Coalition force brings Tornadoes to fight Published Nov. 2, 2005 By Senior Airman Cassandra Locke 379th Air Expeditionary Wing SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) -- The British Royal Air Force and its aircraft have been heavily used by ground forces in Iraq. The RAF flies the Tornado GR4, a supersonic, twin-engined, swing-wing jet bomber.“We have supported both British and American operations by giving an eye-in-the-sky airborne commentary so the troops on the ground have more situational awareness of their surrounding area,” said Wing Commander Terry Jones, RAF commander here. The focus of the Tornado sorties is to collect imagery with the option of conducting close air support if needed. The flyers inspect the main supply routes and the areas around the local cities and air bases throughout Iraq. “The main reason is to provide reports on the activity at known mortar and rocket points-of-origin and to look for potential improvised explosive devices. The jets also act as a visual and audible deterrent to try and prevent them in the first place,” said Wing Commander Jones said. Before deploying here, the RAF’s XIII Squadron took part in Exercise Air Warrior at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., where they practiced realistic training with U.S. forces that mirrored what they're doing in Iraq.“Because we speak the same language, or something very similar to it, we find it very easy to integrate with the American people," said Squadron Leader Chris Lakeland, RAF. "We’ve always had a very good working relationship with them so it tends to be a very pleasant place to work. When we come to an American base and everything’s laid out for us by the Americans, it makes life very easy for us."There are more than 270 RAF members here, and they do the same jobs as their American counterparts. There are medics, fitness trainers, flight operations personnel, weather personnel, administrative personnel, ammunitions troops and aircraft technicians, as well as many others.Like the U.S. Air Force, the RAF has morale-building tools that help contribute to a successfully accomplished mission. Unlike Air Force Airmen, when RAF aircrews bring their jets back in a serviceable condition, the technicians award them with lollipops. “We have no evidence that this improves serviceability, but they taste good,” Wing Commander Jones said.