returned to RAF Akrotiri in February 2015 for their first Operation Shader deployment. On 10 July 2018, to celebrate the RAF's 100th anniversary, nine Tornado GR.4s from No. 31 Squadron and No. IX (B) Squadron participated in a flypast over London. On 13 November 2018, Tornado GR.4 ZD716 was unveiled by the RAF in a special retirement scheme to mark 35 years of Tornado operations. No. 31 Squadron was disbanded, along with No. IX (B) Squadron, on 14 March 2019 at RAF Marham. Protector RG1 Era No. 31 Squadron will reform in 2023 at RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire, equipped with up to sixteen General Atomics MQ-9B, a remotely piloted air system (RPAS), which will be known as the Protector RG Mk 1 in RAF service. Commanding Officers 11 Oct 1915 | Capt C Y MacDonald 27 Mar 1916 | Maj C R S Bradley May 1917 | Maj S Hutcheson Jul 1917 | Maj R G H Murray MC Dec 1918 | Maj E L Millar MBE Aug 1919 | Flt Lt D H M Carbery MC DFC Jan 1920 | Sqn Ldr A L Neale MC Jan 1921 | Sqn Ldr A T Harris AFC; later MRAF Arthur 'Bomber' Harris May 1922 | Sqn Ldr A C Maund CBE, DSO; later AVM May 1924 | Sqn Ldr A A Walser MC, DFC; later Air Cdre Jun 1924 | Sqn Ldr H S Powell MC Nov 1925 | Sqn Ldr J O Archer CBE Apr 1926 | Sqn Ldr J F Gordon DFC Mar 1931 | Sqn Ldr B Ankers DCM Feb 1934 | Sqn Ldr C J S Dearlove Nov 1934 | Sqn Ldr R M C Macfarlane Oct 1935 | Sqn Ldr J L Airey DFC Oct 1936 | Sqn Ldr A V Hammond Oct 1938 | Sqn Ldr F F Wicks DFC Nov 1938 | Sqn Ldr C Stephenson Apr 1939 | Wg Cdr G J L Read AFC Dec 1940 | Wg Cdr W T H Nicholls Jun 1941 | Wg Cdr S E Ubee AFC; later AVM Sep 1941 | Wg Cdr H P Jenkins DFC Jun 1942 | Wg Cdr W H Burbury AFC May 1943 | Wg Cdr H A Olivier Jan 1944 | Wg Cdr W H Burbury DFC, AFC Feb 1945 | Wg Cdr R O Altman DSO, DFC Sep 1945 | Wg Cdr Brian R Macnamara DSO; later Air Cdre Sep