IAN GALLAGHER joins the RAF mission over Poland... At 25,000ft the Typhoon closed in to refuel. Then as it peeled away into the murk, our captain told its Top Gun pilot: 'Happy hunting'

Peering out of the window we saw strange flashing lights and a formless shape just beyond the Voyager's 200ft wing. Its dark outline loomed into view revealing a Top Gun pilot in a RAF Typhoon.