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Tornado: In the Eye of the Storm
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.
‘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.
458 pages, Hardcover
Published June 10, 2021
77 people are currently reading
378 people want to read
About the author
John Nichol
23 books58 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Flight Lieutenant Adrian John Nichol (born December 1963) is a retired Royal Air Force navigator who was shot down and captured during the first Gulf War.
Flight Lieutenant Adrian John Nichol (born December 1963) is a retired Royal Air Force navigator who was shot down and captured during the first Gulf War.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
August 15, 2021
‘There was shrapnel under Pete’s seat, holes through the cockpit, the left wing, spoiler, left engine nozzle and the fin,’ Gillies said. ‘And a hole the size of Desperate Dan in the tailplane.’ It was nothing short of a miracle that they had been able to fly at all. And an extraordinary testament to the Tornado’s resilience that it had managed to carry them the 400 miles back home.An examination of the role of Panavia's Tonka during Operation Granby in 1990 and 1991. It's an honest, well written look at the initial rushed deployment of the RAF Tornado force, the development of tactics that put the force in the first wave of air attacks with the unenviable task of closing down Iraqi airfields with specialised anti-runway munitions. Simple?
The JP233 was not only unproven in battle; there was barely a Tornado pilot who had flown with one. A live drop had been undertaken during its early testing, and in 1988 two crews had flown with a fully armed and JP233-loaded aircraft to test the handling capabilities at the aircraft’s maximum permissible weight, but this very expensive and highly secret weapon was not authorised to be deployed for normal peacetime training.The Tornado force's terrible losses in their long -prepared for low level role and the shift in tactics to counter these is dealt with honestly, as is the strain the continuing losses placed on the aircrews, their families a and those aircrew shot down and captured by the Iraqi forces (including the author).
Some thirty years after the events described, it's an excellent look at how quickly the force adapted and played an important role in the first major post Cold War conflict and the cost of that operation. Sobering and well informed, and highly recommended.
At the start of the conflict, 2,430 allied aircraft had been based in the region, or close enough to project air power into it. The RAF initially contributed 135 aircraft: 18 Tornado F3 fighters, 46 Tornado GR1/ 1A attack and recce aircraft, 12 Jaguars, 17 tankers, three Nimrods, 31 Chinook and Puma helicopters, seven Hercules and one HS125 transport aircraft. Countless other transport and supply aircraft flew missions in and out of the region. By the start of the land war, a further twelve Buccaneers and more Tornado GR1s had flown into theatre to support the precision- guided bombing attacks. Around 3,000 RAF personnel were deployed across the Gulf. 11 When the ceasefire came into effect, the allied forces had flown 110,000 sorties, of which the RAF flew over 6,100– the largest number of any nation except the US.
July 23, 2023
My ignorance of the First Gulf War is around about 100% or it was until I read this. I knew about it but did not really think that much happened from our (British) perspective. In Jan-1991 we were sending out Tornados to hit Saddam. Saddam Hussein had invaded Kuwait in Aug-1990.
Nichol, as he does so well, starts with two stories. The first is about a young Tornado pilot called Dave Waddington, 24, and his veteran navigator, Robbie Stewart, 44, who is married with two teenage kids. This is Jan-1991 and they have a mission in a Tornado. The other story is how the Tornado came into being.
He goes over the first Tornado mission in the Gulf. The first time that Tornados have been used in anger as one pilot observed. The technology seemed cutting edge at the time for sure remembering that this was now 33 years ago. What a scary thought. Saddam had been given a deadline to move out of Kuwait. He didn’t move. The coalition forces led by the US attacked Iraqi forces and Iraqi installations.
Nichol tells his own story of having to eject from a Tornado after the one he was navigating with pilot, John Peters, was hit by a shoulder-launched SA-14 surface-to-air missile over Iraq. They, like others, were captured by the Iraqis and tortured. The book veers to this many times. The Tornados themselves were built to fly low and deliver a devastating payload but Saddam’s anti-aircraft missiles actually did a lot of the devastating it seems.
Tornado is nowhere near as good as Nichol’s ‘Lancaster’ which was brilliant. Yes, the men were just as brave considering how they were being knocked out of the sky on a daily basis. For me there were so many names and sorties that it just became a little repetitive. This is not a reflection on the men that piloted and navigated the Tornados but just the writing. Knowing you could be knocked out of the sky and killed or if you lived you would be picked up by the Iraqis and tortured. Terrifying. It was a crazy six weeks for the Tornado crews.
Nichol, as he does so well, starts with two stories. The first is about a young Tornado pilot called Dave Waddington, 24, and his veteran navigator, Robbie Stewart, 44, who is married with two teenage kids. This is Jan-1991 and they have a mission in a Tornado. The other story is how the Tornado came into being.
