Tales from the Chinook frontline
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Tales from the Chinook frontline
So, the Bootneck's long threatened book about flying Chinooks in Afghanistan, Immediate Response, has finally hit the shelves. And, who'd have thought it, it's actually a great read. More importantly, it's also a real insight into the job the whole Chinook force is doing out there.
Thanks for the heads-up 
From Amazon's website:-
# ISBN-10: 0718154746
# ISBN-13: 978-0718154745
If this is as good as the Apache and Harrier books on their respective Afghan experiences, then it will be well worth ordering.
From Amazon's website:-
Product Description
2006 in Helmand saw British forces engaged in the most ferocious fighting since the Korean War. For much of the time they were hanging on by their fingertips, holed up in remote platoon houses, outnumbered, facing relentless assault and nearly overwhelmed. Only the Chinooks kept them in the game. But that meant their crews putting down in hot LZs, exposing their aircraft to withering attack from an enemy for whom downing one of the big helos would be the ultimate prize. They had been lucky. So far. Then they launched their biggest operation yet: a complicated, high-risk airborne assault that launched a fleet of heavily armed helicopters into the Afghan Heart of Darkness. And then a report came over the net that one of the Chinooks was down . . . In Immediate Response, Major Mark Hammond, a Royal Marine flying with the RAF, tells the gripping inside story of the Chinook squadrons’ war for the first time. It’s a visceral, unputdownable combination of hi-tech and old-fashioned grit; an action-packed story shot through with a mix of aviation fuel and cordite …[
About the Author
Major Mark Hammond joined the Royal Marines in 1989. After specializing as a pilot, he flew Gazelle and Lynx helicopters for 3 Commando Brigade Air Squadron and, subsequently, 847 Naval Air Squadron. After a tour in America with the US Marine Corps flying Cobra attack helicopters, he now flies the Chinook HC2 on exchange with the RAF. He took part in the 2003 assault on Iraq’s Al-Fawr Peninsula and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in Afghanistan in 2006.
2006 in Helmand saw British forces engaged in the most ferocious fighting since the Korean War. For much of the time they were hanging on by their fingertips, holed up in remote platoon houses, outnumbered, facing relentless assault and nearly overwhelmed. Only the Chinooks kept them in the game. But that meant their crews putting down in hot LZs, exposing their aircraft to withering attack from an enemy for whom downing one of the big helos would be the ultimate prize. They had been lucky. So far. Then they launched their biggest operation yet: a complicated, high-risk airborne assault that launched a fleet of heavily armed helicopters into the Afghan Heart of Darkness. And then a report came over the net that one of the Chinooks was down . . . In Immediate Response, Major Mark Hammond, a Royal Marine flying with the RAF, tells the gripping inside story of the Chinook squadrons’ war for the first time. It’s a visceral, unputdownable combination of hi-tech and old-fashioned grit; an action-packed story shot through with a mix of aviation fuel and cordite …[
About the Author
Major Mark Hammond joined the Royal Marines in 1989. After specializing as a pilot, he flew Gazelle and Lynx helicopters for 3 Commando Brigade Air Squadron and, subsequently, 847 Naval Air Squadron. After a tour in America with the US Marine Corps flying Cobra attack helicopters, he now flies the Chinook HC2 on exchange with the RAF. He took part in the 2003 assault on Iraq’s Al-Fawr Peninsula and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in Afghanistan in 2006.
# ISBN-13: 978-0718154745
If this is as good as the Apache and Harrier books on their respective Afghan experiences, then it will be well worth ordering.
A bootie that can write!!!!!!!!!
Mark has come a long way since he was a student of mine at Middle Wallop and managed to put every single 'standard student error' into one downwind quickstop!
Nice one Mark
Mark has come a long way since he was a student of mine at Middle Wallop and managed to put every single 'standard student error' into one downwind quickstop!
Nice one Mark
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Sweating like a bootneck in a spelling test?
I too have read this book, and while PPRUNE is not about promoting peoples books and work, I firmly believe that Hammond has provided a voice for the Odiham Chinook force. The book is very well written and tells the tale of 2006 with a balance of honesty, humour and humility whilst providing background and setting to the conditions of that era in the Afghan conflict. What the guys and girls of the Chinook force are doing out there, while being recognised in public by awards such as the Millies and countless DFC's, MiDs, QCVS etc, is a story that was crying out to be told to the great general public.
