David Blackburn

Commanders on the ground were concerned about helicopter shortages

The Mail has obtained a memo sent to the MoD by Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Thorneloe. He warns that helicopter shortages would cost lives; tragically, he was prescient. The Mail is not publishing the complete memo, which contains sensitive information, but Lt. Col Thorneloe wrote:

‘We cannot not move people, so this moth we have concluded a great deal of administrative movement by road. This increases the IED threat and our exposure to it… The current level of SH (support helicopter) support is therefore unsustainable… and is clearly not fit for purpose.’

This appraisal, widely circulated within the MoD, demolishes Gordon Brown’s denial that helicopter shortages cost lives during Operation Panther’s Claw, the offensive that claimed Lt Col Thorneloe’s life.

“More helicopters are being ordered for Afghanistan. But in the operations we are having at the moment it is completely wrong to say that the loss of lives has been caused by the absence of helicopters.
 
“For the operation we are doing at the moment we have the helicopters we need.

“I am satisfied that Operation Panther’s Claw has the resources it needs to be successful.

“It is very important to recognise what the commanders are saying on the ground, the increase we have already made in helicopters, and what we are going to do in future months.”

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