The pilot was awarded the distinguished flying cross. I heard from an RAF engineer they couldn’t move the chinook as the hydraulics were completely dry and were amazed that he was able to land the helicopter safely.
_"OK_ _chaps_ _just_ _to_ _let_ _you_ _know_ _I_ _took_ _a_ _round_ _through_ _my_ _front_ _windscreen_ _which_ _came_ _up_ _and_ _hit_ _me_ _on_ _the_ _head._ _I've_ _got_ _a_ _bit_ _of_ _a_ _crack_ _and_ _a_ _bleed_ _there..."_ Edit: The only thing which could make those comms more quintessentially British would be if upon completion of the message the pilot took a sip from his cup of Yorkshire Tea (two sugars, just a splash of milk) and gently dabbed the blood from his face with his exquisitely folded pocket handkerchief. Thank goodness he was in a Chinook as his balls would require some serious heavy-lift capability!
@@residentelect you are probably aware of this but you should read about the battle of imjin river specifically Gloucester Hill, surrounded and outnumbered 18 to 1 a British infantry battalion when talking to the American command on radio referred to the ongoing fight as a sticky situation, hence they weren’t reinforced as it was it was so understated. They still won the battle, I’m amazed they haven’t made a film about it yet.
@@mweston25 the battle was won but the Gloucesters where over run. They tried to reinforce them but by that point the Chinese ‘volunteers ‘ had them surrounded they fought till they ran out of ammunition then the co gave the order Everyman for himself and they tried to sneak through . Most were captured including the Co. There’s a cross he carved whilst being held prisoner in Gloucester cathedral .
@@Thetasigmaalpha my bad, I must have had my wires crossed. I’ll have to read some more about it. Maybe it was another battle the Gloucesters were involved in in Korea.
That particular Chinook is legendary and is well worth a story in its own right. “Bravo November is the original identification code painted on a British Royal Air Force Boeing Chinook HC4 military serial number ZA718. It was one of the original 30 aircraft ordered by the RAF in 1978 and has been in service ever since. It has been upgraded several times in its history, now being designated as an HC4 airframe. It has seen action in EVERY major operation involving the RAF in the helicopter's 30-year service life. Since 1982 it has served in the Falkland Islands, Lebanon, Germany, Northern Ireland, Kurdistan, Iraq and Afghanistan. The aircraft has seen four of its pilots awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for actions whilst in command of Bravo November.”
The Chinook in question, is the famous ZA718 “Bravo November”. The chinook that survived the Falklands war, and four of its pilots that have received the DFC, including the pilot here.
Couldn't believe that was Mike Brewer reporting there - he's a TV presenter more familiar to me from Wheeler Dealers, flipping old motor cars with the help of a mechanic that actually knows what he's doing. Computer says Mike did a tour of Afghanistan for Discovery channel's Frontline Battle Machines. Looks like Mike got a bit more than he bargained for on this deal! The pilot, on the other hand, was in his element. You could just tell. Great reaction as always, Theo. Many thanks.
Try and watch the whole series of Frontline Battle machines it is excellent. Concentrates on the machines and boots on the ground. Not an Officer in sight.
Something missed in the narration: The Pilot even made sure to land "off to one side" of the landing area. He figured it wasn't going to take off any time soon and his aircraft would be an obstacle for others landing at the hospital.
I've seen this video loads of times. Mikes reaction at the end sums it up perfectly. One single round in the right place could have been the end for all of them. Massive reality check.
That isn’t just any chinook that’s Bravo November. I believe it’s still in service and has a spot reserved in the RAF museum which has a mock-up of the aircraft telling its story
The medic on board Tricky 73 (MERT) on this day is a good friend of mine, he's a humble guy and passionate Sunderland FC fan, he left the Armed Forces a couple of years ago and we both now work for the same Medical Company in the North East of the UK, we also served in Afghanistan together. (he was a Royal Air Force Emergency Nurse, and is now happily retired).
If I remember rightly from watching this episode when it first aired he was only sat in the back doing an interview and they got crashed out. He was told to sit down and keep out of the way. He went on to do a programme just about BN, and the mythical status it has in the British Military.
