| January | Guatemalan Threat | UK to Belize, British Honduras |
Troop reinforcements to Belize |
| 5 January | Operation Chiffon | UK to Luqa, Malta | Flt Lt Roger Wood, Fg Off Pete Simpson plus 11. Deployment of 38 Group Tactical Comms Wing to Malta in preparation for the British withdrawal. |
| January | Exercise Dreamboat | Belize, British Honduras to UK |
Flt Lt Gerry Keyworth, FS Bob Hope, Sgt DK Henderson, Cpl Jimmy Jones, SACs Tim Newstead & Ian Place. Recovery of 14 Sigs Regt to UK |
| January | Special | St Mawgan, UK | Fg Off Tony Willis, FS Tony Barrell, Sgt Tony Pyne, Cpl Norman Poole, SACs Boot Pratt & Jim Marchant. Loading of a Whirlwind HAR10 for Akrotiri |
| January | Exercise Broken Cog | Coningsby UK to Decimomannu, Sardinia | Flt Lts Norrie Radcliffe & Alan Walker plus 9. Deployment of 6 Squadron (Phantoms) to Decimomannu |
| February | Special | Yeovilton, UK to New York and Kelly AFB, USA to UK |
Fg Off Brian Clucas, FS Taff Thomas, Sgt Ivan Gervais, Cpl Tommy Blues, SACs Bob Ford & Bob Thacker. Resupply of materials to HMS Ark Royal in New York and recovery of a u/s Allison engine from Kelly AFB to UK |
| February | Exercise Minton | UK to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and Uganda | Fg Off Pete Simpson, Cpl Jim Gallagher plus 4. Deployment of 15 Squadron 10 Royal Engineers to Ethiopia and equipment of 29 Regt RCT to Uganda |
| February | Operation Banner | Celle, Germany to Belfast, Northern Ireland |
Fg Off Steve Richmond, FS Al Storey, Sgt Ben Johnson, Cpl Eddie Mottram, SAC Gordon Wood plus 1. Rotation of Sioux helicopters between Germany and Northern Ireland |
| February | Exercise Pirate Trail | Honington, UK | Flt Lt Chris Twyman, FSgt Don Wickham, Sgt Dave Barton, Cpl George Lynes, SACs Tony Gale and Tony Moore. Deployment of 12 Squadron (Bucaneers) to Denmark |
| February | Exercise Galo | UK to Stockholm, Sweden | Fg Off Steve Richmond plus 3. Deployment of Royal Naval Hovercraft Squadron personnel and vehicles to Sweden |
| March | Exercise Hardfall | Odiham, UK to Norway |
Fg Off Paul Steiner, FS Ken Browne, Sgt Rocky Knowles, Cpl Colin Eyres, JT Gordon Gourdie & SAC Bob Tring. Deployment of 72 Squadron (Wessex) to Norway |
| March | Missile Exchange | West Raynham, UK to Germany and return |
FS Charlie Dalgleish, Sgt Dave Bernard, Cpl Kit Carson, SACs Troop Smith & Hugh Curran. Rotation of Bloodhound Missiles of 25 Squadron between UK and Germany |
| March | Exercise Advocate | Darwin, Australia to UK | Flt Lt Chris Twyman, FS John Evans, Sgt Dave Barton, Cpl George Lynes, SACs Tony Gale & Mac Maclean. Recovery of 21 Joint Service Tactical Unit from Australia after Rapier trials |
| March | Exercise Dense Trail | Incirlik, Turkey to UK | Fg Off Alistair Gallagher, FSgt Chas Dalgleish, Sgt Dave Bernard, SACs Hugh Curran & Troop Smith plus 1. Recovery of UKLF personnel from Turkey to UK |
| March | Special | Kuala Lumpur to Labuan, Malaysia and Masirah, Oman to UK | Fg Off Brian Clucas, FSgt Taff Thomas, Sgt Ivan Gervais, Cpl Tommy Blues, SACs Bob Ford and Bob Thacker. Transfer of firefighting equipment to Labuan to cover Queen’s visit and recovery of Rubb Hangar from Masirah to UK |
