British Military Aviation in 1993

31 March
NATO establishes a ‘No-Fly Zone’ over Bosnia (Operation Deny Flight).
The NATO force established to implement the zone includes Royal Air Force
Panavia Tornado F3s, Boeing Sentry AEW1s, SEPECAT Jaguars and VC10K tankers.

1 April
A Royal Review of the Royal Air Force is conducted by Queen Elizabeth
II at RAF Marham to mark the 75th anniversary of the formation of the
Royal Air Force.

1 April
As a consequence of the rapid reduction in the strength of the Royal Air
Force at end of the Cold War, Royal Air Force Germany is disbanded. At
2359hrs, the Royal Air Force in Germany relinquishes its status as an
overseas command and Headquarters, No.2 Group is formed at Rheindahlen
as a group within RAF Strike Command.

3 June
Lockheed Hercules from No.47 Squadron complete 600 sorties to deliver
19 million pounds of humanitarian aid to Bosnia-Herzegovina.

31 July

British forces end a three-month withdrawal from Belize. BRITFORBEL had included
a permanent detachment of British Aerospace (BAe) Harrier GR3 aircraft
(No.1417 Flight) and Westland/Aerospatiale Puma helicopters (No.1563 Flight).

12 August
Operation Irma: a Lockheed Hercules of No.47 Squadron RAF medically evacuates
selected casualties from Sarajevo to Britain for specialist treatment.

30 September
The Hawker Siddeley Buccaneer retires from the Royal Air Force, following
a long career as a strike aircraft, initially with the Fleet Air Arm.

October
The Secretary of State for Defence, Malcolm Rifkind, announces that a
replacement for the WE177 free-fall nuclear weapon will not be procured.

15 October
The last of the V-Bombers, the Victor, retires from Royal Air Force service
after 36 years.