I have thought long and hard about posting this.
I cannot agree more with Camelspyder. I watched the Panorama program via the BBC website, and I feel it exploited the families to satisfy the undying need of journalists and their sensationalist scoop vendetta, and for what?
Mrs Q
I thought you were very strong and brave and rightly proud of Q, it brought back memories of better times and lots of Bacardi Breezers. You made this old bugger cry.
TD
I know you want the answers to why you and your family have paid this heavy price, the career Ben chose and loved was not without risk. Military flying is a risky business and accidents do happen, sometimes the cause is never known, what if you never knew why? My friends, colleagues and dear mates at ISK have been heavily wounded, this wound will heal very slowly given their and their families strengths as will yours. Some of the casualties of this tragic event were not on XV230 and are still suffering with no-one to turn to but their mates. Each dig into this wound by journalists, so-called experts and politicians tears the very scab off the wound and it starts the whole healing process once more.
To all on this thread spare a thought for those that are in harms way and their families waiting at home and what your impassioned, point scoring and un-informed posts may cause them to go through. I have faith in the professional approach of the RAF members of the BOI and always have had. The use of this thread to bash the MRA4 and the people working on it is just pathetic. I am no longer with the RAF, but I am in the process of preparing my young crew to deploy to the Middle East in an aircraft of the same vintage conducting the same roles as the MR2, some for the first time. I will be operating alongside our allies including American MPA operators. Can a drone complete the role, no they cannot, despite the many varied types, they have many strengths and many weaknesses. As with Camelspyder I climb aboard and take the risks I volunteered for to make a difference to peoples’ lives. My thoughts are often on 2nd Sept, and not for the first time, sometimes when I am flying, sometimes in the quiet down time.
If you have a problem with what I have said please PM me and we will discuss off thread. To my brothers and sisters in arms mines a Guinness in this life or the next, rest easy.
Charlie sends