We had one of the chinny pilots land on after a sortie, asked him if there were any issues and he told us that it was fine and a lovely smooth flight. Went to service the aircraft and there was a big hole thru the aft pylon and 1 rear rotor where an RPG had hit it and failed to detonate. A very lucky crew
These MERT crews are the real hero’s of Helmand. Anyone who served on the ground out there knows how much these crews were appreciated. No matter what, they were coming for you.
The British unit on the ground was 1 Royal Anglian., the same unit from the Pte Chris Gray video. Some of the guys involved in that video were on the ground for this as well. There is a painting of the event in the RAF Odiham Mess. The guys from the Vikings involved got invited to the unveiling and got copies of it done.
Fair play to the helmet if that was a 7.62 from an AK. Not many helmets I can think of that will take one of those and not just let it go straight through. Of course the pilot just casually mentioned it on the comms. RAF pilots are just like that. No point getting all stressy just because you've been shot in the head(!).
I was in the reserves Cavalry regiment and we were in Germany during the Cold War on exercise and we had a Fox slung underneath a Chinook and we had a bird strike the pilot was amazing. Transcript hang on chaps we are going to go down quite hard. The fox was jettisoned and the pilot talked us down, cool calm ultimate professional god bless the RAF
Being a door gunner somehow strapped to the half open door, firing while seeing, that the pilotes must do some heavy evasive terrain adapted contour flight, must be thrilling. My deepest respect to this heli paramedic crew.
Mike Brewer is better known for the TV series Wheeler dealers with Ed China master machanic buying cars and bringing them back to their old condition to sell. This is absolutely not his kind of reporting.If I'm not mistaken it was a show about the British military vehicles used today, going on a ride along ended up in a real recovery and rescue.I remember a longer version of this video , looking very worried he asked one of the experienced guys " what do I do?" He said " put your feet up and if someone says move.....f...kin move" then he disappeared out of the back door into the firefight.... amazing bravery .
Mike Brewer is the guy presenting, hes normally motor journalism and was doing a piece on British military vehicles when he got to go out on a call with them
The man giving the commentary is called Mike Brewer. He did i tv series in the uk and the us called WHEELER DEALERS.... once again keep up the great work. Love your content 🤙
@@mickradford8108 Bravo November is now retired as of March 2022, and is now being prepped for permanent display at the RAF Museum in Cosford, where she will be the centerpiece of the Falklands War exhibit.
You really need to watch the ITV series called "Our war", I rate it as having some of the best footage and some of the craziest stories to come out of our Op Herrick days!
MERT crews like this were utter legends and appreciated by all allies as they went wherever they were needed. Some very brave pilots and some brilliantly skilled medics who made sure people are alive today who wouldn't otherwise be with us. The casualties on this extraction were US Marines and Afghan soldiers. They landed in the middle of a firefight.
That chopper was actually the heroic BRAVO NOVEMBER, Famous for being the only surviving Chinook of the falklands war. It even crashed in the falklands during foggy weather and had its side door ripped off yet continued its mission. Info was from my father retired RN with 24years service. (He’s seen the horrors of war so his memories may be sketchy but he is convinced it’s the same bird). Thanks and love you all x
theres a video of a reporter putting himself all the way through the RM basic training before deploying with them. Hes 55 and I thing that you would enjoy that one too.
He managed to stay the course, just, because he is a triathlete. But he didn’t do everything the recruits did. When they got back to barracks after being out in the field, he went back to his private room and got to soak in the bath while the recruits had to prepare for the next day as well as being pressured and beasted. So not quite the same.
@@petrolhead1960 Whatever mate the Bootnecks still gave him his green beret and so he did enough. The guy was Chris Thrall and he does the documentaries on the new UK aircraft carriers. He did them in 2018 and 2019 off the coast of the USA. He is currently with the ship in the Med. on its way back from the Pacific.
