Just days after flying a series of crucial missions in the skies above battle-scarred Libya, a Typhoon pilot from RAF Leuchars has told The Courier of his joy at returning home to his family.
Squadron Leader Scott Loughran spent two months supporting the NATO mission to protect civilians from the brutality of troops loyal to Colonel Muammar Gaddafi.
Although precise details of the operations are top secret, the 37-year-old was happy to chat to The Courier about a tough but exciting tour.
Based at Gioia del Colle in southern Italy, Scott was among the pilots regularly dispatched to patrol Libyan airspace.
“We were essentially there to contribute to the NATO mission and, to that end, worked very closely with Tornado GR4 crews, which was extremely satisfying,” he said.
“After briefing at the base we then flew to Libya in close formation with the Tornados. Both Typhoons and Tornados have great strengths and it was great to work together in these operations.”
Scott described the two-month deployment as “very successful” but admitted it was a demanding time.
“The days were very long and, due to the locations, the mission cycle was considerable,” he continued. “It was relatively tiring but these are the kinds of operations we spend so long training for, so it was a fantastic experience.”
Scott admitted there were emotional scenes when he finally arrived home in Scotland.
“I have got a young family so it was great to come home and spend some time with them,” he added. “While on operations your focus is entirely on the mission but once home the priority is on spending some really quality time with loved ones.”
While based in Italy, members of 6 Squadron of which Scott is executive officer were able to keep in touch with family back home.
“Communications really depend on the kind of operations you are involved in but we were able to phone home regularly and also kept in touch through the use of the things like Skype quite regularly,” he said.
“However, once home, there is only a short break before it is back to QRA (Quick Reaction Alert) duties it is a 24/7 kind of a job.”
Conditions in southern Italy and the skies above Libya were challenging but not overwhelming.
“It was spring when operations started so the conditions were very variable,” he reflected. “It did get a fair bit hotter but there was nothing too gruelling.”
Crews from RAF Leuchars are making a significant contribution to defence operations around the world. Approximately 15% of the station’s personnel are deployed abroad.
In addition to the ground crew, support personnel and pilots that Leuchars is providing to maintain the no-fly zone over Libya, members of Number 6 Force Protection Wing, an RAF regiment unit also based in Fife, are in Afghanistan. They are protecting the strategically vital airfield at Camp Bastion.
Scott insisted any operation is a real team effort and was keen to pay tribute to his fellow pilots who took part in the NATO operations.
“We are all focused on the task at hand be it the mission to protect the civilian population in Libya, the regiment gunners in Afghanistan or the guys on Quick Reaction Alert duties here in the UK.”