Iraq squaddies Jackass pranks
By TOM NEWTON DUNN
Defence Editor
May 17, 2007
RAF Aldergrove
THRILL-seeking troops in Iraq have made a home movie of hilarious Jackass-style pranks on each other.
To wile away hours of boredom on base, the squaddies thought up ever more painful practical jokes to play out in front of the camera.
They include kung-fu kicks, squirting fire extinguishers into occupied portaloos and setting fire to paper stuffed down the back of pals’ trousers.
In other scenes, troops perform their own daredevil stunts, such as leaping over walls and bodysurfing crates of water.
During the four minute-long film, pranks are interspersed with different soldiers’ eccentric dancing routines.
All the action is played out to the background them music of the song ‘Danger High Voltage’ by the US rock band Electric Six.
The video – that breaks every health and safety rule in the book - was just intended for the troops’ own amusement.
Sailors from Royal Navy Type 22 frigate HMS Campbeltown once did a spoof of Bohemian Rhapsody
But its stars are now in serious hot water with top brass after it was posted on website Live Leak.
One of the soldiers involved said last night: “Everyone’s hoping the head shed will see the funny side of this.
“Nobody was seriously hurt during filming, and most of its subjects were willing participants anyway.
“It’s just squaddies unwinding in their own way and having a bit of fun – it’s a pretty stressful environment out there.”
The film was made by soldiers from 3 Squadron, RAF Regiment, on a recent six-month tour of duty in Basra.
They had the crucial job of guarding the troubled city’s airport – the hub of all coalition air movements in southern Iraq – which comes under daily mortar and rocket attack from Shiite Muslim insurgents.
The Jackass film follows in a long line of comedy movies from the front line.
In May 2005, the Royal Dragoon Guards made a spoof version of ‘This Is The Way To Amarillo’ while on an Iraq tour.
Royal Dragoon Guards
It was so popular among troops at home, it crashed the MoD’s computer system when circulated on an e-mail.
Not to be outdone, Royal Navy sailors on board HMS Campbeltown came up with a hilarious rip off of Queen's mega hit Bohemian Rhapsody four months later.
Then RAF thrill-seekers at Kandahar airfield in southern Afghanistan videoed each other playing games of chicken with very low flying Harrier jump jets.
Now based at RAF Aldergrove in Northern Ireland, 3 Squadron was originally founded in Basra during the British occupation of the 1920s when Iraq was part of the Empire.
3 squadron, RAF Regiment (based at RAF Aldergrove, Northern Ireland)
Its logo still retains a scorpion from its founding missions in the desert while equipped with armoured cars.
The squaddies who made the video have been given a heavy dressing-down by superiors, the MOD said last night.
An RAF spokesman said: “We understand that the video was made during off duty periods. But nevertheless behaviour of this kind is not condoned.”
* Watch the squaddies’ pranks video at www.thesun.co.uk
t.newtondunn@the-sun.co.uk
thesun.co.uk
By TOM NEWTON DUNN
Defence Editor
May 17, 2007
RAF Aldergrove
THRILL-seeking troops in Iraq have made a home movie of hilarious Jackass-style pranks on each other.
To wile away hours of boredom on base, the squaddies thought up ever more painful practical jokes to play out in front of the camera.
They include kung-fu kicks, squirting fire extinguishers into occupied portaloos and setting fire to paper stuffed down the back of pals’ trousers.
In other scenes, troops perform their own daredevil stunts, such as leaping over walls and bodysurfing crates of water.
During the four minute-long film, pranks are interspersed with different soldiers’ eccentric dancing routines.
All the action is played out to the background them music of the song ‘Danger High Voltage’ by the US rock band Electric Six.
The video – that breaks every health and safety rule in the book - was just intended for the troops’ own amusement.
Sailors from Royal Navy Type 22 frigate HMS Campbeltown once did a spoof of Bohemian Rhapsody
But its stars are now in serious hot water with top brass after it was posted on website Live Leak.
One of the soldiers involved said last night: “Everyone’s hoping the head shed will see the funny side of this.
“Nobody was seriously hurt during filming, and most of its subjects were willing participants anyway.
“It’s just squaddies unwinding in their own way and having a bit of fun – it’s a pretty stressful environment out there.”
The film was made by soldiers from 3 Squadron, RAF Regiment, on a recent six-month tour of duty in Basra.
They had the crucial job of guarding the troubled city’s airport – the hub of all coalition air movements in southern Iraq – which comes under daily mortar and rocket attack from Shiite Muslim insurgents.
The Jackass film follows in a long line of comedy movies from the front line.
In May 2005, the Royal Dragoon Guards made a spoof version of ‘This Is The Way To Amarillo’ while on an Iraq tour.
Royal Dragoon Guards
It was so popular among troops at home, it crashed the MoD’s computer system when circulated on an e-mail.
Not to be outdone, Royal Navy sailors on board HMS Campbeltown came up with a hilarious rip off of Queen's mega hit Bohemian Rhapsody four months later.
Then RAF thrill-seekers at Kandahar airfield in southern Afghanistan videoed each other playing games of chicken with very low flying Harrier jump jets.
Now based at RAF Aldergrove in Northern Ireland, 3 Squadron was originally founded in Basra during the British occupation of the 1920s when Iraq was part of the Empire.
3 squadron, RAF Regiment (based at RAF Aldergrove, Northern Ireland)
Its logo still retains a scorpion from its founding missions in the desert while equipped with armoured cars.
The squaddies who made the video have been given a heavy dressing-down by superiors, the MOD said last night.
An RAF spokesman said: “We understand that the video was made during off duty periods. But nevertheless behaviour of this kind is not condoned.”
* Watch the squaddies’ pranks video at www.thesun.co.uk
t.newtondunn@the-sun.co.uk
thesun.co.uk
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