Doggone it I missed you! Overjoyed spaniel welcomes home her master as Libya Tornado crews return

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER



I've missed you! Jezebel the Spaniel can't hide her excitement after being reunited with her owner Steve Morris on his return from Libya



They're always said to be man's best friend, and judging by this Spaniel's reaction to seeing her master, the old adage still rings true.

Jezebel the excited Spaniel couldn't wait to see owner Steve Morris after the Flight Lieutenant returned from his mission in the skies over Libya.

Flight Lieutenant Morris was one of nine Squadron GR4 Tornados to return to RAF Marham, Norfolk, following a seven-month deployment supporting the rebels who overthrew Colonel Gaddafi.



Man's best friend: Flight Lieutenant Morris piloted one of nine tornados which returned to RAF Marham, Norfolk, today, from Libya



All smiles: Flight Lieutenant Steve Morris was welcomed back by Jezebel and a woman believed to be his girlfriend



There were touching scenes too as Wing Commander Andy Turk, who navigated Tornado GR4 warplanes on missions against Colonel Gaddafi’s forces, lifted his three-year-old son above his head as they were reunited at the Norfolk airbase after the seven-month deployment.

During the heartwarming scene another of his young children looked on proudly, dressed in a miniature RAF uniform.

Wing Commander Turk flew scores of missions during the Libyan conflict, regularly dealing crushing blows to the dictator’s troops as they threatened to slaughter civilians.



I'm back: Wing Commander Andy Turk greets his elder son after his return from Libya



Yesterday, as he returned to wife Abi and his children, he said: 'It is fantastic to be back with the family and the little ones but more importantly it's fantastic to bring the squadron back.

'They did an amazing job over the skies of Libya as part of the wider RAF efforts.

'It has been inspirational to see the momentous events over the last month.



Family reunion: Wing Commander Andy Turk was one of many UK pilots who had a heartwarming reunion with their partners and children after their seven-month mission



'Because there were no British troops, it was very important that the RAF maintained our intelligence and surveillance.

'We got a real sense of connection to what was going on on the ground.

'We feel a real sense of achievement and it shows the flexibility of the equipment we have in service to take these sorts of conflict head on.'

Based at Gioia del Colle in Southern Italy, the British pilots played a key role in the 3,000 UK sorties, in Libya, more than 2,100 of which were strike attacks on around 640 targets.



The final seven GR4 Tornados landed at Marham this morning after the first nine arrived home on Friday.

The Tornado force, deployed under Operation Ellamy as part of the Nato operation, was led by Marham-based IX Squadron with additional aircrew and engineers from Lossiemouth.



On home turf at last: Tornado GR4 jets from 9 Squadron return to RAF Marham after deployment in Libya



They were deployed with Apache attack helicopters, airborne warning and control systems aircraft, VC10 refuellers and airborne radar aircraft.

The Tornados' role over Libya was reconnaissance and surveillance as well as air strikes.

Although the RAF does not comment on specific sorties, one of the most used weapons was the Brimstone missile.

The Brimstone has a hit rate of more than 90 per cent and its precision allows the use of a small warhead with a low risk of collateral damage.

Marham station commander, Group Captain Pete 'Rocky' Rochelle, said: 'This operation has shown the versatility of the Tornado aircraft.

'While IX Squadron were deployed over Libya, 31 Squadron were fighting in a very different conflict in Afghanistan.'



Dadd'y boys: Wing Commander Andy Turk from 9 Squadron is greeted by his two children on his return to RAF Marham, King's Lynn, after returning from service in Libya



source: dailymail