Delight at safe return from Afghan tour of duty.

A TECHNICIAN from Newcastle who was stationed with the first Tornado wing in Afghanistan has spoken of his delight after returning home from a gruelling tour of duty.

A total of 148 members of RAF Lossiemouth arrived back at the base after four-and-a-half months in Afghanistan where the pilots, navigators and ground crew had to endure 45C (113F) heat.

Led by 12 (Bomber) Squadron, the T ornado wing was based in Kandahar and helped with Operation Panther's Claw in Helmand, as well as providing assistance during the Afghan election. Brad Wight, 28, was a technician during his deployment and said he was delighted to be coming home to his wife and son.

He said: "We were doing 12-hour days every day for 120 days and it was hot, very hot and dusty.

"It was my first tour of Afghanistan. I'd been to Qatar previously but it was totally different. We were on the airbase so we were OK. There are other, worse places to be. I got to speak to my wife, Lucy, on the phone but Ewan is too young to speak so it's great to see him today. He has totally changed. He has almost doubled in size and weight and he is nearly talking and running around and it's brilliant to see."

One of the jobs the squadron carried out was finding improvised explosive devices, which have killed and maimed a large number of soldiers.

The crew will now be given a month off before returning to the base in Moray for training.

Another team from RAF Lossiemouth is due to leave for Afghanistan in around 12 months.

Wing Commander James Linter, the Officer Commander 12 (Bomber) Squadron, said he was immensely proud of the work of the squadron during its tour.