Download or read book Commando Helicopter Aircrewman written by John Sheldon and published by Air World. This book was released on 2022-01-28 with total page 249 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A veteran aircrewman recounts his over five decades of service to the British military in this exciting memoir. This is the remarkable story of one man’s service in the Royal Navy, RAF and the Royal Naval Reserve Air Branch of the Fleet Air Arm. It is a flying career which lasted for an impressive 51 years and in which Warrant Officer Class 1 John Sheldon amassed over 8,000 hours in the air. Having joined the Royal Navy in 1968, as a fifteen-year-old boy entrant not long out of school, John was recruited into the Fleet Air Arm as a junior electrician. He went on to become a Commando Aircrewman and flew in all types of service helicopters and in all of their roles, from Arctic training in Norway to the balmy Mediterranean and the wilds of Canada. Having initially been involved in the evacuation of Cyprus and the Turkish invasion in 1974, in which his helicopter had to recover bodies from the water with a sprawl net, John went on to serve in Northern Ireland, was deployed to the South Atlantic in the Falklands War, where he operated from HMS Fearless and helped lift survivors from the RFA Sir Galahad tragedy, undertook a tour in Lebanon, and then saw action during the First Gulf War, in Bosnia, Sierra Leone and then in Afghanistan. In his extraordinary career, John was tasked with going around the UK undertaking aerial displays to support recruitment campaigns for the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, as well as completing several tours as a Search and Rescue Aircrewman, Anti-Submarine Operator and also as an RN/RAF Test Aircrewman at the Rotary Wing Test Squadron at Boscombe Down. This unique memoir covers the military action that John encountered, the many incidents and close shaves he was involved in, and the friends he lost during his long and illustrious career. Praise forCommando Helicopter Aircrewman “This is an honest, readable, self-effacing record of an interesting career.” —Aeroplane Magazine “The amazing military career of John Sheldon – inspirational and above all, true.” —Books Monthly

Download or read book Commando Helicopter Aircrewman 51 Years in Action with the RN and RAF written by John Sheldon and published by Air World. This book was released on 2022-04-30 with total page 256 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This is the remarkable story of one man's service in the Royal Navy, RAF and the Royal Naval Reserve Air Branch of the Fleet Air Arm. It is a flying career which lasted for an impressive 51 years and in which Warrant Officer Class 1 John Sheldon amassed over 8,000 hours in the air.Having joined the Royal Navy in 1968, as a fifteen-year-old boy entrant not long out of school, John was recruited into the Fleet Air Arm as a junior electrician. He went on to become a Commando Aircrewman and flew in all types of service helicopters and in all of their roles, from Arctic training in Norway to the balmy Mediterranean and the wilds of Canada.Having initially been involved in the evacuation of Cyprus and the Turkish invasion in 1974, in which his helicopter had to recover bodies from the water with a sprawl net, John went on to serve in Northern Ireland, was deployed to the South Atlantic in the Falklands War, where he operated from HMS Fearless and helped lift survivors from the RFA Sir Galahad tragedy, undertook a tour in Lebanon, and then saw action during the First Gulf War, in Bosnia, Sierra Leone and then in Afghanistan.In his extraordinary career, John was tasked with going around the UK undertaking aerial displays to support recruitment campaigns for the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, as well as completing several tours as a Search and Rescue Aircrewman, Anti-Submarine Operator and also as an RN/RAF Test Aircrewman at the Rotary Wing Test Squadron at Boscombe Down.This unique memoir covers the military action that John encountered, the many incidents and close shaves he was involved in and the friends he lost during his long and illustrious career.

Download or read book Flying Light Helicopters with the Royal Marines written by Robert Wilsey and published by Air World. This book was released on 2021-10-30 with total page 288 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Little has been written about Royal Marines rotary aviation, the small and select unit which operated light helicopters between 1965 and 1995. Officer and senior non-commissioned officer pilots had the unique privilege of being both Commandos and aviators, flying from warships and operating ashore in support of the Royal Marines. Initially called Unit Air Troops, which then coalesced into 3 Commando Brigade Air Squadron Royal Marines, they operated in hostile environments, including the Arctic, mountains, jungles and deserts. Robert Wilsey served in the Royal Marines from 1969 to 2000. Having qualified as a pilot he served through much of the existence of the Royal Marines Air Squadron, from a junior pilot right up to becoming its commanding officer. In this unique book, the author tells of the evolution and technological advances of Royal Marines aviation, flying the Westland Sioux, Scout, Gazelle, and, ultimately, Lynx helicopters. He describes the rigorous training undertaken, including flying from ships at sea, and of operating globally from Malta, Northern Ireland, the jungles of Brunei, the Pyrenees, Arctic Norway and, in 1991, Northern Iraq, protecting the Kurds during Operation Haven. Colonel Wilsey also describes the challenges of the British military's basic and advanced rotary flying training, from both a student's and flying instructor's perspectives. He explains the pressures of leading a flying display team and relates stories of accidents and incidents, many amusing, several chaotic and some tragic, previously unknown to the general public. This is a vivid first-hand account of military rotary wing flying which will appeal to aircrew both civil and military, aviation enthusiasts and military historians.

