ONE Life Above Enemy Lines
 

Documentary just starting on BBC 1 (10:30pm Tue 9/10 ) about 27sqn over Afghan last year, if anyone interested in catching it.

Just finished watching it. Thumbs-up to the documentary-makers for what looked to be a pretty fair reflection of life out there, and of course, thumbs-up to the boys pictured doing the work.

Haven't seen Padders since IOT... hope the programme increases his hits on the dating website :ok:

Well done all of the lads out in the sand!!
Keep up the good work.:ok:

Good to see that the BBC can still make an unbiased, informative documentary; let's have more - the boys and girls out there (and in Iraq) need more recognition for their part in what is going on.

Some highly complimentary plaudits from our friends on ARRSE here:

http://www.arrse.co.uk/cpgn2/index.p...=79319#1562411

[Always nice to hear it from the "customers" point of view!]

Top work chaps...Keep it up:ok:
I recognised several familiar faces from my time at JFH(A)Fwd

Unfortunately, the BBC failed to distinguish between BSN(Fwd) & KAF(Main (or Rear)) for several scenes

Respect goes out to Pte Gray and all those who have also arrived back at LYE/BHX instead of BZZ

Well that brought back memories from my time round the birdtable planning at Bastion summer 06. Some happy, some not so. All the same a good effort by the BBC and a cracking effort by the crews even though the end result was not what not as hoped for.

And to any of the bean counters, yes-men and admin gurus out there who think we exist to save money, make the politicians look good and do endless reams of ****e, you should all be locked in a room and made to watch this programme repeatedly until you finally work out what it is we actually do and why we are here!

I was one of those customers on ARRSE that submitted a comment and have to say well done to all the crews and the like on the program.
Pity it couldnt be on earlier. As much as us Army types slate the RAF types, the professionalism of the crews shone out. Outstanding how quick that pre-flight took!

A quality programme about top quality people. Hats off to all concerned.

Didn't see it but can guess what it was about, we have the constant reminder of the weekly C17 joining the circuit with fallen comrades on board, makes me shiver and wish god bless them all :sad:

Awesome documentary!

Really got to the reality of ops, Well done all aircrew/groundcrew mates involved. The 2 RPG bangs behind the cab made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, nowt worse (other than a hit!!)

'Professional' came to mind.:ok:

Marly.

Nice to see the groundcrew getting the recognition they deserve. Oh sorry I must have blinked and missed them. Still I suppose the aircrew are all that matters in the real world cos those areoplane thingys just fix/fuel/arm themselves dont they?


On a lighter note, well done Phil on a sterling job.

Nice brief to the yanks MS, tell it like it is!

Just a shame it was on so late, the great unwashed need to see that.

Nice one. I thought Digs came across very well but it would have been good to see some more of the crewmen at least, even if there wasn't time to talk to the groundcrew, which would have been better still.

Having said that, a top programme that I need to get a tape of for my wife so she can see what I get up to (occasionally).

Did watch it and was most impressed by all involved, including the BBC for a change.

It would have been nice to see some of the other trades rather than just pilots represented, but I think they caught the over-all picture of life in an operational theatre.

I never experienced life as these folk do/did, by the time the guys reached me the medical outcome was already known, one way or the other.

As said previously, the great unwashed need to see this. I know it made it to BBC1, and I can see why it was on quite so late but....

...BBC, please repeat it.

Brilliant and well drawn up documentary. Nice to see things at Operator level.

Great docu (makes a change) about some great, and very brave work being done out there. Hats off to the lot of you from someone who's only ever riden in the back of Odiham's finest for fun.

Fastest reading (or is it from memory) of a checklist I've ever seen when rushing to get the cab airborne for the Casevac.

So, who's your favourite newsreader? :ok:

Missed it! Was dragged out to the cinema instead. However can highly recommend the latest Ben Stiller movie!
Anyone know if it might be repeated? The documentary that is, before a whole list of local cinema timings get posted!

JGF - I have it on tape, happy to mail it to you when I've seen it, in return for a donation to RBL.

Anyone know if there's a catchup type affair available on BBC anywhere? Or anyone got a copy the can send me? Am stuck in a mess without a TV and missed the thing!