The fact that it is NOT a book all about a Royal Marine, who just happened to be flying an RAF Chinook when he was awarded the DFC, makes it even more honest and readable. But make up your own minds if you read it.
As a precentage is going to H4H, it was a no brainer for me.
The fact that it is NOT a book all about a Royal Marine, who just happened to be flying an RAF Chinook when he was awarded the DFC, makes it even more honest and readable. But make up your own minds if you read it.
As a precentage is going to H4H, it was a no brainer for me.
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In defence of Jim
as in Jim Newton. I think you will find all of the profits from Jims good book were donated to military charities.
Good to see we can continue to tell our stories, at the right time, and in the right way. The more the public understand, the better, and not sensationalised for the sake of a few more 'soon to be' chip wrappers!
BZ
The Colonel
Good to see we can continue to tell our stories, at the right time, and in the right way. The more the public understand, the better, and not sensationalised for the sake of a few more 'soon to be' chip wrappers!
BZ
The Colonel
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Bought it, read it, love it - although it is a shame a book about Chinooks had to be written by a Marine....
Having heard that Hammond was going to be all over the media this last week , I am surprised by his silence - not in character at all, which leads me to believe that the RAF, RN, MOD, or all three have banned him from doing any publicity. SHAME ON THEM! This is the ideal chance to punt the Chinook force (not just Mark Hammond) and the incredible work being done in Afghanistan since 2006 (and before!) and if this is the case then it is typical of the Military's reaction to good news stories - block em and ban em if we didn't think of em. As 3winged said, a percentage is going to H4H, so any publicity would be good news for them.
Yet again, it makes me proud to serve the MOD.....
PS - or maybe he just chickened out of the self publicity...............nah!
Having heard that Hammond was going to be all over the media this last week , I am surprised by his silence - not in character at all, which leads me to believe that the RAF, RN, MOD, or all three have banned him from doing any publicity. SHAME ON THEM! This is the ideal chance to punt the Chinook force (not just Mark Hammond) and the incredible work being done in Afghanistan since 2006 (and before!) and if this is the case then it is typical of the Military's reaction to good news stories - block em and ban em if we didn't think of em. As 3winged said, a percentage is going to H4H, so any publicity would be good news for them.
Yet again, it makes me proud to serve the MOD.....
PS - or maybe he just chickened out of the self publicity...............nah!
As someone said, bought it read it, and for the first time in a long time, a book I could not put down. To me, he could see what was coming at him and his crew, what about the IRT and MERT teams in the back, sit tight and pray that the crew are having a lucky day.
Fantastic boo and well worth a read and a donation to H4H what more can you say.
Regards to all
Air pig.
Fantastic boo and well worth a read and a donation to H4H what more can you say.
Regards to all
Air pig.
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My missus read it before me!
Incredibly, my girlfriend read it all in 2 days. In fact she didn't speak to me for the whole weekend! I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't witnessed it with my own eyes. She was chuckling, gasping and at one point, sobbing - she couldn't put it down. Mind you she said she glossed over the technical stuff. I finally got a look in and I thought it was the mutts nuts - I felt like I was in the cockpit. Well done to Maj Hammond!
I finally got a look in and I thought it was the mutts nuts - I felt like I was in the cockpit. Well done to Maj Hammond!
I bought it yesterday and haven;'t stopped reading let alone, put it down yet.
Fantastic read!!
Fantastic read!!
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Reviews?
Guys,
For those of you who have read and enjoyed the book, spread the good word so others go out and buy it, and then please get on Amazon to review it. The more the message is spread about the good work the Chinooks are doing in Afghanistan the better.
Oh, and Hammond might buy me a pint for punting the book (as well as the benefit to H4H of course!)
For those of you who have read and enjoyed the book, spread the good word so others go out and buy it, and then please get on Amazon to review it. The more the message is spread about the good work the Chinooks are doing in Afghanistan the better.
Oh, and Hammond might buy me a pint for punting the book (as well as the benefit to H4H of course!)
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I bought the book today from WH Smith and it cost me £7.99
The book is reduced to 12.99 and with a WH Smith priviledge card another fiver discount until the weekend.
You should be able to join the club online.
The book is reduced to 12.99 and with a WH Smith priviledge card another fiver discount until the weekend.
You should be able to join the club online.
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Now then Army - you jealous because you can't even read let alone write? The Chinook force do an amazing job in AFG (just like the AH, SK, LX Forces) but this is the first book to publicise their story.
What's up, afraid you might enjoy it?
What's up, afraid you might enjoy it?