1969

2 October. XV 230 is delivered to the Operational Conversion Unit at St Mawgan, and becomes the first Nimrod to enter operational service with the RAF.

1970

201 Squadron becomes the first squadron to convert to Nimrod, shortly followed by 42 Squadron, 206 Squadron and 120 Squadron.

13 July. First operational Nimrod sortie flown by 201 Squadron.

1971

27 March. 206 Squadron crew deploy to Australia to celebrate 50th Anniversary of RAAF.

20 November. 201 Squadron Nimrod diverted on to SAR incident. First such incident for Nimrod.

1973

19/20 April. 206 Squadron crews fly in close support of QE2 in the Eastern Mediterranean. QE2 is carrying over 1,000 passengers to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of the formation of Israel.

Summer Nimrod surveillance sorties begin in support of the 'Cod War' between Britain and Iceland. The 'Cod War' ends 1976.

November. 206 Squadron commences joint exercises with Iran.

1976

201 Squadron crew ordered to escort a hijacked Boeing 737, and shadowing Boeing 707, that had flown the Atlantic before entering UK airspace. The Boeing 737 eventually left UK airspace after depositing leaflets over london.

1977

1 January. Operation Tapestry begins. This involved Nimrod Squadrons in the roles of fishery protection and monitoring of offshore oil rig and pipe installations. On average, three sorties per week were flown in this role and the commitment continued unabated until it was finally undertaken by dedicated fishery protection aircraft in 1986.

1978

17 May. 42 Squadron crew carry out first independent arrest of fishing boat.

July. 42 Squadron crew divert to assist rescue of two Britons who had ditched while attempting the first balloon crossing of the Atlantic.

1979

14 August. Fastnet Yacht Race Disaster. 201 Squadron crew scrambled from Kinloss in response to initial Mayday call. 42 Squadron crews continued with the rescue and co-ordination effort. Of 316 starters - 128 yachts finished, 165 retired, 23 sank, 136 people rescued and 15 died.

1980

27 March. 201 Squadron crew scrambled to assist in incident in Ekofisk oilfield, North Sea. The accommodation platform Alexander Kielland had capsized. The crew coordinated the helicopter and ship activity for seven hours before being relieved. Nimrod operations continued for seven days in search of survivors. Regrettably 123 lives were lost.

18 November. XV 256 crashed on take off. The aircraft suffered a major bird-strike immediately after take off and crashed into a wooded are to the east of RAF Kinloss air base. Sadly, both pilots were killed but, due to their skill in controlling the crash, the remainder of the crew escaped. Posthumously, Flight Lieutenant Anthony, the flying pilot, was awarded the Air Force Cross and his Co-Pilot, Flying Officer Belcher, the Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air.

1982

April. 206 Squadron conduct 24 hour continuous airborne trial of Nimrod Mk2 avionics.

6 April. Two 42 Squadron aircraft arrive at Ascension Island to form first permanent RAF detachment as part of Operation Corporate (Falklands Campaign).

7 April. Nimrod missions begin as communications link with nuclear patrol submarines operating ahead of the Op Corporate Task Force.

13 April. The more capable Nimrod Mk2, flown by 120 Squadron crews, deploy to Gibraltar and Ascension to relieve the Nimrod Mk1's of 42 Squadron.

17 April. Last Nimrod Mk1 departs Ascension.

15 May. First daylight sortie of Operation Corporate flown by 201 Squadron. The crew's recollection of flying close to the enemy coastline without the cloak of darkness was of extreme vulnerability.

31 May. RAF received first Nimrod modified to carry Sidewinder Air to Air missiles.

1983

18 November. 120 Squadron crew fly direct from Falkland Islands to Kinloss for the first time. Flight time 18 hours 15 Minutes.

1985

August. Nimrod's from Kinloss and St Mawgan involved in shepherding and , ultimately, rescue of Richard Branson and his crew of the Virgin Atlantic Challenger following a failed attempt at the Blue Riband Atlantic sea-crossing record.

1987

15 August. Aided by air to air refueling, 120 Squadron crew conducted a SAR search, 4,000 nautical miles from base, looking for a light aircraft that had disappeared off West Africa. In 10 days, operating out of Ascension Island, the crew flew 93 hours and searched over 200,000 square miles of ocean. Eventually they located the aircraft wreckage and sighted the bodies of the two missing pilots.

1988

4 May. 206 Squadron crew rendezvous with HMS Superb and HMS Turbulent at the North Pole.

8 July. First of three 206 Squadron crews scrambled from Kinloss to the scene of the worst ever oil rig disaster in the North Sea - the explosion of Piper Alpha. Over 25 rescue vessels and 10 helicopters were involved in the rescue operation that saved 61 lives from a total of 228 on board.

1990

August. The Gulf War. As part of Operation Granby, Nimrod's deployed to Oman and Cyprus and were employed on shipping surveillance sorties in support of the UN blockade of Iraq. With the outbreak of hostilities this role changed to that of supporting the United States Navy's carrier groups. The most successful crew was deemed to belong to 42 Squadron who were credited with assisting in six 'kills' and one 'probable'. Throughout the conflict, aircraft remained on SAR stand-by in support of downed aircrew.

1991

March. Final sorties in support of Operation Granby flown.

1992

3 June. A 120 Squadron crew deploy to Keflavik, Iceland, to 'escort home' the B 24 Liberator - 'Diamond Lil'. 'Lil' was originally destined for 120 Squadron during World War II, but a pre-delivery accident prevented her from doing so.

September. Nimrod's deploy to Sicily to operate in the Adriatic in support of the UN sponsored blockade of Serbia and Montenegro.

1 October. Nimrod force centralised at Kinloss following the closure of St Mawgan as a dedicated Nimrod operating base.

1994

3/4 February. Six crews from 206 Squadron fly continuous SAR cover for 36 hours following the sinking of the MV Christinaki, 240 miles SW of Cornwall. Unfortunately there were no survivors in conditions described by the Nimrod crews as probably the worst they had ever seen: 80 knot surface winds and 50 feet wave heights.

2 October. Nimrod ' The Mighty Hunter' completes 25 years service with the Royal Air Force.

16 October. 201 Squadron celebrates its 80th anniversary - the oldest squadron in the Royal Air Force.

2010

31 March. The Nimrod MR2 is officially retired.

2011

26 May. The three flying Squadrons based at RAF Kinloss are disbanded.