100 LIMITED EDITION PROFESSIONALLY HAND PRINTED PHOTOGRAPHS of BUCCANEER XX894 were flown on the last ever operational sortie of Buccaneer XX894.
The final sortie was made on the 29th March 1994 by pilot Flt Lt Steve Reeves and navigator Flt Lt Neil Devine. Taking off from RAF Lossiemouth at 0935 hrs, '894' stayed low along the length of the runway for a head on photograph by photographer Andy Brooks. (This was Flt Lt Reeves last ever flight in a Buccaneer who is now flying GR-1's at RAF Bruggen)

Climbing away into the blue skies over Scotland. The two airmen, as they headed south, prepared for their tactical sortie. The mission....
A simulated tank attack at RAF Spadeadam, the massive electronics warfare range in Cumbria, frequently used by NATO's Airforces.
Positioned some miles out from Spadeadam, the Buccaneer, gaining permission from the range controller, turned inbound for its attack. The speed rapidly increasing to 580 kts and dropping down to very low-level, Flt Lt Reeves at the controls changed course regularly, violently throwing '894' to the left then to the right in an attempt to evade the extensive arsenal of Warsaw Pact radar systems currently in use at Spadeadam. Each one desperately trying to detect the inbound target. If locked-on, a SAM (Surface to air) missile would be released (only in the worst case) from its launch pad and there would be little or no chance of escape. '894' screamed over the range fast and low giving the SAM's little chance to acquire the hostile inbound. Then, sighting their target, a convoy of Russian built T-62 tanks, the two crew were guided straight in by an FAC (Forward air controller) on the ground.
Hugging the terrain, '894' blasted over the top of the tanks. This would have clearly been total destruction for any enemy, if this were for real.
Disappearing low-level again over the Cumbrian hills after this successful attack, XX894 gained height and headed for Carlisle Airport. With permission granted from ATC The 'Bucc' once more performed a very impressive attack, no tanks this time, but an airfield full of aircraft. A familiar target for this particular Buccaneer, as it was not so long ago XX894 was attacking airfields for real during the Gulf war.
One such occasion was on the 29th February 1991. Flown by Flt Lt John McCrea and Flt Lt Phil Walters. XX894 laser designated for a Tornado GR-1, (the last Buccaneer / Tornado LGB sortie of the war) an ammunition dump on the El Taqqadam airfield near Baghdad. The target was completely destroyed and can be clearly seen on the video, 'Buccaneer The Last British Bomber'. This impressive record continued and stretched to seven successful sorties throughout the conflict.

Leaving a few smiling faces back in Carlisle. XX894 headed north towards friendlier skies!...... Soon calling up on Lossie's approach frequency, Flt Lt Steve Reeves announced his intention to land.

On a glorious sunny morning back at Lossiemouth. Gulf veteran XX894 landed at 1120 hrs and thus brought to an end a very worthy operational life. After disembarking Flt Lt Steve Reeves and Flt Lt Neil Devine gave the formidable lady a very deserved pat, and posed for a photograph beside '894' holding the Limited Edition Prints. (Photo included.)

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