Atha

"We were only out there for seven weeks which is nothing compared to some of the guys out there.

"We have been very fortunate, some of them are going to have to be there for some time."

"The worst part was just before we went up - especially the first night - as we did not know what to expect. It was the fear of the unknown.

"When you are up there you feel a mix of emotions, there are times when you are scared, but most of the time you are concerned with just doing a good job."

As Wing Commander Atha's Harrier taxied along the runway the proud Scot was met by a traditional bagpiper in full kilt and costume.

As he prepared to spend his first evening with his family for some time Wing Commander Atha said: "Now I have two weeks off but tonight I think I might have a glass of champagne."

RAF Cottesmore's remaining two Harrier Squadrons, 1 Squadron and 4 Squadron, will remain out in the Gulf for the foreseeable future.

This a pooled report by Philip Whiteside, of the Leicester Mercury, at RAF Cottesmore.