Michael's Dispatches

Sometimes hard to describe what it is to be British and why we are proud to be British.... I think this describes it very well.

God love-em

Great report, but I have to ask what the reporter thought he was getting into by taking that medevac flight.

He should be celebrating surviving, not worrying about what could have been.

But again, great report. I hope he sticks with it. Having the balls to report from Afghanistan instead of London is a good start.

Good thing I have a box of tissues on my desk. Words aren't enough right now.

Thanks for posting... Reading about the British way of field combat medicine reminded me of the accident Princess Diana was involved in.

The French have the same approach as the British and when Diana was injured in Paris, she was treated by a doctor on the scene for 40 minutes before being transported -- slowly, at the doctor's request -- to the hospital. Some have speculated that she may have been saved if she had been taken directly to hospital.

Amazing! Glad to consider them our cousins across the pond! God bless them!

That particular Chinook is coded [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bravo_November]Bravo November[/url] and has been in service with the RAF since before the Falklands War in 1982.

A full report was on the The Guild of Air Pilots & Air Navigators site when Flt Lt Fortune was awarded...

[QUOTE]The Grand Master’s Commendation

Awarded at the discretion of the Grand Master for an act of valour or outstanding services in the air.


FLIGHT LIEUTENANT IAN FORTUNE DFC

Citation: On 29 January 2010 Flight Lieutenant Fortune, a Chinook pilot, was in charge of the Immediate Response Team, part of the Joint Helicopter Force in Afghanistan. He was on his second tour but his first as an aircraft captain. Scrambled to an incident to conduct an emergency medical evacuation of six casualties with gunshot wounds, the crew were informed that two of the casualties were critical and their condition was worsening. On arrival at the scene it was discovered that the ground controller who would normally coordinate the extraction was one of the casualties. Flt Lt Fortune manoeuvred his aircraft into an emergency landing site, as close to the casualties as possible, while an Apache helicopter suppressed the insurgent firing points. Before the casualties could be loaded, the insurgents engaged with accurate fire; Flt Lt Fortune held position until all casualties were safely on board.
[/QUOTE]

Wow...amazing!
We all need to see this to see what these guys go thru on a daily basis. Unbelievable!
Thank you for sharing!

Thank you for drawing attention to Flt Lt Fortune's(apt name) immense bravery and professionalism. Such actions can't be praised enough. Looking forward to seeing more of British troops in your upcoming reports. :-)

For an interview and to see how close the bullet was, the beeb has coverage here; [url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10263713]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10263713[/url] Since it was filmed he has been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and deservedly so I think we can all agree.

Talk about luck! The pilot is dam lucky.They did a fantatic job bringing in the cripple chopter. The commentator looks and sounds like the guy from the Wheeler Dealer show.

"Okay chaps, just to let you know..."

Brilliant line! Perhaps sums up best the stoicism of some of the lads (and ladies, natch) out there.

This is why it really, really pisses me off anytime I hear a disparaging word about our British comrades. It's very common to hear a US Army soldier grumbling, etc, but without exception every British soldier I've come into contact with were very positive and professional. Again, without exception. I've been here in Afghanistan going on my second year, and it's been an honor to work with them. I had an occasion to fly on a British cargo plane (Thumper 76 I believe) down to Kandahar, and again, top notch.

British forces brought in Ryder Cup Captain , Colin Montgomerie, with the actual Ryder Cup throught Afghanistan just a couple weeks ago.

We truly are exceptionally blessed to have such a capable, willing, and professional ally as we do in Great Britain.

Link to Colin's visit:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/golf/8924376/Colin-Montgomerie-hails-life-changing-experience-after-Afghanistan-morale-boosting-mission-with-Ryder-Cup.html

Have to say it but the days of the hard charging journalists who reported in Vietnam have long gone. This guy was a soft c**k or maybe this is the way they make programs these days full of hyped drama.
Eight rounds into a Chinook and he he acts like he just went thru a major battle..

The narrator in the video is in the wrong business. This guy is in a complete panic, even after they land. I can remember inspecting bullet holes in my aircraft, but I didn't slump against the fuel pod and breathe deeply. Most of the time, in fact, we laughed with the knowledge that we had "cheated death again." The pilot, on the other hand, represents the great tradition of combat helicopter pilots, described by Joe Galloway as, "God's own lunatics." Full disclosure, I flew Chinooks in Vietnam.

Great composure under fire. ...With two deployments under my belt, I mean it when I say that the British have done nothing but impress me. ...as an American UH-60 Pilot myself, there's no one who I would trust more to have my back than the Brits. God Bless & Keep up the good work! Above the Best!

Americans have this trick of making the Brits blush. It's lovely to see and it makes you want to cuddle a Yank.

I would be a door gunner for him anytime.

Thanks for the post.
It was really helpful to solve my confusion.

Occupational Medicine