deploying to Saudi Arabia after the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in August 1990 and participating in Operation Desert Storm. No. 29 flew the Tornado until disbanding in 1998, as part of the Strategic Defence Review. The squadron was reformed in 2003, this time as the Typhoon operational conversion unit (OCU). Badge The badge of the squadron shows an eagle in flight preying on a buzzard, symbolising air combat. The motto in Latin is Impiger et acer - 'Energetic and keen'. Squadron markings and the "misspelled Roman numeral" tradition Since the late 1920s, the squadron marking has been three (red) Xs (XXX). Since this closely resembles the Roman numeral for "29" (XXIX) there is a belief among current squadron personnel that this originated as a "misspelling" of the Roman numeral. Although various versions of the tradition are put forward, the most common explanation is that a mis-understood instruction to ground crew to paint "2 X's in front of the roundel and IX behind it" meaning "X,X,(roundel), and 'IX' or 'one-X'" resulted in "XX(roundel)'one times' X". In fact, the marking was always applied as "XXX(roundel)XXX" or as "XXX(roundel)" on smaller types, such as Siskins. Another version is that the original adoption of "XXX" for the 1930s squadron marking was nothing to do with Roman numerals, but was a reference to the brewers' mark for "extra strong", frequently applied to kegs of beer, and that it is only a coincidence that this resembles the numeral for "29" (XXIX). However, as the original squadron markings on the Gloster Grebe consisted of FOUR Xs, it is likely both versions above are apocryphal, and the four Xs were just a suitable geometric shape that were shortened to three to fit the smaller space on the Armstrong Whitworth Siskin. Summary of aircraft operated Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2c 1915–1916 Airco DH.2 1916–1917 Nieuport 17/24bis 1917–1918 Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a 1918–1919 Sopwith Snipe 1923–1925 Gloster Grebe 1925–1928 Armstrong Whitworth Siskin III a 1928–1932 Bristol Bulldog 1932–1935 Hawker Demon 1935–1938 Bristol Blenheim 1939–1940 Bristol Beaufighter 1940–1943 De Havilland Mosquito 1943–1951 Gloster Meteor NF11 1951–1958 Gloster Javelin FAW.9 1957–1967 English Electric Lightning F3 1967–1974 McDonnell Douglas Phantom FGR2 1974–1987 Panavia Tornado F3 1987–1998 Eurofighter Typhoon F2 2003–present Eurofighter Typhoon FGR 4 2007-present See also List of Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons References Notes Bibliography Franks, Norman; Bailey, Frank; Duiven, Rick. The Jasta War Chronology: A Complete Listing of Claims and Losses,