RAF Shackleton AEW.2 (1971-1991)

In 1971, twelve MR 2s were converted as Airborne Early Warning aircraft and entered service with 8 Squadron on 1 January 1972. The intended replacement, the British Aerospace Nimrod AEW3, suffered considerable development difficulties which culminated in the Nimrod AEW 3 being cancelled in favour of an off-the-shelf purchase of the Boeing E-3 Sentry, which allowed the last Shackletons to be retired in 1991. excerpts from a BBC documentary