Download or read book Fleet Air Arm Boys written by Steve Bond and published by Grub Street Publishing. This book was released on 2022-09-08 with total page 305 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Helicopters have been going to sea with the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm for over 70 years. Initially used for search and rescue (SAR) duties from aircraft carriers, the rapid development of both the helicopters and service experience resulted in them taking on the vital anti-submarine (and later anti-ship) attack roles. The 1956 Suez campaign saw the first operational use of Whirlwind helicopters for the insertion of troops by air into a battle zone, a capability which was expanded with more helicopters such as the Wessex, Sea King and today’s Merlin. Through their vital role in the 1960s Indonesian Confrontation, the Commando helicopter force became universally referred to as the ‘Junglies’. It is often said that if either of the 1982 Task Force aircraft carriers had been lost the Falklands War could not have been won. The same would surely have been true without helicopters. Their vital tasks, including inserting Special Forces behind enemy lines, protecting the Task Force from Exocet missile attack and recovering wounded troops whilst under enemy fire, are rightly hailed as being instrumental. At home, the essential SAR effort by both the Royal Navy and their RAF counterparts has resulted in incredible stories of saving lives against the odds. Royal Navy destroyers and frigates have also long since benefitted from having their own helicopter Flight aboard. Frequently operating in extremes of weather, flying a Wasp, Lynx or today’s Wildcat from and back to a heaving deck is every bit as risky as flying fixed-wing aircraft off the carriers of old. Once dismissed as a novelty, the helicopter has more than proved itself. Indeed, for ten years until the arrival of the Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers, the Fleet Air Arm’s operational force was entirely rotary-wing. Today’s Merlins and Wildcats, with their dedicated aircrew, maintenance and support staff continue to demonstrate just how vital an asset the helicopter has become. Here are the words of the men and women themselves, skillfully brought to life by Steve Bond and profusely illustrated in color and b/w.

Download or read book For the Love of the Navy written by Ray Hamilton and published by Summersdale. This book was released on 2017-10-12 with total page 146 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From magnificent vessels like the Tudor warship Mary Rose and the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, to the naval heroes and dramatic sea battles that make up the British Navy’s illustrious history, and looking at the remarkable people who serve in her ranks today, this fascinating miscellany celebrates the oldest of the UK’s armed services.

Download or read book The Armed Forces of the United Kingdom 2014 2015 written by Charles Hayman and published by Pen and Sword. This book was released on 2014-02-10 with total page 209 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book has been published at regular intervals during the last 20 years, and the latest 2014 _ 2015 addition is the one that deals with the most far reaching changes the UK Armed Forces have gone through for a generation. Although the UK's Armed Forces

Download or read book Usaf Air Commando Secret Wars from Laos to Latin America written by Eugene D. Rossel and published by Xlibris Corporation. This book was released on 2016-07-15 with total page 421 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Air Commando secret wars happened mostly during the Vietnam War time frame and was a global effort involving USAF volunteer personnel who were given official military orders that did not necessarily specify the country they served in, and civilian clothes were many times authorized. Later they had great difficulty proving that they served in many of these countries, which affected their future VA care. These operations were used to strengthen normally a poor country with little military resources and training with secret warriors frequently being there doing some of their legwork behind the scenes. All the operations were tight-lipped, frequently forbidden to tell families where you were and what you were doing. As an example; Capt. Bob Simpsons death, the first fighter pilot KIA in Vietnam in August 1962, became a total fabrication of where, why, and how and took a number of years before the government came clean because of my efforts. Secret wars have a long history, and they will continue because of the interest of more-powerful nations with their less fortunate brethren.

Download or read book 16 Air Assault Brigade written by Tim Ripley and published by Casemate Publishers. This book was released on 2008-01-01 with total page 273 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Gennemgang af den britiske enhed 16 Air Assualt Brigade. Oprettet i 1999 og involveret på skuepladser i Kosovo, Sierra Leone, Makedonien, Afghanistan og Irak. Denne bog præsenterer enhedens historie, udrustning og organisation

Download or read book The Armed Forces of the United Kingdom 2007 2008 written by Charles Heyman and published by Casemate Publishers. This book was released on 2007-01-31 with total page 311 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This comprehensive pocket guide includes full and up-to-date details of all British military organizations and structures. This edition includes detail regarding all of the UK MoDs latest future force proposals.The Armed Forces of the United Kindom 2007–2008 is an invaluable reference tool and essential reading for all those who wish to be informed of the current state of the UKs defence forces.

Download or read book Apollo s Warriors written by Michael E. Haas and published by DIANE Publishing. This book was released on 1998-05 with total page 388 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Presenting a fascinating insider's view of U.S.A.F. special operations, this volume brings to life the critical contributions these forces have made to the exercise of air & space power. Focusing in particular on the period between the Korean War & the Indochina wars of 1950-1979, the accounts of numerous missions are profusely illustrated with photos & maps. Includes a discussion of AF operations in Europe during WWII, as well as profiles of Air Commandos who performed above & beyond the call of duty. Reflects on the need for financial & political support for restoration of the forces. Bibliography. Extensive photos & maps. Charts & tables.

