It's nice to see that over 90% of the comments on the Telegraph page are positive and the article is taken in the way it was meant.
Full marks to Flt Cas Creasey, She'll do wonders for RAF recruitment.
Posted by Ron Murray on March 4, 2007 1:38 PM
Report this comment
she should keep a diary and write a book it wd be a best seller. (from p.griffiths ex-wren fleet air arm)
Posted by pip griffiths on March 4, 2007 1:36 PM
Report this comment
Full marks to Flt Lt Cas Leavey. She is a credit to the RAF. The publicity will no doubt do wonders for the recruitment figures.
Posted by Ron Murray on March 4, 2007 1:02 PM
Report this comment
I take my hat of to her,she has said nothing detrimenental against the military and only aired her views.
As said in other comments,the high brass should get off thier backsides and experience the conditions that serving personnel live under in Iraq.
All the best to you Fl.Lt.Leavey and I hope that all this blows over and doesn't affect any chances of further promotion. Ex R.A.F.of 25 years service.
Posted by Raymond G.Knight on March 4, 2007 10:26 AM
Report this comment
Sir,
Sorry but we need people with the spirit, humour and courage of Flt Lt Leavey.
The reaction of the “desk flyers” and clerks was so similar to the old “Brylcream Boys” taunts issues by similar small minded and frankly jealous so called colleagues of yester years.
As an old flyer, Flt Lt Leavey, I am very proud of you – the sharp end is always difficult for others to comprehend.
Posted by Gordon Barry on March 4, 2007 10:18 AM
Report this comment
My sergeant always told us that "any bloody fool can be uncomfortable" ... it's a long-standing tradition in expeditionary forces to make yourself as comfortable as possible. A tradition that goes back a few centuries. Helloooo!
Posted by Chris on March 3, 2007 9:51 PM
Report this comment
The lady has something which unfortunately is in short supply today, a sense of humour ! I remember when I was in the "mob", my fellow airmen had a sense of humour which is lacking everywhere today. The British used to be known for their gallows sense of humour, the Australians are right, the Poms now are just a bunch of whingers.
Posted by Phil on March 3, 2007 9:23 PM
Report this comment
Good on Ya Caz. Why shouldn't you tell it how it is? A fresh and relaxed ditty on the realities of life Out of Area. Why are people so uptight about these things - the public have brains and are compassionate. Hierarchy however . . .
Posted by LB on March 3, 2007 9:07 PM
Report this comment
Have the MOD got nothing better to do than critisise a young pilot on active service. May I suggest that they concentrate on providing our service personnel with the best equipment to do the job. And then SUPPORT THEM.
Posted by jeannette Pavey on March 3, 2007 8:06 PM
Report this comment
My daughter is half way through her RAF Officer Training. It is just the sort of thing she would write too - amusing, light hearted and a touch of girlie take on a pretty nasty situation. Well done Flt Lt Leavey, I much enjoyed your article.
Posted by Dru Nicholson on March 3, 2007 5:32 PM
Report this comment
We all try to make ourselves comfortable when on operations and I don't believe any of Flt Lt Leavey's colleagues criticise her for this (I certainly don't). It is her attitude to those around her that is of concern. Without the raft of support personnel: chefs, administrators, technicians, force protection, etc., Flt Lt Leavey would not be able to do her job.
Posted by Andy Stanney on March 3, 2007 5:05 PM
Report this comment
The officers who are complaining about the article a being a bit thin skinned.Possibly jealous? It was a well written article and fairly light in it's comments.This would not have been criticised in the past. I speak as a former serving RAF Officer
Posted by Allan Davies on March 3, 2007 4:19 PM
Report this comment
Nice to see someone maintains some humour in such difficult conditions. Also, if you've never had to exist on MRE's etc in hot and arid climes then just button up-you haven't the faintest!!!
Posted by John RH Hullah on March 3, 2007 3:28 PM
Report this comment
Well done, Flt Lt Leavey.
The lady has style.
Posted by Major John Turner on March 3, 2007 3:25 PM
Report this comment
Rock on, Flt Lt Leavey!
As someone's already mentioned, if the people busily criticising her were in the front line it'd be less disgusting that they let their anally retentive, humourless protests be the ones to actually sully the reputation of the Armed Forces.
Wish there were more sensible, upbeat, honest people like Flt Lt Leavey in the Forces ..maybe we wouldn't have so many cockups if we had!
Posted by susie main on March 3, 2007 3:02 PM
Report this comment
Wind your necks in boys and girls, for goodness sake a little bit of light relief from the horrors of this situation is what is needed. I also detect a little bit of the green eyed monster!!!
Posted by Lisa Allen on March 3, 2007 1:16 PM
Report this comment
Factual and witty commenting are all very well, but with the efficiency of communications and the media, do we really want to wash our dirty laundry so publicaly in front of the enemy we are fighting. Perhaps this would have been better done after hostilities were over.
