The Royal Air Force Hercules aircraft have flown past Buckinghamshire as part of the retirement tour.

Residents were able to spot three Hercules aircraft flying over the county yesterday (June 14).

The RAF Hercules C-130J, said to be the “backbone of UK operational tactical mobility tasks”, is designed for regions with threat to aircraft and it is often used to evacuate personnel at conflict zones.

The tactical aircraft has served since 1966. Its last operational flight was on June 4 with the 47 Squadron.

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The farewell tour departed from RAF Brize Norton at 10am as the aircraft began its final visit to all four UK nations in just seven hours.

They passed RAF High Wycombe at 4.55pm before landing at RAF Brize Norton at 5.05pm.

Despite the retirement announcement, 47 Squadron and the Hercules will continue to deliver on operations supporting UK defence objectives until June 30 2023.