This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/devon/8157265.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| MoD uses 'cut and shut' chopper | MoD uses 'cut and shut' chopper |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| An admission that a "cut and shut" helicopter was used in Afghanistan has angered the father of a dead soldier. | An admission that a "cut and shut" helicopter was used in Afghanistan has angered the father of a dead soldier. |
| Ian Sadler, from Exmouth, has been openly critical of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) since his son Jack, 21, died in Afghanistan in December 2007. | Ian Sadler, from Exmouth, has been openly critical of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) since his son Jack, 21, died in Afghanistan in December 2007. |
| The MoD told Mr Sadler the helicopter was a combination of a crashed RAF Chinook and an Argentinian Chinook. | The MoD told Mr Sadler the helicopter was a combination of a crashed RAF Chinook and an Argentinian Chinook. |
| An MoD spokesman told BBC News the work had been done by "highly skilled aviation technicians". | |
| The spokesman said the helicopter had been withdrawn from Afghanistan, but was still in service. | |
| 'Cost-effective solution' | 'Cost-effective solution' |
| The front of the helicopter was from an RAF Chinook which crashed in Oman in 1999 when its rear blades touched the ground, ripping out one of the engines. | The front of the helicopter was from an RAF Chinook which crashed in Oman in 1999 when its rear blades touched the ground, ripping out one of the engines. |
| The rear of the aircraft was taken from a former Argentinian Air Force Chinook helicopter which was seized in June 1982 during the recapture of the Falklands. | The rear of the aircraft was taken from a former Argentinian Air Force Chinook helicopter which was seized in June 1982 during the recapture of the Falklands. |
| The MoD said it re-entered service in 2003 after being successfully air tested. | The MoD said it re-entered service in 2003 after being successfully air tested. |
| The information was disclosed in a letter to Mr Sadler in response to a direct question he asked the former defence secretary Des Brown during a meeting on 9 September last year. | The information was disclosed in a letter to Mr Sadler in response to a direct question he asked the former defence secretary Des Brown during a meeting on 9 September last year. |
| "It was a soldier on rest and recuperation (R and R) from Afghanistan who came into my shop and passed on the information that a cut and shut helicopter was being used," Mr Sadler told BBC News. | "It was a soldier on rest and recuperation (R and R) from Afghanistan who came into my shop and passed on the information that a cut and shut helicopter was being used," Mr Sadler told BBC News. |
| "There've been lots of things that have come out since Jack was killed, but I couldn't believe this" Mr Sadler told BBC News. | "There've been lots of things that have come out since Jack was killed, but I couldn't believe this" Mr Sadler told BBC News. |
| 'Routine business' | 'Routine business' |
| Mr Sadler's son, a trooper in the Honourable Artillery Company, was killed when his non-armoured Land Rover hit a mine. | Mr Sadler's son, a trooper in the Honourable Artillery Company, was killed when his non-armoured Land Rover hit a mine. |
| The MoD said using parts from two helicopters was "the most timely and cost-effective solution" to returning the aircraft to service. | The MoD said using parts from two helicopters was "the most timely and cost-effective solution" to returning the aircraft to service. |
| A spokesman said: "The work was conducted by highly skilled aviation technicians and the aircraft returned to service after extensive air testing and signing off by the Aircraft Design Authority, Boeing. | A spokesman said: "The work was conducted by highly skilled aviation technicians and the aircraft returned to service after extensive air testing and signing off by the Aircraft Design Authority, Boeing. |
| He said it was "routine business" for the RAF to ensure the most effective use of resources. | He said it was "routine business" for the RAF to ensure the most effective use of resources. |
| If you gave them flip flops and catapults they'd still go out there and do the job for us Ian Sadler | If you gave them flip flops and catapults they'd still go out there and do the job for us Ian Sadler |
| But Mr Sadler said it was a "real scandal" and showed a lack of support for the troops fighting in Afghanistan. | But Mr Sadler said it was a "real scandal" and showed a lack of support for the troops fighting in Afghanistan. |
| "There are about 8,000 troops at war in Afghanistan without proper support," Mr Sadler said. | "There are about 8,000 troops at war in Afghanistan without proper support," Mr Sadler said. |
| He said the responsibility lies with the "people at the top who control the purse strings". | He said the responsibility lies with the "people at the top who control the purse strings". |
| "We've got soldiers we don't deserve, who go through the next best thing to hell out there. | "We've got soldiers we don't deserve, who go through the next best thing to hell out there. |
| "If you gave them flip flops and catapults they'd still go out there and do the job for us, but we don't support our men." | "If you gave them flip flops and catapults they'd still go out there and do the job for us, but we don't support our men." |
| Advertisement | Advertisement |
| Ian Sadler, whose son Jack was killed on active duty is angry a "cut and shut" helicopter was used in Afghanistan | Ian Sadler, whose son Jack was killed on active duty is angry a "cut and shut" helicopter was used in Afghanistan |