The Fort: 6. Call Sign: Ugly
The Apaches' mission changes: Prevent Mathew Ford from being captured by the Taliban.
The History Podcast · BBC Radio 4
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Show Notes
For Apache helicopter pilots Tom O'Malley and Ed Macy - the mission has changed.
Their new objective is to prevent the stricken Lance Corporal Mathew Ford from becoming a prisoner of The Taliban. So they take the fight to them.
But Tom is growing increasingly frustrated. With fuel and ammunition limited - how long can they sustain their airborne protection of the fallen marine?
He devises a new plan. Only ever conceived as a last-dtich emergency escape plan for downed pilots, Tom wants to land, pick up four volunteers from HQ, and fly them into the battlezone on the side of their helicopters. They will rush to Mathew, secure him to the helicopter - and they will fly him out.
The volunteers have been chosen. Royal Marines Chris, Gary and Colin and Royal Engineer Dave are now tasked with what their commander Rob Magowan calls - the most dangerous mission these men would ever embark upon.
The Fort is told solely by current and former members of the Armed Forces.
Produced by Kev Core