Air Force is utterly, utterly useless

http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,70131-13543583,00.html?f=rss

Discuss!

 

Sure he's not talking about USAF?

I'll knock the RAF as much as the next mong, but I've always found their pilots (fast jet and choppers) to be rather good!

 

HERE


Leaked emails from a British serving officer in Afghanistan have revealed more of the armed forces' concerns about the fight against the Taliban.

The three emails - seen by Sky News - say some RAF pilots have been "utterly, utterly useless" in supporting troops on the ground.

They add more manpower is desperately needed along with extra helicopters for the mission to be successful.

The emails were written by an unnamed middle-ranking officer with 3 Para in the Sangin area of Northern Helmand.

Two refer to the death in combat of a colleague, Corporal Bryan Budd, and the soldiers' efforts to rescue him during intense fighting.

One talks about concerns for two junior colleagues who "look very frightened and slow to react".

"There is a fine line between giving them time to accept what has happened and adjust, and gripping them hard and forcing them to focus," the officer wrote.

The emails come after another officer serving in Afghanistan expressed strong reservations about the operation.

Major Jon Swift's comments were published in the internal Royal Fusiliers newsletter and placed on a regimental website.

The Ministry of Defence has denied ordering them to be taken down or trying to "gag" Major Swift.

Major Swift is believed to be based at the Naw Zad outpost in the volatile southern province of Helmand.

His 2 Platoons and Fire Support Group have been supporting the 3 Para Battlegroup.

 

I spoke to a friend of mine that has been out there and he said that the RAF have been doing a grand job along with the AAC!

 

Which bit is utterly utterly useless.....

Crab Air - CAS/Gd attack. - A small elm of the overall AP picture.
Crab AIr - SHF - Swiss Tony got any Chinooks in stock today?
Crab Air - Stategic Lift - Swiss Tony when are we going to get AM400 etc
Crab Air - Regt - Doing their job.

What point is he trying to make?

The RAF need more equipment now, as a starter could we have:
20 x CH47's,
20 x C17's,
10 x AM400,
some A10's, improved C130's,

Sw

 

I am always suspicious when a media outlet airs "leaked" documents without naming those from whom the documents came. They do not need to protect the names, giving the names will not compromise the 'Leaker' anymore than they are already compromised.

If they are leaked then, as the Beeb and Ch4 News have done in the past, they should give the authors name - which would authenticate the document. If the author leaked his own document he should have the balls to stand up and be counted.

Until it is proven otherwise it is my understanding that Sky News invented the emails

 

My guess is that at the moment he is feeling pretty stressed out - it's an extremely difficult & dangerous operation, lives have been lost, and they're all operating in a harsh, unforgiving environment. Thus, he's feeling a bit frustrated at how things are going.

 

What Boxingmad said!

 

We can only work with the tools that we are given, and I think that this 'leaked' email has been badly worded by the author. He may feel that the levels of support offered are useless, but I would bet that the aircrew giving that support are doing the best that they possible can. If it isn't enough, speak to the Cabinet Office!!!!

 

This is flabby lazy journalism of the lowest order... must be a slow news day.

...maybe it was Borat... on attachment with Sky.

 

In this respect he must only be talking about CAS, which is difficult at the best of times, let alone in this type of combat. I suspect 'utterly, utterly uselsess' may be hyperbole...

If, on the other hand, he's talking about Air Transport, I wholly agree with him.

 

The initial live footage mentioned the RAF targetting their own troops, the reporter was in the rain outside the MOD (?) in london. That was shown as it was "breaking news", the web page and reports since seem to have been toned down.

 

As someone who works with the Chinook fleet I appreciate, as I'm sure many of my RAF colleagues do the appreciative comments both on here and on other resources from rank and file personnel on the support offered in Afghanistan and elsewhere. I take this 'leaked' email with a pinch of salt though as I believe either the source has a definite axe to grind or is merely trying to stir up single service jingoism at a time when the three services actually appear to be pulling together pretty effectively.

Once again, thanks for all the appreciative comments and useful criticisms but no ta to 'utterly, utterly useless' type twaddle. I suppose the alternative to Chinny flights would be....?

 

BBC just aired this on the Radio 2 1500 news bulletin - they named a Para Coy Comd (Loudun?) as the author of the email.