Download or read book The Complete Idiot s Guide to the U S Special Ops Forces written by Marc Cerasini and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2002 with total page 342 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A guide to the face of modern US warfare in the 21st century. The US Special Operations Forces will be at the forefront of every battle that the US will wage against the war on terrorism.

Download or read book The Praetorian STARShip the untold story of the Combat Talon written by and published by DIANE Publishing. This book was released on 2001 with total page 507 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Jerry Thigpen's study on the history of the Combat Talon is the first effort to tell the story of this wonderfully capable machine. This weapons system has performed virtually every imaginable tactical event in the spectrum of conflict and by any measure is the most versatile C-130 derivative ever produced. First modified and sent to Southeast Asia (SEA) in 1966 to replace theater unconventional warfare (UW) assets that were limited in both lift capability and speed the Talon I quickly adapted to theater UW tasking including infiltration and resupply and psychological warfare operations into North Vietnam. After spending four years in SEA and maturing into a highly respected UW weapons system the Joint Chief of Staff (JCS) chose the Combat Talon to lead the night low-level raid on the North Vietnamese prison camp at Son Tay. Despite the outcome of the operation the Talon I cemented its reputation as the weapons system of choice for long-range clandestine operations. In the period following the Vietnam War United States Air Force (USAF) special operations gradually lost its political and financial support which was graphically demonstrated in the failed Desert One mission into Iran. Thanks to congressional supporters like Earl Hutto of Florida and Dan Daniel of Virginia funds for aircraft upgrades and military construction projects materialized to meet the ever-increasing threat to our nation. Under the leadership of such committed hard-driven officers as Brenci Uttaro Ferkes Meller and Thigpen the crew force became the most disciplined in our Air Force. It was capable of penetrating hostile airspace at night in a low-level mountainous environment covertly to execute any number of unconventional warfare missions.

Download or read book The Mammoth Book of Inside the Elite Forces written by Nigel Cawthorne and published by Robinson. This book was released on 2012-03-01 with total page 276 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The most comprehensive and up-to-date guide to American and British special forces, covering all aspects of their equipment, training and deployment in the Iraq age of warfare. It takes a special kind of person to join the Special Forces and those to pass the stringent entrance requirements are subjected to the most rigorous training. They're trained to be super-fit, taught to survive in the most adverse conditions, and turned into killing machines. This book reveals what makes these men tick, and everything you need to know to become one of them. It covers all the types of training required - for fitness, combat, survival, navigation, communication, infiltration, interrogation, extraction and evasion. And it details the full array of weapons used, from small arms and knives to explosives and air back-up. Also included are full listings of all the units - including the SAS, Green Berets, SBS, Navy SEALs, Delta Force, Army Rangers - and their deployment in present-day conflicts such as Desert Storm, Somalia, Afghanistan, Iraq and anti-terrorist operations.

Download or read book Special Air Warfare and the Secret War in Laos written by Air University Press and published by . This book was released on 2019-07-02 with total page 516 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The story of special air warfare and the Air Commandos who served for the ambassadors in Laos from 1964 to 1975 is captured through extensive research and veteran interviews. The author has meticulously put together a comprehensive overview of the involvement of USAF Air Commandos who served in Laos as trainers, advisors, and clandestine combat forces to prevent the communist takeover of the Royal Lao Government. This book includes pictures of those operations, unveils what had been a US government secret war, and adds a substantial contribution to understanding the wider war in Southeast Asia.

Download or read book Air Force Combat Units of World War II written by Maurer Maurer and published by DIANE Publishing. This book was released on 1961 with total page 520 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Flight Surgeon s Manual written by United States. Department of the Air Force and published by . This book was released on 1954 with total page 718 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Special Forces Pilot written by Richard Hutchings and published by Pen and Sword. This book was released on 2014-05-19 with total page 382 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A Royal Navy helicopter pilot’s firsthand account of British Special Forces operations in the Falklands Islands and a failed raid on mainland Argentina. In 1982, Argentina’s invasion of the Falkland Islands initiated an undeclared war with the United Kingdom. During the ten-week conflict, Colonel Richard Hutchings served as a commando helicopter pilot with 846 Naval Air Squadron flying Sea King helicopters. Though the sensitive nature of his experiences prevented him from telling his story for decades, Hutchings now provides a firsthand chronicle of the Falklands War, offering fascinating insight into the conduct of operations there. Colonel Hutchings was charged with transporting Special Force units onto the enemy occupied islands, either to gather intelligence or conduct offensive operations, including the Special Air Service's successful Pebble Island raid and its ill-fated raid on mainland Argentina. That raid, known as Operation MIKADO, has been little discussed. But as Captain of the Sea King involved, Hutchings gives an authoritative account of what went wrong both in the air and on the ground. He details the circumstances of his crash-landing, encounters with the Chilean authorities and British diplomats in Santiago, as well as the debriefing in an MI6 safe house on return to the UK