| April | Operation Sedburgh | Majunga, Madagascar to UK | Fg Off Gerry Keyworth, FS Bob Hope, Sgt DK Henderson, Cpl Jimmy Jones, SAC's Tim Newstead and Ian Place. Withdrawl of RAF detachment from Majunga, Madagascar |
| April | Exercise Dawn Patrol | Honington, UK to Gioia del Colle, Italy | Flt Lt Bill Wellman, FS Reg Carey, Sgt Eddy Leonard, Cpl Dave Wilkin, SACs Polly Parkin and Terry Fryer. Deployment of 12 Squadron (Buccaneers) from Honington to Italy |
| April | Special | Bruggen, Germany to Amman, Jordan | Fg Off Gerry Keyworth, FS Bob Hope, Sgt DK Henderson, Cpl Jimmy Jones, SACs Tim Newstead & Ian Place. Deployment of photographic trailer from Germany to Amman, Jordan |
| April | Special | Wyton, UK to Barbados | Sgt Ivan Gervais, Cpl Tommy Blues & SAC Bob Ford. Deployment of 55 Squadron (Victors) from UK to Barbados |
| April | Exercise Bold Dane | Lossiemouth, Scotland to Karup, Denmark | Flt Lt Charles Collier, FSgt “Chomper” Lamb, Sgt Merv Corke, Cpl Keith Simmonds, SACs Taff Eynon & Fred Kitts. Deployment of 809 RNAS (Buccaneers) and 849 RNAS (Gannets) to Karup, Denmark |
| April | Exercises Labour and Foreland | Brisbane, QLD, Australia to Hong Kong and thence to Singapore | Flt Lt Gerry Keyworth plus 2. Recovery of Ghurka Rifles from Brisbane to Hong Kong. Deployment of 1Bn Irish Guards from Hong Kong to Singapore |
| April | Special | Seawell, Bahamas to Wyton, UK | Fg Off Glen Morton, FS Dave Eggleton, Cpl Syd Avery & JT Ted Moore. Recovery of personnel and equipment of 543 Sqn (Victors) from Bahamas to Wyton |
| May | Special | UK to Furstenfeldbruk, Germany |
Fg Off Steve Richmond, Sgt Ben Johnston, Cpl Eddy Mottram. Uplift of 10 sailing dinghies for the Olympic Team |
| May | Special | Pretoria, South Africa to UK |
FS Tony Lamb, Cpl Keith Simmonds, SAC Fred Kitts. Recovery of personal effects of Air Cdre Knight from Pretoria, South Africa to UK |
| May | Exercises Calypso Hop and Coral Diver | UK to Kingston, Jamaica | Fg Off Pete Simpson, FS Don Wickham & Cpl Jim Gallagher. Deployment of personnel & equipment of 4 Para from UK to Jamaica |
| May | Exercise Dawn Patrol | UK to Gioia-del-Colle, Italy and Germany | FS Ken Browne, Sgt Ross McKerron, JT Gordon Gourdie, SAC Bob Tring plus 1. Rotation of personnel and equipment of 12 & 16 Squadron (Buccaneers) between UK, Italy and Germany |
| May | Special | UK to El Paso, TX, USA | Fg Off Gerry Keyworth, FS Bob Hope, Sgt DK Henderson, Cpl Jimmy Jones, SACs Ian Place & Tim Newstead. Deployment of 21 Joint Services Tactical Unit to USA for firing trials of Rapier missiles |
| May | Squadron Exchange | Gutersloh, Germany to Leeuwarden, Netherlands | Fg Off Gerry Keyworth, FS Bob Hope, SGT DK Henderson, Cpl Jimmy Jones, SACs Tim Newstead & Ian Place. Deployment of 92 Sqn (Lightnings) from RAF Gutersloh, Germany |
| May | Exercise Dawn Patrol | Gioia Del Colle, Italy to Honington, UK | Fg Off Pete Simpson, FS Baz Shatford, Sgt Arthur Taylor, Cpl Jim Gallagher, SAC “Mac” Mclean plus 1. Recovery of personnel and equipment of 12 Sqn (Buccaneers) from Italy to Honington |