As already pointed out the guy is Mike Brewer and being blunt he is a second hand car salesman, adding to be fair he is a journalist as well. but a used car salesman really
Mike Brewer from Wheeler Dealers (which on Discovery Channel) went to Afghanistan to film British forces, Mike spoke to the pilot after he was attended to by the medical staff. This Chinook has being in RAF service from before The 1982 Falklands War.
Not his Usual Job Theo. Funny enough the presenter is actually a man called Mile Brewer, and it's funny because he's usually a presenter of a show called "Wheeler Dealers" and in the show, Car enthusiast Mike Brewer works alongside mechanics to give new life to rundown, classic automobiles in order to resell at a profit. Working with a limited budget, Mike's job is to find and purchase a vehicle and oversee all the necessary repairs - and usually there are plenty of them - also they give us laymen giving tips on the second hand automotive business. Your videos, your reactions gave always been good and of interest to me as you are an acting serviceman, first Marines Now US Army 🪖, but I must say how much improved everything has become, the whole production an' all. 💪🏻Great job as always mate. 👍🏻
Yeh as others have said, Mike brewer is a used car dealer turned tv personality usually for car shows, this is the first time iv seen him in something like this
The TV bloke is Mike brewer Most commonly known from TV show "wheeler dealers" Where he and a mechanic breath new life to rundown, classic automobiles in order to resell at a profit.
Comment 2. And all that pilot was probably thinking about was the safety of everyone else, then when am I gonna up and away on my next evac mission. As Processional as always.🏴🇬🇧
Second hand car salesman on a Chinook in Afghan under fire. That would make a great movie! And to think this is the same dude on Wheeler Dealers and runs car dealerships. Nuff respect to you Mike😮👍😊
As usual another great video Theo! Have to say i would not expect anything less from the RAF! lol always great pilots and the CH-47 is a great aircraft. interesting note the loadmasters in the RAF get promoted to Sgt during their training. Ground combat footage of an extraction you reacted to: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Q1mgS4ev8gM.html
@@Jnurcs When I was patching people up in the back of them the flight crew typically consisted of: Pilot - Flying Officer (Equivalent to a Lieutenant) Copilot - Pilot Officer (Equivalent to a Second Lieutenant) Crewman 1 - Master Aircewman (Equivalent to Warrant Officer 1) Crewman 2 - Flight Sergeant (Equivalent to a Colour/Staff Sgt) Being a MERT flight we also had the privilege of RAF Regiment Gunners' who manned the M134s and the M60D. They would usually be of ranks anywhere between Aircraftman through to a WO1. On occasions these would be supplemented by other suitability trained infantry units from the Army of Royal Marines.
I have read a book from a former RAF air crew/ engineer, who flew on Chinooks, including taking body bags etc to Lockerbie , and the first gulf war. During that time they fitted mini gun ( Gatling).
If you want to do a mini-reaction, there's a RU-vid video called "Bravo November Chinook Helicopter" that gives you a brief intro to ZA718, which might make you want to seek out a more in depth history of the machine...
I served in the British special forces and I can count the amount of times our lives were saved by pilots flying into extremely hostile and dangerous environments to either extract us or to lay down ordinance to allow us to scoot out of there. A special mention, in my opinion, goes to helicopter pilots that risked everything to extract us safely and the American A10 pilots who got us out of the shit on numerous occasions. That feeling of seeing, and hearing, those A10s coming in and tipping the balance firmly back in our favour or the helicopters coming in to take you away from almost certain death is indescribable. I don’t think these pilots truly get the recognition they deserve. Certainly the general public don’t have any idea the risks they take to save their brothers and sisters in arms. They’re truly awesome.
@@567murphyDoesn't mean he wasn't in the UKSF just because hes commenting on RU-vid??? He hasn't given us his full name so we still don't know who he is..Lols
That's how the Brits roll, no drama just get on with the job, some other countries would have made a few different films about it, to them Brits its just another day at the coal face. Not hating on other countries, all you people who go out to places to do a job, that most of us wouldn't have the balls to do, are the real heroes of this world,
My Aunties Fiancee fought in the Falklands war. He was British MP (Military Police), I can't remember if he said he was part of the beach landing. He told me that he had killed one Argentine Soldier before the Argentine had shot him. He said he saw Harriers from Hermes, meaning he would've seen the Infamous Harriers from 809 Squadron. He told me that he used the FAL I believe and the Sten I believe as well.
