Sky Man Stuck in Kabul
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Maybe the silent RAF "leadership" should take note of how the Army leadership is taking on the Govt,
http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/pages/...n_page_id=1770
Blair is a busted flush, light blues now is the time to press to test.
Well done Brigadier Lorimer, leading from the front.
http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/pages/...n_page_id=1770
Blair is a busted flush, light blues now is the time to press to test.
Well done Brigadier Lorimer, leading from the front.
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heres another artical which puts the RAF in good light.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/afghanista...951325,00.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/afghanista...951325,00.html
Join Date: Oct 2006
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heres another artical which puts the RAF in good light.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/afghanista...951325,00.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/afghanista...951325,00.html
Just so were clear on where priorities lay.
Not less than 2 weeks after 9 11.
Dropped at Ali.... flight required to another sandy place.
Bag drag .. full webbing.. kit bag... the whole lot.
That looked really great in the middle of Kuwait International. No flight, ok driver back to Ali please.
Nope you get to stay in this 4 star hotel.
Cheers Ill just tell them I am in the RAF shall I?
W
Not less than 2 weeks after 9 11.
Dropped at Ali.... flight required to another sandy place.
Bag drag .. full webbing.. kit bag... the whole lot.
That looked really great in the middle of Kuwait International. No flight, ok driver back to Ali please.
Nope you get to stay in this 4 star hotel.
Cheers Ill just tell them I am in the RAF shall I?
W
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I am now getting irritated by the constant criticism of RAF Close Air Support by the Army.
It is wholly unprofessional and short sighted to slate RAF aircrew for following ROE. (As per the Guardian article link above.) Not only does it display a misunderstanding of the implications that may be faced by a pilot should he break ROE and subsequently incur a blue on blue, but also shows a clear lack of understanding of the bigger picture.
The RAF only has a handful of aircraft in theatre. It would be great to have an aircraft CAP over every bloke on the ground but there are not enough assets. RAF's fault? Hardly, look at the way the Gov't has slashed the number of fast jet ground attack assets over the last few years.
There is always room for improvement in the way that the services interoperate, and public in-fighting does nothing for morale, public support, the credibility of the services, or their relationship. Ill thought-out statements about CAS are as helpful as saying, for example, the Army has been on the ground for 3 years and it still hasn't stopped all the fighting.
The way that some Army personnel were dealt with in Cyprus recently on their R+R was unacceptable, a '1 off' and it was right that a recurrence of this should not occur. However Public criticism of the RAF from Army quarters for having an ageing transport fleet and not enough CAS aircraft is completely misdirected.
Criticism on these fronts needs to be directed towards the Government and not the RAF who are out there trying their hardest to give the guys on the ground the best support they can.
It is wholly unprofessional and short sighted to slate RAF aircrew for following ROE. (As per the Guardian article link above.) Not only does it display a misunderstanding of the implications that may be faced by a pilot should he break ROE and subsequently incur a blue on blue, but also shows a clear lack of understanding of the bigger picture.
The RAF only has a handful of aircraft in theatre. It would be great to have an aircraft CAP over every bloke on the ground but there are not enough assets. RAF's fault? Hardly, look at the way the Gov't has slashed the number of fast jet ground attack assets over the last few years.
There is always room for improvement in the way that the services interoperate, and public in-fighting does nothing for morale, public support, the credibility of the services, or their relationship. Ill thought-out statements about CAS are as helpful as saying, for example, the Army has been on the ground for 3 years and it still hasn't stopped all the fighting.
The way that some Army personnel were dealt with in Cyprus recently on their R+R was unacceptable, a '1 off' and it was right that a recurrence of this should not occur. However Public criticism of the RAF from Army quarters for having an ageing transport fleet and not enough CAS aircraft is completely misdirected.
Criticism on these fronts needs to be directed towards the Government and not the RAF who are out there trying their hardest to give the guys on the ground the best support they can.
The words 'Hell' and 'freezes' come to mind. I honestly think we will wait in vain, even in this window with the likes of Ms Harmon climbing on the band wagon, to expect anything other than craven subservience from their 'Airships'. It is so integral to RAF custom and practise to work with what it is given, good or bad, no matter what the cost in lives or material, that I doubt it will change its spots now. It could be said that Trenchard himself cast the dye in the 20's when he secured the future existence of the RAF by replacing the Army with the RAF on 'peacekeeping' duties in some far-off field in the Middle East. Where was that now, it will come to me soon! The Independent Air Force was never independent of its political masters, but of its sister services. If you want the Air Force Chief of Staff to speak out like Brigadier Lorimer, it may have to wait until he (or she) wears the same uniform as he does! A price worth paying?