| June | Exercise Minton | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to UK | Flt Lt Charles Collier, FS Tony Lamb, Sgt Ben Johnston, SACs Fred Kitts & Keri Eynon plus 1. Recovery of 15 Field Squadron RE from Ethiopia to UK |
| June | Exercise Rabelais | Ascension Island to UK | Fg Off Brian Clucas, FS Taff Thomas, Sgt Ivan Gervais, Cpl Tommy Blues & SAC Bob Thacker. Recovery of Army Signals Unit back to UK |
| June | Exercise Macleod | UK to Calgary, AB, Canada | Flt Lt Gus Hatter, FS Ken Browne, Sgt Ross McKerron, Cpl Ian Berry, JT Gordon Gourdie & SAC Bob Tring. Deployment of advance party of Battle Group to Canada |
| June | Exercise Pink Lace | Greenwood, NS, Canada to Kinloss, Scotland |
Flt Lt Pete Simpson, FS Dave Eggleton, Cpl Jim Gallagher plus 3. Recovery of 120 Squadron (Nimrods) from Canada to Kinloss |
| June | Exercise Citrus Shade | Bruggen, Germany to Decimomannu, Sardina | Fg Off Steve Richmond, FS Al Storey, Sgt Ben Johnston, Cpl Eddy Mottram plus 2. Deployment of personnel and equipment of 14 Sqn (Phantoms) from Bruggen to Sardina |
| June | Special | Muscat, Oman to Salalah and return | Flt Lt Bill Wellman, FS Reg Carey, Sgt Eddy Leonard, Cpl Dave Wilkin, SACs Terry Fryer & Polly Parkin. Deployed to Masirah for rotation of units of the Sultan of Oman’s Armed Forces between Muscat and Salalah |
| July | Exercise Harvest Moon | Gutersloh, Germany to UK | FS Tony Barrell, Sgt Bob Turner, SACs Jim Marchant & Alan Pratt. Deployment of 92 Squadron (Lightnings) from Germany to UK |
| July |
Special | Heathrow, UK to Frankfurt, Germany | Fg Off Steve Richmond, FS Al Storey, Sgt Ben Johnson, SAC Ian Bell plus 1. Transportation of a Boeing 747 engine from Heathrow to Germany utilising a Belfast of 53 Squadron |
| July |
Exercises McDuff and Mcleod | UK to Calgary, AB, Canada and return | Flt Lt Gus Hatter, FS Ken Browne, Sgt Ross McKerron, Cpl Ian Berry, JT Gordon Gourdie and SAC Bob Tring. Rotation of British Army units between UK and Canada |
| July |
Operation Glasscutter | Wildenrath, Germany to Belfast Northern Ireland |
Flt Lt Norrie Radcliffe, 4 Officers and 21 other ranks. Deployment of heavy plant equipment for Royal Engineers and Queens Own Highlanders from Germany to Northern Ireland |
| July |
Operation Glasscutter | Gutersloh, Germany to Belfast Northern Ireland |
Flt Lt Alan Walker, 4 Officers and 21 other ranks. Deployment of 1st Btn Queens Own Highlanders, 1st Btn Royal Green Jackets and 27 Regt RCT from Germany to Northern Ireland |
| July |
Operation Motorman | UK to Belfast Northern Ireland |
Troop reinforcement to Northern Ireland - SAC Andy Downard + 6 others. Reinforce RAF Aldergrove Air Movements from RAF Lyneham Air Movements Squadron to support inbound flights from Germany and UK. Deployment of Royal Engineers to Northern Ireland to remove IRA no-go areas |
| July |
Exercise Chapter Ring | Coningsby, UK | Fg Off Tony Willis, FS Chas Dalgleish, Sgt Bob Turner, Cpl Norman Poole, SACs Alan Pratt & Jim Marchant. Deployment of 6 Squadron (Phantoms) to Sardinia |
| July | Exercise Bent Spring | Bitburg, Germany to Leuchars, Scotland | Flt Lt Charles Collier, Sgt Merv Corke, Cpl Keith Simmonds, SAC Fred Kitts. Recovery of personnel and equipment of 43 Sqn (Phantoms) from Germany to Leuchars |
