On 15 January 2007, 200 Royal Marines of 45 Commando crossed the Helmand River in Garmsir Province, Afghanistan to assault Jugroom Fort, a Taliban stronghold on the east bank. After several hours of heavy fighting the Marines withdrew only to find they had left a man behind. Lance Corporal Matthew Ford was thought to be wounded and laying isolated in a precarious position close to the walls of the Fort. What happened next has passed into Army Air Corps legend.
An Apache flight from 656 Squadron AAC, who were supporting the Marines at the time decided to mount a rescue. Although the concept had been discussed it had not been tried or tested. The two Apaches lifted three Royal Marines and a Royal Engineer strapped to the outside of the aircraft and flew them back into the teeth of the Taliban resistance. With support from another flight of Apaches in the air above, they deposited their four passengers in and around the fort. They were joined by two of the aircrew who left the relative safety of their cockpits to assist. With the Taliban closing in, the small team manged to find Lance Corporal Ford and extract him to safety. Unfortunately, Lance Corporal Ford subsequently died of his wounds, but the dangerous mission caught the public imagination and ensured a Royal Marine could be returned home to his family.
At the time Tom O’Malley was a WO2 and the Flight Commander with 656 Squadron who led the mission at Jugroom Fort. In this special event Tom will describe the decision-making process that preceded the rescue, the difficulties his team had to contend with and how he now reflects on the events of 15 January 2007. Join Tom O’Malley, in front of Apache ZJ224 which was one of the aircraft that took part in the daring rescue at Jugroom Fort, as he recounts the events of that day.
The content of talks are based on the research and views of the guest speakers.
The Museum is an independent charity and all proceeds from this event go towards supporting the work we do in preserving the history of British Army aviation.