MICHAEL
RONDOT - BY DAY, BY NIGHT
A
famous WWII Pathfinder unit, No.7 Squadron flew Stirling bombers
before converting to Lancasters to spearhead the RAF Bomber
Command night offensive in 1942. Post-war, the squadron flew
Lincolns, Valiants and Canberras before receiving Chinook
helicopters in 1982. Since then it has been constantly at
the forefront of support operations in The Falklands, Northern
Ireland, Beirut, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Sierra Leone, and
was deeply involved in the 1991 Gulf War, proudly continuing
its "pathfinder" origins
This
beautiful and powerful portrayal of No.7 Squadron's heavily
armed and highly modified Chinooks in action provides a rare
glimpse into the dark world of Special Forces helicopter operations.
By Day, By Night portrays a pair of Chinooks taking off in
typical desert conditions faced by the squadron's crews during
recent Special Forces operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Flying often at night, far behind enemy lines and in extreme
weather conditions, No.7 Squadron's crews are frequently called
upon to test the limits of their aircraft's performance envelope.
Little is known about these operations and much of their flying
is shrouded in the secrecy surrounding Special Forces, but
the numerous honours and awards for gallantry which are quietly
gazetted from time to time give some clues about the dangerous
nature of No.7 Squadron's duties.
The
Artist Prrofs and Remarques from this edition are signed by
one of the RAF’s most senior Commanders and by some
of the most distinguished and decorated aircrew currently
serving in the RAF