| July | JMC165 | Cottesmore to Leuchars | Fg Off Tony Willis, FS Tony Barrell, Sgt Bob Turner, Cpl Norman Poole, SACs Alan Pratt & Jim Marchant. Deployment of personnel and equipment of 360 Sqn (Canberras) to Leuchars |
| August | Operation Delivery Boy | Scottish Isles | 3 teams deployed to provide aid for the Scottish Isles |
| August | Exercise Strong Express | Waterbeach, UK to Stornoway, UK | Flt Lt Pete Simpson, FS Don Wickham, Sgt Tony Pyne, Cpl James Gallagher, SAC Gordon Woods plus 1. Deployment of RHAG (Retractable Hydraulic Arrestor Gear) to Stornoway for forthcoming NATO exercise |
| August | Squadron Exercise | Wattisham, UK to Leeuwarden, Holland and return |
Flt Lt Bill Wellman, FS Reg Carey, Cpls Dave Wilkin & Ian Berry, SACs Terry Fryer & Polly Parkin. Exchange of 29 Squadron (Phantoms) and 332 Squadron (Starfighters) RNAF between UK and Leeuwarden |
| August | Exercise Big Click | Aalborg, Denmark to Laarbruch, Germany | Flt Lt Chris Twyman, FS John Evans, Sgt Dave Barton, Cpl George Lynes, SACs Tony Gale & ‘Mac’ Maclean. Recovery of 2 Squadron (Phantoms) from Denmark to Laarbruch |
| August | Squadron Exchange | Bandirma, Turkey to Wittering, UK | Flt Lt Gus Hatter, FS Ken Browne, Sgt Gerry Frost (MAMS Eng) , Cpl Ian Berry, JT Gordon Gourdie & SAC Bob Tring. Recovery of 1 Squadron (Harriers) from Turkey to Wittering |
| August | NATO Squadron Exchange | Wattisham to Leeuwarden, Holland and return | Fg Off Brian Clucas, FS Taff Thomas, Sgt Ivan Gervais, Cpl Tommy Blues & SAC Bob Ford. Deployment of 111 Squadron (Lightnings) to Holland from Wattisham and move of 322 Squadron RNAF (F104 Starfighters) back to UK |
| September | Exercise Strong Express | Wittering, UK to Tromso, Norway | Flt Lt Charles Collier, Fg Off Brian Clucas, FS Taff Thomas & Tony ‘Chomper’ Lamb, Sgts Ivan Gervais & Merv Corke, Cpls Keith Simmonds & Tom Blues, SACs Bob Ford, Bob Thacker, Keri Eynon and Fred Kitts. Deployment of 1 Squadron (Harriers) from Wittering to Norway. (n.b. It was during this deployment that Hercules XV192 was written off when it left the runway on landing and ‘broke its back’ - everyone escaped.) |
| September | Exercise Strong Express | Wattisham, UK to Benbecula, UK | Flt Lt Gerry Keyworth, FS Bob Hope, Sgt DK Henderson, Cpl Jimmy Jones, SACs Tim Newstead and Ian Place. Deployment of 1ACC from Wattisham to the Outer Hebrides |
| September | Exercise Strong Express | Binbrook, UK to Kinloss, UK | Fg Off Glen Morton. FS Dave Eggleton, Sgt John Bell, JT Ted Moore and SAC Jim Barr. Deployment of 11 Squadron (Lightnings) to Kinloss |
| October | Exercise Ruby Signet | UK to Vaerlose, Denmark and Tromso, Norway to Colerne, UK |
Flt Lt Pete Simpson, FS Don Wickham, Cpl Jim Gallagher plus 2. Deployment of advance party of 16 Para Brigade to Denmark and recovery of spares salvaged from Herc XV194 from Tromso to Colerne |
| October | Exercise Long John | Honington, UK to Decimomannu, Sardinia, return to Laarbruch, Germany |
Fg Off Steve Richmond, FS Al Storey, Sgt Ben Johnston, Cpl Keith Simmonds, SAC Ian Bell. Deployment of 12 Squadron (Bucaneers) from Honington to Sardinia and recovery of 15 Squadron (Bucaneers) from Sardinia to Laarbruch |
