The RAF's most heroic Chinook has been "awarded" its fourth Distinguished Flying Cross.
Because of the heroism the helicopter has shown in its 28 year career, Bravo November is undoubtedly Britain's most famous Chinook.
Last week, the appropriately named Flight Lieutenant Ian Fortune was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross because of bravery he had shown in Afghanistan.
Ian was piloting Bravo November in Afghanistan last year to evacuate six wounded soldiers to safety after they were ambushed by the Taliban.
A Taliban bullet hit the visor of his helmet, smashing it, and knocked him sideways.
Despite blood pouring from facial wounds, Ian continued to fly Bravo November back to the relative safety of Britain's Camp Bastion in Helmand Province.
This is despite the fact that Bravo November sustained some damage from the taliban attack.
RAF chiefs are reluctant to draw attention to the helicopter’s extraordinary record, fearing that praising it publicly might jinx its ‘luck’.
Yet it has an extraordinary history of its pilots receiving DFCs.
The first recipient was Squadron Leader Dick Langworthy during the Falklands War against Argentina in 1982.
Under his command, the then brand new Bravo November landed British soldiers on the islands to support SAS troops under heavy fire from Argentine artillery.
On another Falklands War mission it ran into a snowstorm. Sqn Ldr Langworthy’s night vision goggles failed and the chopper hit the surface of the sea before somehow managing to lift itself back into the air.
By the time the Argentines surrendered, Bravo November had flown for 109 hours, carried some 1,500 troops, 95 casualties, 550 prisoners of war and 550 tons of cargo
And, despite this latest heroic mission, Bravo November isn't even thinking about retiring just yet. She is due to return to active service in Afghanistan next month after maintenance in Britain.
The RAF has 48 Chinooks in its inventory (including two lost in Afghanistan), the largest fleet in the world outside of the United States. By 2012, it will increase the size of its Chinook fleet to 70 by buying another 24, 22 to expand the force and 2 to replace losses in Afghanistan.
The herocopter: Chinook notches up fourth Distinguished Flying Cross in its proud 28-year history
By Peter Almond
25th September 2010
Daily Mail
When Flight Lieutenant Ian Fortune was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross last week, he was rightly honoured for his courage in evacuating six wounded soldiers after a Taliban ambush in Afghanistan.
But if a machine could ever win a medal for bravery, the Chinook helicopter he was flying, Bravo November, would surely qualify.
Ft Lt Fortune is the fourth pilot in the aircraft’s 28-year history to receive the DFC. During the attack, a Taliban bullet smashed the visor of his helmet, knocking him sideways.
Top gun: The lucky aircraft Bravo November
And Bravo November did not escape unscathed – but despite sustaining damage it still made it back to Camp Bastion in Helmand.
RAF chiefs are reluctant to draw attention to the helicopter’s extraordinary record, fearing that praising it publicly might jinx its ‘luck’.
Yet the list of DFCs awarded to its pilots is testimony to its outstanding service.
The first recipient was Squadron Leader Dick Langworthy during the Falklands War in 1982.
Flt Lt Fortune was honoured last week and the shattered helmet which the Lieutenant continued to wear while flying his passengers to safety
Under his command, the then brand new Bravo November landed soldiers on the islands to support SAS troops under heavy fire from Argentine artillery.
On another mission it ran into a snowstorm. Sqn Ldr Langworthy’s night vision goggles failed and the chopper hit the surface of the sea before somehow managing to lift itself back into the air.
Damaged and without spares, Bravo November remained in service for another two weeks, even playing a crucial role in cutting off Argentine troops attempting to evade capture towards the end of the conflict.
By the time the Argentines surrendered, Bravo November had flown for 109 hours, carried some 1,500 troops, 95 casualties, 550 prisoners of war and 550 tons of cargo.
In March 2003 the Chinook was again in the thick of the action, this time during the invasion of Iraq.