The reporter was actually filming for a TV series when the MERT crew got a call. They asked him if he wanted to tag along, he clearly wasn't expecting what happened...the full episode before the call out is on You Tube somewhere
A more impressive story of Barco November that truly happened by a miracle. The first Distinguished Flying Cross was awarded for actions in the Falklands War. ZA718 was on a night mission when pilot Squadron Leader Dick Langworthy and his co-pilot Flight Lieutenant Andy Lawless, descended after losing visibility in a thick snow shower, hitting the sea at around 100 knots (175 km/h) due to a faulty altimeter. The impact threw up spray that flooded the engine intakes but Langworthy and his co-pilot managed to get the helicopter back in the air. The fuselage was damaged, an antenna had been lost and the co-pilot's door had been torn away. While the co-pilot door was missing, the crew of Bravo November were unable to navigate or communicate with other forces. Bravo November returned to San Carlos for damage inspection. The impact had caused "little more than dents to the fuselage and damage to the radio systems".[10] Sqn Ldr Langworthy was awarded a DFC for his bravery at the controls of ZA718 during the campaign.[11]
It’s the after affects that get to you such as when you realize that there’s a bullet hole a fraction to the left of your head or that you were sensible enough to wear your bucket such as one guy in a hummvee was shot in the head and just barely made it as the bullet bounced of his helmet just grazing his head
If your liking seeing these medivac videos then look at Inside Combat Rescue from National Geographic, embedded in Pedro Flight out of Kandahar during the height of IED threats
There is a video that shows British soldiers riding on the side of a helicopter to rescue a comrade. If you can find that or anyone out knows it that's a good one to check out
Sorry, Bravo November is now in the hands of the RAF Museum and is being prepped for display at the museum's Cosford campus. She will be the centerpiece of the museum's Falklands War exhibit.
The tv guy is a car salesman and does TV shows ie Wheeler Dealers that you get in the states ,takes old cars and does them up and sells them on ..He was following the Shithook as it has a glorious history even loosing a door in the Falklands war and following its overhaul
I remember seeing on TV a british medi vac team working on a injured American soldier in the back of a Chinnock.the team was professional, not sure if he survived. Thay had to wash the floor afterwards..the team looked shattered....it was a insight of how hard thay work to save lives.no matter who thay are, I've seen them work on injured taliban too...
The chinhook is bravo november ZA718 she was part of the falklands war loaded on the atlantic conveyer, coincidentally she was on a flight mission when a exocet sank it, she was the soul surviving chinhook, hence getting the nickname survivor, which left her the only chinhook of the whole war, 4 pilots got DFC's flying her. After afghanistan she's got retired to a museum... The pilots name who took the head shot is flight lieutenant ian fortune, a very brave and skilled man, as some of the rudder hydrolics was shot out aswell...
There's a saying about the chinook i've read: do not worry if the chinook is taking bullets. Only worry if the chopper's gone silent; aside from engine noise and rushing air.
Mike and his cameraman weren't supposed to be on that flight. They were filming the details of a medevac Chinook as the scramble call came in to relieve an American unit who were low on munitions and had run out of med supplies. They were literally bundle to the front of the cabin and taken along for the ride. Definitely not Brewer's natural environment!
The airframe of this Chinook has been repaired, refitted and updated many times since it went into service. At one time, it was the only survivor of a number of Chinooks on a ship called the Atlantic Conveyor. BN had just been flown off when an Argentine-fired Exocet missile struck the ship and it burnt out, taking the ship's captain and some of the crew with it. The maintainers for the Chinooks has also been landed, along with some spares, so BN was extremely well looked after, as well as having numerous pilots, so it was in use almost continuously until returned to the UK after the Argentine surrender in the Falklands. It's had similar use rates in several conflicts since then, while the shrinking fleet of constantly-needed Chinooks are also constantly under threat of destruction by the political creatures whose mistakes caused these conflicts.
