A ROYAL Air Force Photographer from Cirencester has captured unique photos over the North Sea of three specially painted Tornados on a training sortie out of RAF Brize Norton.

Lee Matthews captured the three Panavia Tornado GR4’s on the training sortie, which included aerial tanking with a Voyager A330MRRT. The aircraft were captured in a number of stacked formations along with tanking off the wing of the Voyager.

The Tornado will be retiring this March after over 36 years of service in the RAF.

In recognition of this, two GR4’s have had their tails painted to recognise numbers 31 ‘The Goldstars’ Squadron and IX(B) Squadron. A third jet has been painted with the initial camouflage seen on GR1 and GR4 jets.

The Panavia Tornado GR.Mk 4 is the UK’s primary ground attack platform and fulfils an important reconnaissance role.

RAF Photographer Lee captured the images from the back of a Voyager (RAF A330 MRTT).