Taking off from the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal, it took the first Royal Marines on to the Al-Faw peninsula to seize vital oil-pumping facilities before Iraqi troops could destroy them.
On this occasion Sqn Ldr Steve Carr found himself at the controls of Bravo November.
Flying at less than 100 ft and with night vision restricted by dust thrown up by advancing American tanks and artillery fire, Bravo November delivered the Marines to the landing sites marked by US special forces before returning for more troops, guns and freight.
Sqn Ldr Carr received the DFC for his role in the mission.
Three years later, on the night of June 11, 2006, Flt Lt Craig Wilson was leading a four-man crew aboard Bravo November in Afghanistan when he was asked to pick up a casualty.
Despite difficult and dangerous conditions, he flew at the perilous altitude of 150ft to complete the Helmand mission successfully.
A few hours later he was back on another operation, making a difficult landing while low on fuel.
Despite having been on duty for 22 hours, Flt Lt Wilson volunteered to take reinforcements to the front. He brought back two wounded soldiers, winning a DFC for his bravery.
Andy Lawless, the helicopter’s co-pilot in the Falklands, said of its latest exploit: ‘All credit to the pilot, but Bravo November’s a lucky aircraft, no doubt about that.’
In 2007, retired Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Johns opened an exhibition honouring the copter at the RAF Museum in Hendon, north London, on the 25th anniversary of the Falklands War and said: ‘Bravo November is a hugely significant aircraft. The RAF almost never singles out individual aircraft for tribute. But Bravo November is, well, exceptional.’
Some military personnel say the helicopter should now be retired.
Certainly the RAF Museum would like to have the real thing rather than the copy that was displayed to dignitaries, including Baroness Thatcher.
But RAF officials will not hear of it. ‘It’s in the front line, it leads the way,’ said one senior officer. ‘You don’t pull out your best warriors to protect them in the heat of battle.’
This view appears to have prevailed – Bravo November returns to active service in Afghanistan next month after maintenance work in the UK.
dailymail.co.uk
Because of the heroism the helicopter has shown in its 28 year career, Bravo November is undoubtedly Britain's most famous Chinook.
Last week, the appropriately named Flight Lieutenant Ian Fortune was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross because of bravery he had shown in Afghanistan.
Ian was piloting Bravo November in Afghanistan last year to evacuate six wounded soldiers to safety after they were ambushed by the Taliban.
A Taliban bullet hit the visor of his helmet, smashing it, and knocked him sideways.
Despite blood pouring from facial wounds, Ian continued to fly Bravo November back to the relative safety of Britain's Camp Bastion in Helmand Province.
This is despite the fact that Bravo November sustained some damage from the taliban attack.
RAF chiefs are reluctant to draw attention to the helicopter’s extraordinary record, fearing that praising it publicly might jinx its ‘luck’.
Yet it has an extraordinary history of its pilots receiving DFCs.
The first recipient was Squadron Leader Dick Langworthy during the Falklands War against Argentina in 1982.
Under his command, the then brand new Bravo November landed British soldiers on the islands to support SAS troops under heavy fire from Argentine artillery.
On another Falklands War mission it ran into a snowstorm. Sqn Ldr Langworthy’s night vision goggles failed and the chopper hit the surface of the sea before somehow managing to lift itself back into the air.
By the time the Argentines surrendered, Bravo November had flown for 109 hours, carried some 1,500 troops, 95 casualties, 550 prisoners of war and 550 tons of cargo
And, despite this latest heroic mission, Bravo November isn't even thinking about retiring just yet. She is due to return to active service in Afghanistan next month after maintenance in Britain.
The RAF has 48 Chinooks in its inventory (including two lost in Afghanistan), the largest fleet in the world outside of the United States. By 2012, it will increase the size of its Chinook fleet to 70 by buying another 24, 22 to expand the force and 2 to replace losses in Afghanistan.
