The UK Royal Air Force (RAF) has returned all elements deployed for Operation 'Ellamy' to the UK after the end on 31 October of the NATO mission over Libya. Significant contributions to an unexpected air operation were made by a diverse range of aircraft, including E-3D Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft, Sentinel R.l Airborne Stand-Off Radar aircraft and VC10 and Tristar tanker aircraft. However, most notable was the effort made by the Panavia Tornado GR.4 strike aircraft and Eurofighter Typhoon FGR.4s operating extensively from the deployed location at Gioia del Colle in Italy. The Tornado GR.4s of No IX(B) Squadron opened the air-power offensive on 19 March with a 3,000-mile-round-trip Storm Shadow cruise missile strike mounted from RAF Marham in Norfolk. Supported by VC10 and TriStar tankers, the GR.4s launched eight Storm Shadows against com-mand-and-control nodes. These were the RAF's longest-range strike missions since the 'Black Buck' operations during the Falklands conflict in 1982 and the first RAF bombing raids launched from the UK since the Second World War.
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