Guy Martin D Day Landing
 

I see that Guy Martin has made a programme about D Day to be shown next Sunday which includes some flying with 47 Sqn

Was very interesting, but they took the long way from BZN to Abingdon!

It was indeed a good programme. Putting himself through training with the Paras wasn't an easy school for Guy!

That French jumpmaster was someone you hope would be on your side in any conflict.

It was a very good programme, but there again, this is usually the case as he's about as far removed from the "I'm a celeb so the programme's all about me " school of presenters as it's possible to get. He does get actively involved and not just as a token gesture

Shame we didn't see a bit more about the Dak restoration, which isn't a criticism I hasten to add.

I admit to having had strong reservations about this programme. We are so used to such productions being a vehicle for the presenter/lead participant's self esteem and professional exposure. Not so here. He is self effacing and modest. He realises that the point of the programme is to reveal the technical details of how you go about invading a well defended enemy coast, in this case from the air.

We were constantly aware that arriving on the DZ is only the start of the challenge, rather than its culmination. It was in short a proper tribute to those gallant young men who started the liberation of Europe proper, 75 years ago. Some appeared in the programme, remembering as clear as yesterday their drills and procedures. Young as ever in mind, if not in body. This was their story, not Guy Martin's, and he would be the first to say so. Great programme!

I only got to see the first hour as my luscious lady friend insisted on turning over for "Gentleman Jack". I shall catch the final bit on catchup. One thing that intrigued me.......the Para instructor with a beard. I know about the Pioneer Corps and beards but Paras?
As anything with Guy - really good. He's a top bloke with cojones of titanium steel.

A very interesting program, and less artificial drama than some of his other programmes (not a comment on Guy, more the editors of those programs) which definitely makes this one of his better ones.

For the real deal, how about Harry Read - this week he will recreate his D-Day jump aged 95. Much respect.
https://www.channel4.com/news/the-95...ay-75-years-on

And coverage of his practice jump last year:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-eng...time-since-ww2

Not quite correct. A pioneer sergeant is an appointment within infantry regiments and the foot guards. Those holding the appointment are permitted to wear a beard. As far as I am aware this had nothing to do with the Pioneer Corps, which in fact no longer exists and is part of the Royal Logistics Corps. Perhaps the chap you saw was a pioneer sergeant in the Paras? Other appointments which carry the same privilege are drum major, pipe major and goat major (do the Paras have a regimental goat?)

Or he may just have had a medical chit to be excused shaving!

I assumed he was probably ex services....but to keep it in context and for the general public viewing he was called by his ex rank?

Good program though, and credit to Guy Martin...he just gets on with it! :D

I really enjoyed this program. I grew up around folk like GM - a real salt of the earth bloke. I thought it especially brave of him to go through with it, not least because he's had a few serious accidents in his past and something might easily have gone snap!

The interviews with the ex servicemen (and the flight nurse) were very telling - more from what they obviously held back from saying than the statements they actually made. Let's hope that no-one ever has to go through the horrors of that sort of thing ever again.

Also permitted for SF?

Probably. I also knew a Nimrod pilot who had a beard you could hide a badger in. Medical reason in his case.

Anyone know if there will be a repeat. We had power cut

Yes, it's repeated tonight on 4seven* at 21:00 BST.

(*Freeview Channel 47, Freesat Channel 127, Sky Channel 137, Virgin Channel 143)

Guy Martin is obviously brave and self effacing. As an ex fighter pilot I see a man who is basically fearless (but clever) and who will accept a challenge if he deems it reasonable.
He was replicating a parachute jump made by his Grandad and he was a credit to the memory of that man.
Wonderful programme.
Guy - please do NOT ride the TT any more. Keep entertaining us with your attentions to history.

In the mid 50's, my father gave me an old motorbike, hoping that I would learn to do it up. It was a Royal Enfield 125cc 2 stroke. I learned form Guy Martin's excellent programme that this was the type of motorbike that was dropped with the paras to give them secure communications. I wish I had known that at the time

We were still experimenting with motorbike airdrop when I was at the trials unit in the mid 1970s. Some drops were more successful than others !https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....1560be7086.jpg

https://www.channel4.com/programmes/...mand/68995-001
For three and a half weeks more.

They were known as the Royal Enfield "Flying Flea".

Ancientaviator,

If those bikes were 2 stroke Bombardiers, dropping them with a parachute was a very good thing to do with them. Horrible things to ride. I had the throttle stick open on one of them on Salisbury Plain - the damned thing nearly did for me when I hit ruts caused by a tank track while I tried to stop it running away with me!