An excellent documentary - and it should be mandatory viewing for all politicians and MoD civil serpents!

Good luck to all in the dust and $hit of Bliar's follies.

Try 'Watch Again' on the BBC site if you missed it.
Here it is.

I'm normally one of the first to have a dig at the crabs, but I have to say I watched last night's documentary and have the utmost respect.

The programme was reviewed in todays Guardian. Generally complimentary the review did however mention that the personnel concerned were "the men of 27th Squadron, based at RAF Odium in Hampshire".

'The Grauniad' is well known for its spelling mistakes, everyone knows its spelt Odious.

I'm downloading the programe now.:ok:

It wasn't just the speed of the checklist items from memory, it was the "someone follow me" when he went through the next lot - professionalism under pressure not just from one individual, but from all concerned.

The Guardian review is here.

And i wonder how many hits his PlentyOfFish page will get now :)

On a lighter note, I did chuckle at the reply from the ever so carefully worded email to whatever the girls name was! Hope she was watching last night!

I see that the review in the Grauniad also throws in some technique tips for Padders' online stalki... er... courting.:)

Excellent documentary. Well done to Ollie who made it.

An earlier slot would have been great, but they'd have had to bleep the :mad: sweary words, and you know someone would have complained about them anyway.

Well I've just finished watching it, what a fantastic program that was. The best bit of PR for what the RAF and the British forces as a whole are going through out there day-in, day-out.

If truth be told it stirred up some emotions within me, many of the faces are familiar to me from my up until recent service at RAF Odiham and one of the loadies during the first insertion into Sagin sounded very much like an ex-TSW chap I know well.

I would hope the BBC repeats it at an earlier time, possibly on a Sunday evening so that it could reach a wider audience especially those who decry the need for more SH assets.

Pity...

I cannot seem to watch the film, as the BBC website bans me from doing so, because I am from outside the UK.

Any one knows how to solve this?

Cheers,

Muldrake

Its on Youtube in bits.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

How we cheered!!
 

Well done to the mighty elephants. An excellent documentary; but it's dead easy when you have such great material to work with!! Thoughts are continually with all that serve in the rocky sandy place. Just a shame that you are sometimes to few at a time when most sane types recognise the need for more. Good Luck.

Just finished watching it on the "Watch again" facility - thanks for the link.
For once - what a superb documentary from the BBC. Well done to Ollie for making it so and much respect to those who "Starred" and those who continue to perform in sandy places. :D
Agree with earlier comments that it ought to be required viewing at the next cabinet meeting - if the double hatted one can tear himself away from Scotland that is.:ugh:

Maybe the double hatted one, his boss and some civil serpents should go out with the IRTs and see for themselves what the realities are and more importantly what they are responsible for now and in the future. This is why it cost money and more importantly lives of brave people.

Fantastic documentary, one of the BBCs better ones, should show it at 6pm on a Saturday instead of the normal rubbish, problem would be the sound would be bleeped out some of the time.

Did not know a a Chinook could be started so fast. Amazing flying. Hats off to all.

Excellent bit of telly and not a currant bun in sight! :ok:

The ONELife series isn't a hard hitting all encompassing factual documentary series, it's the new generation of fly-on-the-wall stuff. They concentrate on the human aspect, and I'm afraid in this case the humans in question were predominantly the Flt Cdr and two of his pilots.
Nice to see DP wiping vom off the seats with what looked like his bare hands! Who says crewmen have no standards?

One of the finest programmes that the BBC has aired for years...well done all involved. Should be compulsory viewing for all of those in the military/government hierachy.

One Life Wokkas
 

Great to see the Wokkas in action. For those not familiar with the territory and what 'Terence the Taliban' does to pass the time, try reading '3 Para' in Afghanistan in 2006. (on sale in Tesco for a tenner)..... gives some idea of why the troops need Wokka support!!. LOVED the briefing to US 'walking freight'!!..... more of the same BEEB

It was funny seeing the expressions on the face of the US soldiers.
& the part where he didn't know where one of the troopers didn't know where he was going.

Rather interesting seeing the Apaches being left behind.