Originally Posted by
Biggus
True, but is it a realistic proposition, or a fig leaf (like hiding behind a taken down door under your stairs during a nuclear war) to give the illusion that there is some provision, and we won't simply abandon our shot down aircrew.
A Puma/Merlin/Chinook with a couple of accompanying troops who practice CSAR once or twice a year as a tertiary role is not the same as a dedicated, practised and fully supported CSAR unit.
My son-in-law was a SERE instructor two tours ago - he could give you an informed answer I am sure, if it were not very hush-hush. I think you are badly under selling it and there are more ways of killing a cat than drowning it in cream.