Posted by Ian K. Pestell on March 3, 2007 12:27 PM
Report this comment
Sounds like the REMFs getting jealous of a front liner stealing a bit of glory, by unconventional means... Good luck to her and all the guys & gals who are in the front line risking their necks for an ungrateful nation and the peacock (Tony BLIAR) throne...
Posted by Tim Payne. on March 3, 2007 12:20 PM
Report this comment
As a serving RAF aircrew officer who flies regular operational missions with female pilots, the type of criticism levelled at this officer winds me up. I suspect that her fiercest critics have never been in the highly dangerous situations that she and all the other crews find themselves in day to day. I have and I know what its like. If her ground crew are "riled" at her comments they need to get out more. As for the senior planning officer... well perhaps not. She's a professional, doing her job in bloody awful circumstances, let her get on with it
Posted by disgusted of Oxfordshire on March 3, 2007 11:45 AM
Report this comment
Having read and re-read your article I can find nothing whatsoever that should cause upset to any of the pampered hierarchy in the MOD.
Perhaps instead of venting their fury at Flt Lt Caz Leavey they could possibly get on with the job of updating the Hercules C130 fuel tanks with foam and prevent any further loss of life in these now ancient aircraft.
Posted by Martyn Dixon on March 3, 2007 11:39 AM
Report this comment
An officer and gentlewoman brave and nice.
Posted by Peter the Rock on March 3, 2007 11:07 AM
Report this comment
I served 12 years as a GD/P and in my time you were not allowed to be as stupid to engage in such 'Press'.
Now one can see the reason!
I have much admiration for female pilots, so this is not a pot-shot at them.
Posted by Captain Bryn Wayt on March 3, 2007 11:05 AM
Report this comment
Calm down dears!!!
Posted by Matt C on March 3, 2007 11:00 AM
Report this comment
Whats the problem here? Other than the reactions
of her seniors, this is a complete non story!
Posted by Peter Harrington on March 3, 2007 9:46 AM
Report this comment
Can you see a problem here, anywhere at all?
A woman committed to the armed services who just
happens to have a healthy take on life in a ghastly
situation that nobody wants.
More power to her.
Posted by Andrew Whitehead on March 3, 2007 9:00 AM
Report this comment
I wish I'd read the Sunday newspaper article it sounds like a fascinating slice of real life. I really can't see why the military are so cross about what she said. It certainly has the ring of truth about it. Aren't we supposed to know that our military personel are human? Everyone knows men in the military enjoy letting off steam, whether through irreverent remarks or whatever, and as long as it doesn't compromise their professionalism that's okay. So what's the problem here? Is it because she's a woman?
Posted by Sandy Mitchell on March 3, 2007 8:33 AM
Report this comment
Well, I have the distinct honor of having helped complete the initial production design of the C130 aircraft and after reading Flight Lt. Leavey's report, I can say it is a delight to have her piloting my pride and joy.
Posted by Waddell Robey on March 3, 2007 8:04 AM
Report this comment
I think those senior officers need to get a life!!
Flt Lt Leavey, provides a humorous and totally harmless account of her days in Iraq, she sounds just the sort of refreshing and brave young woman the service needs instead of the 'fuddy duddies' in charge!!
Ask the TV companies to do a 'Day in the life of' about her duties, they will be fighting over the chance!!
Posted by Martin Hayhurst on March 3, 2007 8:03 AM
Report this comment
There is a saying, which I believe has been current in the military; 'any fool can be uncomfortable'. Your report suggests that Flt. Lt. Leavney does her best to avoid being uncomfortable and her collegues object to that. Are they fools, we should be told?
Posted by Antony Rigby on March 3, 2007 7:51 AM
Report this comment
Can't see what all the fuss is about myself. Good to learn a little bit of the human side of war and how people adapt and derive humour from it. Stop being so sensitive all you others. Humour and improvisation have always been coping mechanisms in times of great stress. She's a woman, that is how it is! Have a laugh!
Posted by Roger Lincoln on March 3, 2007 7:31 AM
Report this comment
Truth at last from an Officer and gentlewoman
Posted by Peter Bysouth on March 3, 2007 4:53 AM
Report this comment
Dear Sirs,
What a hoo hah abot nothing. Might I suggest that the safely posted Squadron Leader, a planning officer get out of her comfortable chair and indulge herself with a few trips into Bahgdad. Then she might have the right to criticise a brave young woman in the front line. Get a life people. Try a few days over here and a few more of those 'infuriated senior officers' would have something more on their mind than the attitude of a pilot flying in a bloody dangerous place. Better a frank female in charge of the lives of hundreds of fighting men than the feerless warriors sending e-mails around the country. She should get a medal you silly buggers.
Posted by Vivian J Phillips on March 3, 2007 4:19 AM