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Chug, it seems clear to me that this latest cut in personnel is a cut too far. As far as I can see the airships are simply managing a steady decline. Here is a possible explanation for the lack of a spare tyre at Cyprus. Lack of engineering assets and personnel has been something of a theme of late....Quote from e goat.
"There use to be a whole cart load more than that mate, Akrotiri once had a full TASF (Transport Aircraft Serviceing Flight). 40 odd of us all spammed up on Hercs and VC10s with talk of extending it to Timmys as well. Spare props, donks, wheels, specialist tools up the ying-yang, a full transtock of commonly used spares including ovens (surpise surprise), the full monty.
When was this, nineteen sixty dot? Nope, 1993 was when TASF was disbanded and we became VAHS (Visiting Aircraft Handling Section) with a remit to wave our arms at taxying aircraft but virtually ****-all else. This was AFTER the first Gulf War when aircraft transitting through to the middle east had increased in number many fold.
The reason for this downsizing was quite simple...dosh . HQBFC refused to pay to support Strike Command aircraft. Strike wouldn't pay to maintain TASF so bye bye it went.
Along with a whole ****-load of posts in all ranks and trades."
"There use to be a whole cart load more than that mate, Akrotiri once had a full TASF (Transport Aircraft Serviceing Flight). 40 odd of us all spammed up on Hercs and VC10s with talk of extending it to Timmys as well. Spare props, donks, wheels, specialist tools up the ying-yang, a full transtock of commonly used spares including ovens (surpise surprise), the full monty.
When was this, nineteen sixty dot? Nope, 1993 was when TASF was disbanded and we became VAHS (Visiting Aircraft Handling Section) with a remit to wave our arms at taxying aircraft but virtually ****-all else. This was AFTER the first Gulf War when aircraft transitting through to the middle east had increased in number many fold.
The reason for this downsizing was quite simple...dosh . HQBFC refused to pay to support Strike Command aircraft. Strike wouldn't pay to maintain TASF so bye bye it went.
Along with a whole ****-load of posts in all ranks and trades."
Which surely makes my point? The incumbents of high office in the RAF would see it as nothing other than doing their duty to preside over the continued shrinkage of the RAF until it disappeared up its own tailpipe, if that was MOD policy! Of course constitutionally that is right, until the cuts result in the dysfunctional mess as reported in the MoS piece that you highlight. That is when the Army (as shown by CGS as well as Brigadier Lorimer) and to a lesser extent the Royal Navy speak up. We don't and we have to ask ourselves why?
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Watch This Space
When the inevitable happens and the SPAMs run away bravely from the cauldron they have created in Iraq the Brits may well be left behind through lack of AT capacity.
A fighting withdrawal will not be a pretty sight.
It very nearly happened in Northern Iraq first time around (but for the actions of C130 crews on the ground); but this time it's much more likely.
This time though I really think it could result in the cauldron turning into a bloodbath.
However, by then of course Bush and Bliar will have snuck off the 'leadership' plinth, having kept the whole thing going - wasting lives - to save face and desperately trying to create a decent legacy.
It's going to be an even bigger disaster than at present, simply add time!
A fighting withdrawal will not be a pretty sight.
It very nearly happened in Northern Iraq first time around (but for the actions of C130 crews on the ground); but this time it's much more likely.
This time though I really think it could result in the cauldron turning into a bloodbath.
However, by then of course Bush and Bliar will have snuck off the 'leadership' plinth, having kept the whole thing going - wasting lives - to save face and desperately trying to create a decent legacy.
It's going to be an even bigger disaster than at present, simply add time!
Don't forget the trump card up HM Government's sleeve, which was alluded to when the Cold War had its last rise through tepid under Mrs T; the requisition of the Civil Airfleet. This was seen with some detached interest by my fellow Civil comrades, until it was pointed out that the requisition would include them!
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As a direct result of options for change circa 1993 the UK Armed Forces are supposed to be a leaner meaner fighting force which will be equipped with the very latest and best equipment.......I seem to remember words similar to those being spoken not long after Op Granby.
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mutley, I remember that as well. "A smaller, but better equipped, British Armed Forces". Hollow words and total lies. 
We've become smaller, now where's the rest of the bargain? We've taken on more and more whilst watching all the lily-livered liberals in the political parties line their own pockets and ensure the livelihoods of their cronies.
Come the revolution brothers [and sisters
] !!
We've become smaller, now where's the rest of the bargain? We've taken on more and more whilst watching all the lily-livered liberals in the political parties line their own pockets and ensure the livelihoods of their cronies.Come the revolution brothers [and sisters
] !!