He goes over the first Tornado mission in the Gulf. The first time that Tornados have been used in anger as one pilot observed. The technology seemed cutting edge at the time for sure remembering that this was now 33 years ago. What a scary thought. Saddam had been given a deadline to move out of Kuwait. He didn’t move. The coalition forces led by the US attacked Iraqi forces and Iraqi installations.
Nichol tells his own story of having to eject from a Tornado after the one he was navigating with pilot, John Peters, was hit by a shoulder-launched SA-14 surface-to-air missile over Iraq. They, like others, were captured by the Iraqis and tortured. The book veers to this many times. The Tornados themselves were built to fly low and deliver a devastating payload but Saddam’s anti-aircraft missiles actually did a lot of the devastating it seems.
Tornado is nowhere near as good as Nichol’s ‘Lancaster’ which was brilliant. Yes, the men were just as brave considering how they were being knocked out of the sky on a daily basis. For me there were so many names and sorties that it just became a little repetitive. This is not a reflection on the men that piloted and navigated the Tornados but just the writing. Knowing you could be knocked out of the sky and killed or if you lived you would be picked up by the Iraqis and tortured. Terrifying. It was a crazy six weeks for the Tornado crews.
June 23, 2025
"In just a few short months, the Tornado force had undergone a massive transformation, from a Cold War, low-level, primarily nuclear strike force, to a highly accurate, medium-level laser-guided bomber and one of the most experienced combat forces in the world."
I thoroughly enjoyed this, a great piece of historical non-fiction writing that reads like a thriller. John Nichol is in the unique position of being a combatant (giving his narrative immediacy and authenticity), writing 30 years after the fact (giving a measure of perspective), and is also a talented writer (bringing coherence, drama, and clear analysis).
While this is a history of the Tornado over 50 years from conception to retirement, only a single chapter is dedicated to the period 1969 to 1990, and another from 1992 to 2019. The bulk of the book focuses on 1990 to 91, and the Tornado's preparation for and participation in Operation Granby / Desert Storm. Nichol himself was a Tornado navigator, and famously was shot down and captured in Iraq along with his pilot.
The risk inherent in flying fast jets, whether in peace or war, is a constant refrain throughout the book, as more aircrew died during training for Desert Storm (3 aircraft lost and all 6 crew members killed) than during the war (6 aircraft shot down with 5 crew killed and 7 captured). In part, this was due to the particular tactics evolved by the Tornado force for their original role as a Cold War tactical nuclear bomber; crews flew at high speed (around 600 mph) and at heights of less than 100 feet (and sometimes as low as 30). The low-level autopilot used on Tornado was state of the art, but the fact that crews lacked night vision equipment sent shivers down my spine! This approach to air combat was taken with the Tornado squadrons when they deployed to Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, and the accounts of early low-level raids against Iraqi airfields are both breathtaking and a genuine testament to the courage and skill of the pilots and navigators.
The losses suffered during those early raids were out of proportion to the rest of the coalition forces, leading to a rethink. As the war in Iraq progressed, tactics also evolved to focus on medium bombing that was above the level of anti-aircraft artillery fire. This made flying the Tornado in combat a little less dangerous and led directly into the role played by the aircraft during more recent operations in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria. These sections reminded me of accounts I've read of the Second World War, where aircrew and staff officers worked together to develop new tactics in real-time in response to a changing operational landscape. Another aspect of the story that resonates with today is the introduction of laser-guided munitions, which, of course, are now ubiquitous. Later in the book, Nichol and the other captured aircrew recount their captivity and torture in agonising and horrifying detail, not at all lessened by the fact that we know they were all ultimately repatriated and reunited with their families. As an interesting aside, a pioneering piece of military psychiatry meant that the long-term effects on the captured airmen were relatively limited; surely these lessons could have been applied to more recent returning veterans from Afghanistan and Iraq?
This may well be John Nichol's best book so far and stands both as a vivid account of the Desert Storm air campaign and as a tribute to the role played by Tornado and the men and women who flew and maintained her. He has a large measure of affection for this aircraft, and it is a real shame that, unlike Spitfire and other historical aircraft, it is unlikely that Tornado will ever fly again.
"The legendary Tornado developed exponentially from its original design during the Cold War as a conventional and nuclear bomber to be deployed in extremis against Soviet targets. Its inventors build a machine that may not have been blessed with the beauty of the Spitfire or the rigged, imposing presence of the Lancaster, but it did have something else: stoicism, endurance and the ability to adapt to the challenges of the times, whether against a heavily defended enemy airbase filled with fighter jets, or a lone suicide bomber hiding in a mudbrick compound. Yet the men and women who built and serviced the jet, and those who took it to the skies in peace and war, outshone its myriad technological achievements. While always part of a vast team, each was an individual: a father, son, mother or daughter prepared to give their lives for each other, and in the service of their country."