| October | Exercise Ruby Signet | Vaerlose, Denmark to UK | OC UKMAMS (Sqn Ldr Bryan Morgan), Flt Lts Charles Collier, Gus Hatter, Fg Offs Tony Willis, Glen Morton & Brian Clucas, FS Ken Browne, Bob Hope, Taff Thomas & Tony Barrell, Sgts Ross McKerron, Bob Turner, DK Henderson & Ivan Gervais. Cpls Ian Berry, Tom Blues, Ray Baron, Taff Lewis & Jimmy Jones. SACs Bob Tring, Fred Kitts, Keri Eynon, Bob Ford, Bob Thacker plus 11. Recovery of 16 Para Brigade from Denmark after largest airdrop since Arnhem |
| October | APC | Honington, UK to Decimomannu, Sardinia and return to Laarbruch, Germany | Flt Lt Bill Wellman, FS Reg Carey, Sgt Eddy Leonard, Cpl Dave Wilkie, SACs Harry Jones & Polly Parkin. Recovery of 15 Squadron (Buccaneers) from Sardinia to Laarbruch and deployment of 12 Squadron (Buccaneers) from Honington to Sardinia |
| October | Exercise Strong Express | Benbecula, Scotland to Wattisham | Flt Lt Gus Hatter, FS Ken Browne, Sgt Ross McKerron, Cpls Ian Berry & Geordie Sanderson, JT Gordon Gourdie. Recovery of 1 ACC from Outer Hebrides to Wattisham |
| November | Exercise Bitter Breath | UK to Ascension Island | Flt Lt Bill Wellman, FS Ken Browne, Sgt Dave Leonard, Cpl Dave Wilkin, SACs Polly Parkin & Keri Eynon. Deployment of TCW from UK to Ascension Island |
| November | Special | UK to Hohn, Germany | Flt Lt Gerry Keyworth, Fg Off Tony Willis, FS Bob Hope & Tony Barrell, Sgts DK Henderson & Bob Turner, Cpls Jimmy Jones & Norman Poole, SACs Tim Newstead, Ian Place, Jim Marchant & Alan Pratt. No notice deployment of 1Bn Duke of Edinburgh’s Royal Regiment to Berlin. |
| November | Operation Monacle | Honington, UK | Fg Off Alistair Gallaugher, FS Chas Dalgleish, Sgt Dave Bernard, SACs Hugh Curran & Troop Smith plus 1. Rotation of munitions between UK and Germany |
| November | Special | Prestwick, Scotland to Bergen, Norway. |
FS Tony Barrell, Sgt Bob Turner, Cpl Norman Poole, SACs Boot Pratt & Jim Marchant. Deployment of personnel and equipment from 819 RNAS (Sea King) from Prestwick to Norway |
| November | Special | Cambridge, UK to Gutersloh, Germany | FS Pete Underwood, Sgt Dave Wright, SAC Dave Moss. Collection of 25K Condec from Marshalls of Cambridge and delivery to Gutersloh |
| December | Reforce | Tengah, Singapore to UK | Fg Off Tim Leaning, FS Dave Eggleton, Sgt John Bell, Cpl Syd Avery, JT Ted Moore, SAC Jim Barr. Reforce of Tengah Movements and recovery of 54 Squadron (Phantoms) from Singapore to Coningsby, UK |
| December | Red Cross Relief | UK to Managua, Nicaragua |
Flt Lt Bill Wellman, Sgt Dave Barton & Cpl Ian Berry. Delivery of Red Cross supplies to Nicaragua as part of earthquake relief |
| December | Earthquake Relief | UK to Managua, Nicaragua | Fg Off Alistair Gallaugher, Cpl George Lynes, SAC Ian Place plus 2. Delivery of relief supplies to Guatamala after an earthquake |
| December | Missile Exchange | West Raynham, UK to Germany and return | Flt Lt Gordon Townsend, FS Pete Underwood, Sgt Dave Wright, Cpl Sandy Sanderson, SAC Dave Moss. Rotation of 25 Squadron (Bloodhound) missiles between UK and Germany |
