Tornado

Former Tornado Navigator John Nichol tells the incredible story of the RAF Tornado force during the First Gulf War in 1991; the excitement and the danger, the fear and the losses. It is an extraordinary account of courage and fortitude. ‘We were doing about 620 miles-per-hour, 200 feet above the desert, in total darkness. Everything was running on rails as we approached the target. Then all hell broke loose. I remember the missile being fired at us; I broke left and shouted, “Chaff!” ‘ All I could see was a flame, like a very large firework, coming towards me. Then there was a huge white flash. I remember an enormous wind and then I was knocked unconscious. My last thoughts were that I was going to die. ’ In 1990, Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein ordered the invasion and occupation of neighbouring Kuwait , setting in motion a chain of events that had unimaginable political, military and personal repercussions, which still reverberate around the globe today. This is the story of the aircrew at the heart of Operation Desert Storm , almost none of whom had any prior experience of armed combat. It is the story of the Tornado’s missions, of those who did not return - and of the families who watched and waited as one of the most complex conflicts in recent history unfolded live on television. It is a story of untold fear and suffering, and astounding courage in the face of hitherto unimaginable adversity.

Former Tornado Navigator John Nichol tells the incredible story of the RAF Tornado force during the First Gulf War in 1991; the excitement and the danger, the fear and the losses. It is an extraordinary account of courage and fortitude. ‘We were doing about 620 miles-per-hour, 200 feet above the desert, in total darkness. Everything was running on rails as we approached the target. Then all hell broke loose. I remember the missile being fired at us; I broke left and shouted, “Chaff!” ‘ All I could see was a flame, like a very large firework, coming towards me. Then there was a huge white flash. I remember an enormous wind and then I was knocked unconscious. My last thoughts were that I was going to die. ’ In 1990, Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein ordered the invasion and occupation of neighbouring Kuwait , setting in motion a chain of events that had unimaginable political, military and personal repercussions, which still reverberate around the globe today. This is the story of the aircrew at the heart of Operation Desert Storm , almost none of whom had any prior experience of armed combat. It is the story of the Tornado’s missions, of those who did not return -and of the families who watched and waited as one of the most complex conflicts in recent history unfolded live on television. It is a story of untold fear and suffering, and astounding courage in the face of hitherto unimaginable adversity.

En tornado begynder med en “willy willy” (støvhvirvel), og herfra kan den vokse i styrke og blive til en ødelæggende og brutalt kraft. Mange steder på kloden er man i konstant risiko for at blive ramt af en tornado med voldsom regn og vind. Man kan ikke løbe fra dem, for de bevæger sig med op til 400 kilometer i timen. I sporet på tornadoen ser man et landskab fyldt med affald, væltede huse, biler, der ligger med hjulene i vejret. Ødelæggelsen fra en tornado er enorm. Tornadoen beskrives i bogen i firelinjede rimede vers. Hvert vers beskriver elementer af en tornado. Sidst i bogen findes en faktaside. Danske børn ser ofte de skræmmende billeder af tornadoer på TV, men i bogen kan de få lidt mere information om, hvad tornadoen egentlig er. Måske kan den viden gøre tornadoerne mindre skræmmende.