I thoroughly enjoyed this, a great piece of historical non-fiction writing that reads like a thriller. John Nichol is in the unique position of being a combatant (giving his narrative immediacy and authenticity), writing 30 years after the fact (giving a measure of perspective), and is also a talented writer (bringing coherence, drama, and clear analysis).
While this is a history of the Tornado over 50 years from conception to retirement, only a single chapter is dedicated to the period 1969 to 1990, and another from 1992 to 2019. The bulk of the book focuses on 1990 to 91, and the Tornado's preparation for and participation in Operation Granby / Desert Storm. Nichol himself was a Tornado navigator, and famously was shot down and captured in Iraq along with his pilot.
The risk inherent in flying fast jets, whether in peace or war, is a constant refrain throughout the book, as more aircrew died during training for Desert Storm (3 aircraft lost and all 6 crew members killed) than during the war (6 aircraft shot down with 5 crew killed and 7 captured). In part, this was due to the particular tactics evolved by the Tornado force for their original role as a Cold War tactical nuclear bomber; crews flew at high speed (around 600 mph) and at heights of less than 100 feet (and sometimes as low as 30). The low-level autopilot used on Tornado was state of the art, but the fact that crews lacked night vision equipment sent shivers down my spine! This approach to air combat was taken with the Tornado squadrons when they deployed to Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, and the accounts of early low-level raids against Iraqi airfields are both breathtaking and a genuine testament to the courage and skill of the pilots and navigators.
The losses suffered during those early raids were out of proportion to the rest of the coalition forces, leading to a rethink. As the war in Iraq progressed, tactics also evolved to focus on medium bombing that was above the level of anti-aircraft artillery fire. This made flying the Tornado in combat a little less dangerous and led directly into the role played by the aircraft during more recent operations in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria. These sections reminded me of accounts I've read of the Second World War, where aircrew and staff officers worked together to develop new tactics in real-time in response to a changing operational landscape. Another aspect of the story that resonates with today is the introduction of laser-guided munitions, which, of course, are now ubiquitous. Later in the book, Nichol and the other captured aircrew recount their captivity and torture in agonising and horrifying detail, not at all lessened by the fact that we know they were all ultimately repatriated and reunited with their families. As an interesting aside, a pioneering piece of military psychiatry meant that the long-term effects on the captured airmen were relatively limited; surely these lessons could have been applied to more recent returning veterans from Afghanistan and Iraq?
This may well be John Nichol's best book so far and stands both as a vivid account of the Desert Storm air campaign and as a tribute to the role played by Tornado and the men and women who flew and maintained her. He has a large measure of affection for this aircraft, and it is a real shame that, unlike Spitfire and other historical aircraft, it is unlikely that Tornado will ever fly again.
"The legendary Tornado developed exponentially from its original design during the Cold War as a conventional and nuclear bomber to be deployed in extremis against Soviet targets. Its inventors build a machine that may not have been blessed with the beauty of the Spitfire or the rigged, imposing presence of the Lancaster, but it did have something else: stoicism, endurance and the ability to adapt to the challenges of the times, whether against a heavily defended enemy airbase filled with fighter jets, or a lone suicide bomber hiding in a mudbrick compound. Yet the men and women who built and serviced the jet, and those who took it to the skies in peace and war, outshone its myriad technological achievements. While always part of a vast team, each was an individual: a father, son, mother or daughter prepared to give their lives for each other, and in the service of their country."
March 1, 2023
A very good book.
It started a bit lame and slow, and I thought this was going to be a patriotic self-praise book about a relatively symbolic participation of the RAF Tornados in the Gulf War. Instead, this turned out to be a great personality story - in fact, a carefully crafted tapestry of about a dozen personal stories all woven together - humble, honest, brutal, exciting.
John Nichol did a really splendid job here. First, he managed to tell a story of about twenty odd people, including himself (from a rather tricky apersonal third-person perspective), covering several squadrons and three airbases. Second, he pieced together the combat action, the anguish, the family stories, the captivity, PTSD, war news, politics into a riveting story. Third, he was able to do both these tasks simultaneously. Typical WSO (the guy in the back seat doing all the hard work while the pilots fly).
