Posted on 11/15/2015 3:43:12 AM PST by sukhoi-30mki
Captieux (France) (AFP) - It is the nightmare scenario for every fighter pilot operating over Syria and Iraq today -- a crash-landing behind enemy lines.
At a training ground the size of central Paris in southwest France, a group of 15 pilots and navigators prepared this month for just that scenario.
Crews from Mirage fighter jets and attack helicopters are dropped in open country for an extreme 36-hour exercise in camouflage, survival, capture and interrogation.
In many of their minds is the fate of the Jordanian pilot who crash-landed in Syria in December last year, was then captured by the Islamic State group and later burned alive on film.
"I decided not to watch the video so that I don't have the images in my head," says Thomas, a young French navigator taking part in the exercise.
"The goal is to not be captured because, clearly, it won't be good," he deadpans.
Before being dropped off, there is time for some last-minute advice from one of the instructors, Alexandre: "Never find yourself alone. If one of you is injured, someone stays with him."
In their kit: a radio/GPS, flares, a first aid kit and a pistol, as well as water and food supplies and a section of parachute for shelter and warmth.
"Make sure the tourniquet is easy to reach in your clothing. Without that, it doesn't matter what you do, you will lose your teammate if there's a hemorrhage," insists the medical instructor.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Each French pilot flying over war zones is given training in surviving in hostile environments and dealing with being held and interrogated, as can be seen in this photo taken at a military camp in Captieux, southwestern France, on November 4, 2015 (AFP Photo/Jean-Pierre Muller)
No thanks - I'll go in with the aircraft... preferable on top of an enemy position.
Keep at least 1 round for yourself
Just like USAF SERE I went through, except the enemy was different.
You're absolutely right...save a round for yourself. Preferably, a hand grenade to take out that laaaaaast lil scumbag before ya go. lol
Bonjour mes amis. Sadly, it appears that you’re already behind enemy lines. So, if the muzzies are peace loving for the most part and it’s just a small contingent of “misguided” radicals that are causing the problems, maybe the huge amount of the peaceful ones need to get the small amount of bad guys under control. Otherwise, they’re complicit. Any noise from egypt? crickets................
I was going to say knowing ISIS I hope they have a cyanide capsule with them. I would.
My BIL went through the Navy SERE course. It cured him of ever wanting to go camping again..
What is required is a very significant RESCAP and SAR capability with good old A10 and other assets.
Well, generally when we go camping I take along more than my flight suit, a knife, a parachute and a bottle of water...
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