Wittering's new gate guard

摘要

Former BAe Harrier base Wittering, in Cambridgeshire, replaced its Harrier GR.3 'gate guard' XV779 with GR.7A ZD469 on April 27. While serving with 3 Squadron, '469 was damaged on the ground at Kandahar, Afghanistan, during a rocket attack on October 14,2005. It was then flown back to the UK on board an RAF C-17A Globemaster on November 19, 2005, arriving by road at Cottesmore, Lines, on November 21 The aircraft was never repaired and remained stored at Cottesmore until being officially withdrawn from use on May 2,2008. It was subsequently used for spares and as a weapons load trainer until its recent external refurbishment for display at Wittering.