John Nichol was one of the several RAF aviators taken captive during the 1990 Desert Storm air campaign against Iraqi air defenses and bases. He tells his own story, and also of all his brothers in arms who suffered similar fate - or worse. He skips no detail, including fear, shame, longing, detailed descriptions of torture, the horror his family (and those of the other aviators) had to undergo - a different kind of torture. For instance, a RAF widow getting thrown out of the officers quarters because, well, the husband doth not work there anymore! Cynical? Absolutely. But this is also the story of the wives that fought to change the military laws.
There's so much in this book it's astounding. I'm really impressed the author was able to put so much together, keep it coherent, keep it interesting, still drive a fast pace, and then wrap it up all nicely. For the tech buffs, there's also a fair detail on the aircraft itself, how and what Tornado could do and did, there's stuff on military doctrine, and then some.
The best part, similar to Bravo Two Zero, is the captivity. Gruesome stories, grotesque stories, fascinating and morbid detail. And while you may think telling individual stories of several aviators could be repetitive, the truth is the opposite. Each one is fascinating, and once again, the author is able to avoid any dull moments. Really cool.
All in all, if you like military history, this is a gem.
Igor
It started a bit lame and slow, and I thought this was going to be a patriotic self-praise book about a relatively symbolic participation of the RAF Tornados in the Gulf War. Instead, this turned out to be a great personality story - in fact, a carefully crafted tapestry of about a dozen personal stories all woven together - humble, honest, brutal, exciting.
John Nichol did a really splendid job here. First, he managed to tell a story of about twenty odd people, including himself (from a rather tricky apersonal third-person perspective), covering several squadrons and three airbases. Second, he pieced together the combat action, the anguish, the family stories, the captivity, PTSD, war news, politics into a riveting story. Third, he was able to do both these tasks simultaneously. Typical WSO (the guy in the back seat doing all the hard work while the pilots fly).
John Nichol was one of the several RAF aviators taken captive during the 1990 Desert Storm air campaign against Iraqi air defenses and bases. He tells his own story, and also of all his brothers in arms who suffered similar fate - or worse. He skips no detail, including fear, shame, longing, detailed descriptions of torture, the horror his family (and those of the other aviators) had to undergo - a different kind of torture. For instance, a RAF widow getting thrown out of the officers quarters because, well, the husband doth not work there anymore! Cynical? Absolutely. But this is also the story of the wives that fought to change the military laws.
There's so much in this book it's astounding. I'm really impressed the author was able to put so much together, keep it coherent, keep it interesting, still drive a fast pace, and then wrap it up all nicely. For the tech buffs, there's also a fair detail on the aircraft itself, how and what Tornado could do and did, there's stuff on military doctrine, and then some.
The best part, similar to Bravo Two Zero, is the captivity. Gruesome stories, grotesque stories, fascinating and morbid detail. And while you may think telling individual stories of several aviators could be repetitive, the truth is the opposite. Each one is fascinating, and once again, the author is able to avoid any dull moments. Really cool.
All in all, if you like military history, this is a gem.
Igor
April 6, 2022
A good read, not as powerful as the Lancaster and Spitfire books by the same author. Although still some striking & impactful moments and some learning of a period I don't know a huge amount about. I read "Tornado Down" prior to this and there are small sections that were duplicated but if you read them independently you would never realise.
December 23, 2025
Another good book taking the reader into the lives of the aircrew that flew these iconic aircraft. In Tornado the author focuses on the few historical weeks in 1991 when the aircraft and its crew were an integral part of the liberation of Kuwait and deals with the highs and lows, the victories and losses and how they impacted on the men and women involved, the families and the general public. Personally I would have liked a bit more information on the history around the development of the aircraft but that’s probably because I am a bit of a plane nerd. 🤓
May 11, 2023
Took a long while to get into this book, found it took a while to get into the story behind it all disappointed 😞
December 2, 2022
Really enjoyed that.
August 25, 2021
Insight but an OTT writing style
I flew the Tornado in the 'second gulf war', and this book has some great insights. It is very interesting to read of the crews experiences that proceeded my own. But sadly Nichols goes too far with Over The Top descriptions, which should be in a lurid war novel, rather than a history. However some people might enjoy this style of describing the underpowered Tornado! "Behind it the cockpit swept back over broad, muscular flanks. Intakes on either side of the fuselage fed air back to the powerful engine. The jet-pipes would roar, emitting yellow-blue flame from the reheat. Every fibre of its being yelled power."
I flew the Tornado in the 'second gulf war', and this book has some great insights. It is very interesting to read of the crews experiences that proceeded my own. But sadly Nichols goes too far with Over The Top descriptions, which should be in a lurid war novel, rather than a history. However some people might enjoy this style of describing the underpowered Tornado! "Behind it the cockpit swept back over broad, muscular flanks. Intakes on either side of the fuselage fed air back to the powerful engine. The jet-pipes would roar, emitting yellow-blue flame from the reheat. Every fibre of its being yelled power."
