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Article highlights

• The career of an Air Traffic Controller who served in the Gulf War

• Austin and the Navy

• HMS Gloucester and the Gulf War

• Operation Desert Shield

• At war - Silkworm attack

• End of the War

The end of the War

As US forces swept back across Kuwait and the Iraqi Navy was neutralised by air and sea attacks general excitement gave way to routine.

On 28 February 1991 on the 44th day of Operation Desert Storm the Iraqi ambassador at the UN accepted all UN resolutions and effectively ends the war. As HMS Gloucester was began to return home Wayland Austin explains his feelings:

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Austin remembers how he felt when the conflict ended. (RNM)

To read a transcript of this oral history follow the link

HMS Gloucester and Wayland Austin returned home on 25 March 1991 after 208 days in the Gulf.

Crowds greeting HMS Gloucester as it returns from the Gulf, March 1991. (RNM)

During that time Gloucester's Lynx helicopter had successfully engaged and neutralised seven Iraqi naval units with Sea Skua missiles, the ship itself had successfully shot down a Silkworm missile and had held her nerve against 16 Iraqi fighters.