The Reunion - Gulf War Tornado POWS

[Tankertrashnav]

I've just been listening to this on Radio 4 this morning. John Peters, John Nichol and Robbie Stewart took part, recounting their experiences of being shot down, interrogated and tortured, and of course eventually paraded in front of Iraqi TV cameras. Helen Peters gave the standpoint of a wife waiting back at Laarbruch, not knowing whether her husband was dead or alive

I have in the past had a slightly critical view of John Nichol in particular in the way that he has carved out a career as a "go-to guy" when comments on aviation matters are required on TV etc, but I have to confess I'm now ashamed of that view, and all I can say is good luck to the guys for pulling back something good from a horrendous experience.

Well worth a listen

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0004dxl

[falcon900]

TTN,
A bit like you, I had formed a somewhat lukewarm view of JN following some of the coverage he seemed to have generated. However, years ago, I attended a dinner where to my surprise he was the after dinner speaker. He opened with a short video of GR4s at low level over the desert set to quite stirring rock music, all very satisfactory, and I settled down expecting a boys own paper account of his experiences.
What followed was a cogent, brutally frank, humble and humbling account of what he went through in the Gulf. Not at all what I had expected, and you could have heard a pin drop in the room. He was / is very hard on himself, and described what had transpired in a most unflattering and self effacing way. Very compelling, particularly as deep down, you knew that you would likely have done the same thing faced with the same circumstances.
Hats off for being brave enough to share his insights.

[MPN11]

I knew another of the aircrew POWs quite well. He preferred to remain low profile, and I'm not sure he ever featured in a documentary. But he was certainly impacted by the experience ... if you could get him to talk about it.

[handleturning]

I knew another of the aircrew POWs quite well. He preferred to remain low profile, and I’mnot sure he ever featured in a documentary. But he was certainly impacted by the experience ... if you could get him to talk about it.
As above, I once asked a friend why he didn't take the same route and speak in public about his experience. He said 'I did it once to a wives club, they were so visibly upset that I never wanted to repeat the experience'.

[unmanned_droid]

Perhaps being able to share and vocalise his thoughts, it's helped JN to deal with what he was subjected to and the effects that had on him, with the added benefit of being able to help others be more mentally prepared for that eventuality, and enlighten an even larger audience to what can go on.

Not that it really means much in the scheme of things, but, he has my respect for talking about being a PoW just as much as I respect others' desire to not talk about it.

[The Nr Fairy]

Thanks for the pointer - I normally see this sort of stuff but I missed it.

My father was involved as part of the team from PARAFH Wroughton involved in the repatriation processes, I'll pass him the link.

[Timelord]

Interesting also to hear JN (still) berating himself over the switch pigs and JP (still) trying to convince him that wasn’t the problem.

[AnglianAV8R]

If you haven't read 'Tornado Down' please do so.

It is a detailed vivid account that has you laughing at times and choking back the tears at the end. I don't mind admitting it !

If you can come through that ordeal with some degree of sanity intact and crack on with the rest of your life, you deserve total respect.

[charliegolf]

Happened to be in the car, so caught the whole thing. JP seemed haunted still over 'the shame' he felt about 'getting it wrong'. He mounted up and went to war when called upon- of course he needn't feel shame, but it seems nobody has been able to convince him of that.

CG

[SASless]

Those who engage in combat and find themselves held captive and survive deserve our admiration and respect.

Being deprived of your freedom, suffering physical and mental mistreatment, and then having to deal with the after effects the rest of your life....is a very unfair burden.

Having known a few Vietnam Era POW's....there is no doubt such mistreatment takes a real toll on a person.

I pray they all find Peace and are able to enjoy their Lives as if any of us are entitled to that....it is them.

Hand Salute!

[Vendee]

I have in the past had a slightly critical view of John Nichol in particular in the way that he has carved out a career as a "go-to guy" when comments on aviation matters are required on TV etc, but I have to confess I'm now ashamed of that view, and all I can say is good luck to the guys for pulling back something good from a horrendous experience.



To quote (roughly) from one of his books "What do you say to an ex Tornado nav"?........ "A big Mac and large fries please". The point being that following the post cold war cutbacks, there were more job opportunities for Tornado front seaters than the guys in the back so If JN was able to turn his GW1 misfortunes to his advantage with the media then good luck to him.

I don't profess to know JN very well but I was groundcrew on XV at the same time he was there, including in Bahrain. He was very popular with us "erks" and was happy to socialise with us, perhaps because he started off as groundcrew himself. He did seem to be a really nice guy.

[oldmansquipper]

I haven't heard the programme yet but John Peters was the guest speaker at the Squippers Pentland Dinner last year.

Suffice it to say it was a truely humbling experience watching John relive the horrors of his mission and the aftermath. The raw emotion that came pouring out of him in with every pained breath had us spellbound. I feel honoured and priveledged to have witnessed such a powerful presentation. We (Lady OMS and I) also spoke to his good lady afterward and she, too spoke volumes with just a few well chosen words...

Thank you John (s) I remain in awe.

OMS

[RAFEngO74to09]

For those who haven't seen it before. Dave Waddington's recollections filmed 6 years ago when he was CO Bastion. He was crewed with Robbie Stewart

In 2 episodes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8rnNoScaU0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0jUd4JU3PM