The Royal Air Force's Tornado crews - two men per aircraft - know that despite their £20m weapons, their lives could eventually depend on just a few gold coins.

In the 1991 Gulf War, a Tornado crewed by Flt Lts John Nichol and John Peters went down in Iraqi territory after a successful bombing run on one of the many hundreds of Iraqi targets.

The men survived - but only after being tortured by their captors and paraded on Iraqi television.

Today's airmen will hope that they do not face the same fate.

Armed to survive

Each pilot and navigator goes into battle wearing a combat survival waistcoat including a Walther PP handgun with two ammunition clips and 10 solid gold Kruggerands.

Each of these coins is worth around £180 at current prices and are specifically given to all pilots to give them a fighting chance to buy help and shelter from locals wherever they fall to earth.

Military chiefs hope that Iraqi communities may take in any fallen airmen and protect them from the forces of Saddam Hussein.

The survival kit also includes a radio and strobe light for attracting the attention of a search and rescue team, and a "global positioning system".

The GPS, also used by explorers, is a hand held device which locks onto different satellite signals to establish the user's exact position anywhere in the world - give or take a few metres.

Not invuneralble: Airmen must be prepared

But along with the gold coins, it is the note in a dozen languages including Arabic, Persian, Turkish and many local dialects, which could prove the most useful.

The note is topped by a royal lion and unicorn crest and a code number. It assures the reader that the downed airman means no harm.

It reads: "I am British and I do not speak your language. I will not harm you. I bear no malice towards your people.

"My friend, please provide me food, water, shelter, clothing and necessary medical attention.

"Also, please provide safe passage to the nearest friendly forces of any country supporting the British and their allies.

"You will be rewarded for assisting me when you present this number and my name to British authorities."