The herocopter: Chinook notches up fourth Distinguished Flying Cross in its proud 28-year history
By Peter Almond
25th September 2010
Daily Mail
When Flight Lieutenant Ian Fortune was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross last week, he was rightly honoured for his courage in evacuating six wounded soldiers after a Taliban ambush in Afghanistan.
But if a machine could ever win a medal for bravery, the Chinook helicopter he was flying, Bravo November, would surely qualify.
Ft Lt Fortune is the fourth pilot in the aircraft’s 28-year history to receive the DFC. During the attack, a Taliban bullet smashed the visor of his helmet, knocking him sideways.
Top gun: The lucky aircraft Bravo November
And Bravo November did not escape unscathed – but despite sustaining damage it still made it back to Camp Bastion in Helmand.
RAF chiefs are reluctant to draw attention to the helicopter’s extraordinary record, fearing that praising it publicly might jinx its ‘luck’.
Yet the list of DFCs awarded to its pilots is testimony to its outstanding service.
The first recipient was Squadron Leader Dick Langworthy during the Falklands War in 1982.
Flt Lt Fortune was honoured last week and the shattered helmet which the Lieutenant continued to wear while flying his passengers to safety
Under his command, the then brand new Bravo November landed soldiers on the islands to support SAS troops under heavy fire from Argentine artillery.
On another mission it ran into a snowstorm. Sqn Ldr Langworthy’s night vision goggles failed and the chopper hit the surface of the sea before somehow managing to lift itself back into the air.
Damaged and without spares, Bravo November remained in service for another two weeks, even playing a crucial role in cutting off Argentine troops attempting to evade capture towards the end of the conflict.
By the time the Argentines surrendered, Bravo November had flown for 109 hours, carried some 1,500 troops, 95 casualties, 550 prisoners of war and 550 tons of cargo.
In March 2003 the Chinook was again in the thick of the action, this time during the invasion of Iraq.
Taking off from the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal, it took the first Royal Marines on to the Al-Faw peninsula to seize vital oil-pumping facilities before Iraqi troops could destroy them.
On this occasion Sqn Ldr Steve Carr found himself at the controls of Bravo November.
Flying at less than 100 ft and with night vision restricted by dust thrown up by advancing American tanks and artillery fire, Bravo November delivered the Marines to the landing sites marked by US special forces before returning for more troops, guns and freight.
Sqn Ldr Carr received the DFC for his role in the mission.
Three years later, on the night of June 11, 2006, Flt Lt Craig Wilson was leading a four-man crew aboard Bravo November in Afghanistan when he was asked to pick up a casualty.
Despite difficult and dangerous conditions, he flew at the perilous altitude of 150ft to complete the Helmand mission successfully.
A few hours later he was back on another operation, making a difficult landing while low on fuel.
Despite having been on duty for 22 hours, Flt Lt Wilson volunteered to take reinforcements to the front. He brought back two wounded soldiers, winning a DFC for his bravery.
Andy Lawless, the helicopter’s co-pilot in the Falklands, said of its latest exploit: ‘All credit to the pilot, but Bravo November’s a lucky aircraft, no doubt about that.’
In 2007, retired Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Johns opened an exhibition honouring the copter at the RAF Museum in Hendon, north London, on the 25th anniversary of the Falklands War and said: ‘Bravo November is a hugely significant aircraft. The RAF almost never singles out individual aircraft for tribute. But Bravo November is, well, exceptional.’
Some military personnel say the helicopter should now be retired.
Certainly the RAF Museum would like to have the real thing rather than the copy that was displayed to dignitaries, including Baroness Thatcher.
But RAF officials will not hear of it. ‘It’s in the front line, it leads the way,’ said one senior officer. ‘You don’t pull out your best warriors to protect them in the heat of battle.’
This view appears to have prevailed – Bravo November returns to active service in Afghanistan next month after maintenance work in the UK.
dailymail.co.uk
Last edited:
