UK HELICOPTER DOWN IN AFGHANISTAN
Twos in,
"Hate to be the bearer of bad news smuj, but in the era of electronic news gathering and 24 hours cable news the "prize" only goes to the first report, not the accurate report. The BBC are just as predatory as CNN or Fox in pi$$ng over the graves of the recently deceased to get the story. If you start by assuming they are all vermin and make the appropriate exceptions you won't go far wrong."
Thanks for your guidance and advice on how to respond to media hype. You aren't the bearer of bad news, because what you are saying is exactly aligned with my thinking. Whatever their motives, monetary or point scoring, it can never justify the guesswork used to to create angst for many families who have relatives serving in Afghanistan. Whatever era we are in, surely human decency has some merit? Maybe, the press race to be first is starting to overcome respect for family and friends of possible casualties of such events. I offer no argument to your post, I only ask if the media need tragedies like this to make money.
Smudge
"Hate to be the bearer of bad news smuj, but in the era of electronic news gathering and 24 hours cable news the "prize" only goes to the first report, not the accurate report. The BBC are just as predatory as CNN or Fox in pi$$ng over the graves of the recently deceased to get the story. If you start by assuming they are all vermin and make the appropriate exceptions you won't go far wrong."
Thanks for your guidance and advice on how to respond to media hype. You aren't the bearer of bad news, because what you are saying is exactly aligned with my thinking. Whatever their motives, monetary or point scoring, it can never justify the guesswork used to to create angst for many families who have relatives serving in Afghanistan. Whatever era we are in, surely human decency has some merit? Maybe, the press race to be first is starting to overcome respect for family and friends of possible casualties of such events. I offer no argument to your post, I only ask if the media need tragedies like this to make money.
Smudge
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Afghanistan.
Poor strategy, followed by good tactics. Thus a total failure.
So sad. I'm ex AAC and my heart goes out to the families of those lost in this most pointless war.
Be they Brits or locals.
The whole thing has been cruel and fruitless.
To lose a child in this stupid war is unbearable.
Poor strategy, followed by good tactics. Thus a total failure.
So sad. I'm ex AAC and my heart goes out to the families of those lost in this most pointless war.
Be they Brits or locals.
The whole thing has been cruel and fruitless.
To lose a child in this stupid war is unbearable.
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Im putting 2 and 2 together and guessing that I know these guys from my time in the AAC. As such Im saddened by the loss. However please don't cheapen what these guys were doing. We all went, and continue to go, to these places voluntarily. We believed in the job that we did or do, believed in our mates.
Its incredibly sad to lose mates, it must be horrific to lose family, but I would hate to think that if I had been a casualty it would have been written off as a waste of a life. I would like to think that it had meant something. I certainly think that these guys ultimately died for something, and whatever that may be, I hate to think that people may think that it was all just a waste of time.
My thoughts are with the families and the squadrons.
Rest in peace.
Its incredibly sad to lose mates, it must be horrific to lose family, but I would hate to think that if I had been a casualty it would have been written off as a waste of a life. I would like to think that it had meant something. I certainly think that these guys ultimately died for something, and whatever that may be, I hate to think that people may think that it was all just a waste of time.
My thoughts are with the families and the squadrons.
Rest in peace.
Juliet- we'll said. Any life lost is tragic, particularly this close to end of ops, but to tell the grieving relatives their loved one died in vain is not helpful to them coming to terms with their loss. There are more appropriate times and places to discuss this aspect.
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It saddens me that this thread has come about because of a tragic event which has almost become secondary to the multiple lines of bickering. I know that you all mean well but may I suggest that nothing further is posted until the facts are known. Thank you all.
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I hope that this could be the final time we hear of this sort of tragedy before the campaign ends.
Juliet wrote -
This might well be the case, but perhaps better to check first before speculating or making an assumption on a subject as important as this, just for your own peace of mind - you could be wrong.
Juliet wrote -
Im putting 2 and 2 together and guessing that I know these guys from my time in
the AAC.
the AAC.
Gentleman Aviator
I'm not knocking journos - not too much anyway - but you can't altogether blame modern comms, red tops and 24/7 news.
I recall in the Dhofar war when one of our Hueys was shot down, a respectable paper - can't recall exactly but it was Telegraph or Times or their Sunday equivalents - printed a tiny single paragraph along the lines of:
"A SOAF helicopter has been shot down in Dhofar, killing two British pilots; next of kin have NOT yet been informed."
Given the comms in the mid 70s you can imagine the panic that ensued. A chum and self wrote a very rude letter to the editor, getting a bland reply saying words to the effect of:
"Sorry mate - that's the way it is. If we hadn't published it, someone else would have."
I'll try and find the letter with the exact words......
So it's competition, competition, competition. And that was in the days of Fleet Street, "hot metal" and telegrams.......
I recall in the Dhofar war when one of our Hueys was shot down, a respectable paper - can't recall exactly but it was Telegraph or Times or their Sunday equivalents - printed a tiny single paragraph along the lines of:
"A SOAF helicopter has been shot down in Dhofar, killing two British pilots; next of kin have NOT yet been informed."
Given the comms in the mid 70s you can imagine the panic that ensued. A chum and self wrote a very rude letter to the editor, getting a bland reply saying words to the effect of:
"Sorry mate - that's the way it is. If we hadn't published it, someone else would have."
I'll try and find the letter with the exact words......
So it's competition, competition, competition. And that was in the days of Fleet Street, "hot metal" and telegrams.......
"A SOAF helicopter has been shot down in Dhofar, killing two British pilots; next of kin have NOT yet been informed."
The MOD can confirm that a UK helicopter crashed in southern Afghanistan
today, 26 April 2014.
The incident is under investigation and the process of notifying next of kin
is under way. It would be inappropriate to comment further at this
time.
today, 26 April 2014.
The incident is under investigation and the process of notifying next of kin
is under way. It would be inappropriate to comment further at this
time.
If the MoD/ISAF choose to announce the loss of the helicopter before the next-of-kin have been informed, you can't blame the media for reporting it. If servicemen who should know better then start putting specific details out into the public domain, then again it isn't the fault of the media who report it.
It's just a tad hypocritical to blaming the messenger, when I'd wager that most of those on this forum (ie; all those without direct involvment with the incident or the investigation) will be going to those same media sources in order to try and find out more information.
Separately, happy to see Gnd has sobered up and removed his post.
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I now remember why I rarely use this forum anymore.....
RIP guys, you've done your country proud stepping up to the mark when required, thoughts with your family & friends at this time.
So much bitching & speculation goes on at these times, not condolences......... not really informed debate, not at all required, and as a serving member at the deployed base in question this is BS.
Well said Juliet....
That is all.
RIP guys, you've done your country proud stepping up to the mark when required, thoughts with your family & friends at this time.
So much bitching & speculation goes on at these times, not condolences......... not really informed debate, not at all required, and as a serving member at the deployed base in question this is BS.
Well said Juliet....
That is all.
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My Condolences to the families, friends and units involved. I know how people and their families who get terrible news like this can just revert into themselves and completely change who they are because of the loss.
R.I.P guys
R.I.P guys
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From the MoD site:
"It is with great sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm the deaths of five UK Service personnel following a Lynx helicopter crash.
The crash happened during a routine flight in Kandahar Province, southern Afghanistan, on 26 April 2014. Three of the servicemen were from the Army Air Corps, based at RAF Odiham in Hampshire. One was a Royal Air Force serviceman also based at RAF Odiham. One was a member of the Army Reserve from 3 Military Intelligence Battalion, based in London.
Commander Joint Helicopter Command, Major General Richard Felton, said:
It is with great sadness that we must confirm that five UK Service personnel have been killed in this incident which, at this early stage, would appear to have been a tragic accident.
Events like this, whilst mercifully rare, remind us of the risks our personnel face in their work in Afghanistan as we approach the conclusion of the combat mission later this year. Our thoughts are with the families and loved ones of those who have lost their lives.
The next of kin of all the servicemen have been informed".
Rest in peace.
"It is with great sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm the deaths of five UK Service personnel following a Lynx helicopter crash.
The crash happened during a routine flight in Kandahar Province, southern Afghanistan, on 26 April 2014. Three of the servicemen were from the Army Air Corps, based at RAF Odiham in Hampshire. One was a Royal Air Force serviceman also based at RAF Odiham. One was a member of the Army Reserve from 3 Military Intelligence Battalion, based in London.
Commander Joint Helicopter Command, Major General Richard Felton, said:
It is with great sadness that we must confirm that five UK Service personnel have been killed in this incident which, at this early stage, would appear to have been a tragic accident.
Events like this, whilst mercifully rare, remind us of the risks our personnel face in their work in Afghanistan as we approach the conclusion of the combat mission later this year. Our thoughts are with the families and loved ones of those who have lost their lives.
The next of kin of all the servicemen have been informed".
Rest in peace.