Thursday, July 02, 2009
Source: The Sun Online
Britain's fearsome Harrier jump jet force return home from the Afghan badlands after a five-year blitz on the Taliban. RAF and Navy top guns have flown nearly 5,000 missions, taking out enemy positions plus doing vital reconnaissance.
No 1 Squadron - the last Joint Force Harrier to return - touched down in front of 1,000 well-wishers at RAF Cottesmore yesterday.
Eight planes performed a jaw-dropping fly-past at the Rutland base.
Pilot Giles Croft got a smacker from wife Sophie after his three-month tour.
He said: "It's amazing to be home. We played a crucial role."
The Harriers have already been replaced by Tornado strike jets in the skies over Helmand.
Meanwhile, hundreds of patriotic Brits lined the streets of Plymouth yesterday to salute Royal Marines returning from Afghanistan.
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