MOTHERS and children at RAF Lossiemouth are praying for their husbands and fathers who went into action in Iraq.

The families yesterday gave the pilots their full support.

Mrs Zoe Barnes, 28, whose Wing Commander husband Steven is leading the Tornado pilots of 12 Squadron said: ''We wives are a tough breed. Us bursting into tears at the drop of a hat is the last thing our men need to hear. We know our husbands are doing the job they've been trained to do.

''We are pleased and proud of them. At a time like this, all the wives get together, we all support each other. We are feeling the same, we understand each other.''

Mrs Barnes, who has three sons aged six, four and 18 months, added: ''When we talk to our husbands on the phone, we don't cry - the men know our emotions about them - they know we are worrying about them. It would be ridiculous to think otherwise, but us being upset and emotional doesn't help them at all.

''My children know their dad is in Kuwait, they know what job he does, but that is about all they can comprehend.''

The wives intend to try to enjoy Christmas as best they can despite the absent fathers.

''All the wives will get together. Life will go on, you don't gain anything by changing things dramatically. There is a lot of anxiety, but the support network the air force has offered us and the support from the other wives and the community is excellent.

''That is what keeps us going and keeps us happy,'' said Mrs Barnes.

Morale among the RAF pilots involved in the missile attacks on Baghdad was ''very high'', a spokesman in Kuwait said last night.

''Everyone out here has been on a very high state of alert for a number of weeks and there is now a feeling of 'at last','' said Group Captain Bryan Collins, the RAF media spokesman.

''We had the deepening crisis in November and then every time Saddam Hussein has denied Unscom access or restricted access, tension has risen.

''Obviously we have had to be prepared that this was going to happen and this is something we have prepared for and trained for.''

He added: ''There is very high morale. These guys are committed to what has got to be done and they are very finely focused on the job.''

There are more than 400 pilots, navigators and support staff from No 12 Squadron at the Ali Al Salem air base in Kuwait. They are three months into their four-month tour of duty in the Gulf.

Group Captain Collins said crews come to rely on each other for support during tense times.

''These are people who work very closely together 24 hours a day. They each know exactly what they have got to do and by the time they are on a mission they all know exactly who is doing what,'' he said.

Crews were either resting or currently ''involved in operations'' last night, he said.

Some pilots had spoken to their families back in Scotland last night. ''We are aware that it is difficult for families during these times and obviously people like to reassure relatives they are OK.''