Fortune by name, fortunate by nature.
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Bloody good job Bison.
It must be cos he's just so massive that he attracts incoming.
Hope you get a attractive scar that chicks dig, and suitably gonged up for this kind of awesomeness.
TTH!
It must be cos he's just so massive that he attracts incoming.
Hope you get a attractive scar that chicks dig, and suitably gonged up for this kind of awesomeness.
TTH!
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Answers on a postcard to, er....
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There is precedent - a WW2 bomber pilot was hit in the face (by fire from the rear gunner of another bomber so not strictly the enemy), remained at the controls (with the Flt Eng's help as he was lapsing in & out of conciousness) & got the ac home - he got a posthumous VC.
Join Date: Mar 2010
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I was on my MERT standby day when this happened, so dispensed sweet tea and biccies to the crew and two very shaken Discovery Channel reporters whilst Chomper was having his head stitched up in the emergency department. "Severely wounded" - not exactly. However, it was still an awesome bit of flying and my money's on a DFC.
Regardless of what gong he gets, Ian "Chomper" Fortune won the far more life-enhancing "luckiest man in Helmand" prize for the week.
Regardless of what gong he gets, Ian "Chomper" Fortune won the far more life-enhancing "luckiest man in Helmand" prize for the week.
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Most importantly, will he have a nice scar to impress the ladies with, or are the Docs at Bastion so good at stitching now, they can put a plastic surgeon to shame?
Well done mate - would have scared the **** out of me and I can only assume he had a Nav in the LHS!
"I knew there was a reason to fly with 2 pilots in combat......."
Well done mate - would have scared the **** out of me and I can only assume he had a Nav in the LHS!
"I knew there was a reason to fly with 2 pilots in combat......."
Join Date: Feb 2007
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Most importantly, will he have a nice scar to impress the ladies with, or are the Docs at Bastion so good at stitching now, they can put a plastic surgeon to shame?
Well done mate - would have scared the **** out of me and I can only assume he had a Nav in the LHS!
"I knew there was a reason to fly with 2 pilots in combat......."
Well done mate - would have scared the **** out of me and I can only assume he had a Nav in the LHS!
"I knew there was a reason to fly with 2 pilots in combat......."
Join Date: Sep 2007
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The Legend
The said man was a legend on IOT ( that course at Cranwell) he had a pizza delivered to his table at the Grad Dinner - top draw. Also failed his fitness test at the end of IOT after 24 weeks of being abused by men in white vests ..
Glad he's safe anyway, stay safe all of you who are outside the wire risking it..
Not missing the incoming in any shape or form!
Glad he's safe anyway, stay safe all of you who are outside the wire risking it..
Not missing the incoming in any shape or form!
I wonder how many (dozens of) squaddies have driven their vehicle miles from the scene with severe bullet or shrapnel wounds (and without the benefit of a co-pilot to do it for them) - no one offers them VCs.
That is not to detract from this act however. Similar occurances were commonplace in Vietnam and many pilots died in their cockpits. It takes a special kind of bravery to go out again after that, flying a helo, unable to shoot back. My money is on a DFC.
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many pilots died in their cockpits. It takes a special kind of bravery to go out again after that, flying a helo
Full marks to Flt Lt Fortune, whomever was in the LHS. Look forward to the documentary coming out.
Would have thought DFC was a shoe-in. VC might be harder to justify but not out of the question
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Amidst all the jolly banter, how is The Fortunate One?
I thought it polite to ask
I thought it polite to ask
Join Date: Jan 2007
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Chomper
"England expects every man to do his duty" and chomper did his extremely well that day - bloody well done mate. Not forgetting offcourse his LHS Pilot and the 2 crewman. WWII standard of DFC in my book !
I would say that was a medical impossibility
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The Grand Master’s Commendation
Awarded at the discretion of the Grand Master for an act of valour or outstanding services in the air.
FLIGHT LIEUTENANT IAN FORTUNE DFC
Citation:
On 29 January 2010 Flight Lieutenant Fortune, a Chinook pilot, was in charge of the Immediate Response Team, part of the Joint Helicopter Force in Afghanistan. He was on his second tour but his first as an aircraft captain. Scrambled to an incident to conduct an emergency medical evacuation of six casualties with gunshot wounds, the crew were informed that two of the casualties were critical and their condition was worsening. On arrival at the scene it was discovered that the ground controller who would normally coordinate the extraction was one of the casualties. Flt Lt Fortune manoeuvred his aircraft into an emergency landing site, as close to the casualties as possible, while an Apache helicopter suppressed the insurgent firing points. Before the casualties could be loaded, the insurgents engaged with accurate fire; Flt Lt Fortune held position until all casualties were safely on board.
As the aircraft departed it was engaged again. A round came through the windscreen, hit the front of Flt Lt Fortune's helmet and shattered his visor, causing deep lacerations to his face. Although the pilot's windscreen was shattered and partly opaque, Flt Lt Fortune elected to retain control and he continued to take evasive action. The aircraft was hit a total of 8 times resulting in a series of system failures including damage to the flight stabilisation system and forward transmission. Flt Lt Fortune with confidence and inspirational composure calmly diagnosed the faults, took appropriate corrective action, briefed his intentions to his team, and kept the aircraft as stable as possible to enable the medical team to work on the casualties.
Flt Lt Fortune flew at maximum speed to the medical facility at Camp Bastion and had the presence of mind to land his heavily damaged aircraft on the side of the landing site so as not to block it. Only once the casualties were then offloaded and, the aircraft shut down, did he accept medical attention. All of the casualties survived and the assessment of the doctors was that one of them would have died had he not been evacuated in such a timely fashion.
During this incident, Flt Lt Fortune displayed extreme professionalism and airmanship. His actions saved the life of at least one of the casualties and probably prevented the loss of his aircraft, with all on board. His remarkable courage, composure and selflessness are wholly deserving of appropriate recognition and Flt Lt Fortune is accordingly awarded the Grand Master’s Commendation.
As the aircraft departed it was engaged again. A round came through the windscreen, hit the front of Flt Lt Fortune's helmet and shattered his visor, causing deep lacerations to his face. Although the pilot's windscreen was shattered and partly opaque, Flt Lt Fortune elected to retain control and he continued to take evasive action. The aircraft was hit a total of 8 times resulting in a series of system failures including damage to the flight stabilisation system and forward transmission. Flt Lt Fortune with confidence and inspirational composure calmly diagnosed the faults, took appropriate corrective action, briefed his intentions to his team, and kept the aircraft as stable as possible to enable the medical team to work on the casualties.
Flt Lt Fortune flew at maximum speed to the medical facility at Camp Bastion and had the presence of mind to land his heavily damaged aircraft on the side of the landing site so as not to block it. Only once the casualties were then offloaded and, the aircraft shut down, did he accept medical attention. All of the casualties survived and the assessment of the doctors was that one of them would have died had he not been evacuated in such a timely fashion.
During this incident, Flt Lt Fortune displayed extreme professionalism and airmanship. His actions saved the life of at least one of the casualties and probably prevented the loss of his aircraft, with all on board. His remarkable courage, composure and selflessness are wholly deserving of appropriate recognition and Flt Lt Fortune is accordingly awarded the Grand Master’s Commendation.
GAPAN - The Guild of Air Pilots & Air Navigators
Patron: HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
Grand Master: HRH The Prince Andrew, Duke of York
.