Stephen Skinner details British VC10 involvement, as both a tanker and transport platform, in Operations Granby and Desert Storm during the Gulf War
When the Iraqi forces invaded Kuwait the UN called for action to remove the Iraqis. The UK’s preparations for war (while diplomatic efforts took place to get the Iraqis to withdraw) was termed Operation Granby. As part of an allied force VC10s transported British soldiers and RAF Tornado crew to the region staging via Akrotiri and regularly visited bases in the Gulf. As in the Falklands conflict two of 10 Squadron’s VC10 C1s were converted to a full aeromedical role while 101 Squadron rapidly deployed VC10 tankers to the Gulf to refuel RAF Tornados and Jaguars to theatre and then to support them and Royal Saudi Air Force Tornados in action.