June 20, 2022
Too much emphises on the first Gulf War 1990-1991, too little detail on the development history of the aircraft, i have a Royal Air Force Salute Tornado Tribute to an Icon Magazine purchased in 2019, this magazine is better outlined.
*Tornado Evolution-Describes the different Variants in the RAF IDS (InterDictor Strike), ADV (Air Defence Variant).
*Tornado Times- 1979-1989 Tri-national Tornado Training Establishment, Tornado Weapon Conversion Unit, Tornado OEU.
*Tornado Squadrons- Unit Allocation.
*Tornado Times - 1983-2001 RAF Germany, Nos.2,9, 12,13, 14, 15, 16, 20, 27,31, 617 sqn, SAOEU (Strike Attack OEU).
* Tornado Weapons & Stores
*Tornado Times: Operation Granby 1990-1991 which this book is mainly based around.
Tornado Times - 1991-1999 Peace Dividends White Paper, Operation Provide Comfort, Iraq-Southern Watch Operation Jural, Operation Desert Fox (1998), NATO Operation Allied Force-Yugoslavia.
Tornado Times - 2000-2009 Operation Herrick, Operation Telic, 41 (R) Test & Evaluation Squadron, Fast Jet & Weapons OEU,
Tornado Times - 2009-2014 Operation Herrick
Tornado Times - 2010-2014 Strategic Defence and Security Review 2010, Operation Ellamy
Tornado Times - 2014-2019 Operation Shader
Tornado Times - 2019 FINale!
I believe the magazine was a better purchase, a shame really John Nichol books are usually good quality, i believe he could have shared the book out better, rather than it being an edited version of Tornado Down.
*Tornado Evolution-Describes the different Variants in the RAF IDS (InterDictor Strike), ADV (Air Defence Variant).
*Tornado Times- 1979-1989 Tri-national Tornado Training Establishment, Tornado Weapon Conversion Unit, Tornado OEU.
*Tornado Squadrons- Unit Allocation.
*Tornado Times - 1983-2001 RAF Germany, Nos.2,9, 12,13, 14, 15, 16, 20, 27,31, 617 sqn, SAOEU (Strike Attack OEU).
* Tornado Weapons & Stores
*Tornado Times: Operation Granby 1990-1991 which this book is mainly based around.
Tornado Times - 1991-1999 Peace Dividends White Paper, Operation Provide Comfort, Iraq-Southern Watch Operation Jural, Operation Desert Fox (1998), NATO Operation Allied Force-Yugoslavia.
Tornado Times - 2000-2009 Operation Herrick, Operation Telic, 41 (R) Test & Evaluation Squadron, Fast Jet & Weapons OEU,
Tornado Times - 2009-2014 Operation Herrick
Tornado Times - 2010-2014 Strategic Defence and Security Review 2010, Operation Ellamy
Tornado Times - 2014-2019 Operation Shader
Tornado Times - 2019 FINale!
I believe the magazine was a better purchase, a shame really John Nichol books are usually good quality, i believe he could have shared the book out better, rather than it being an edited version of Tornado Down.
November 20, 2021
I'm the wrong reader for this book, I don't like reading about how the Iraqis tortured aircrew, I really just want to read about flying, I also didn't like the hyperbole about the Tornado, it's never been one of my favorites. Read here why the Tornado was a mistake:
Boyd: The Fighter Pilot Who Changed the Art of War
Read here what the RAF leadership should have known before comitting the Tornados to low-level attacks RAF Harrier Ground Attack: Falklands
and also read chapter 22 LGBS on Target Sunday, 13 June 1982, about what they should have done instead. The claim that the Tornado force (eventually) dropped the RAF's first LGB's is incorrect.
There were a lot of interesting stuff in this book, but I found it difficult to get through, I read three other books while I was struggling through this one.
Boyd: The Fighter Pilot Who Changed the Art of War
Read here what the RAF leadership should have known before comitting the Tornados to low-level attacks RAF Harrier Ground Attack: Falklands
and also read chapter 22 LGBS on Target Sunday, 13 June 1982, about what they should have done instead. The claim that the Tornado force (eventually) dropped the RAF's first LGB's is incorrect.
There were a lot of interesting stuff in this book, but I found it difficult to get through, I read three other books while I was struggling through this one.
January 28, 2024
This is not said lightly, this is one of the best books I’ve read in a long time!
The authors experiences of the Gulf War from the cockpit and his subsequent capture don’t distract from his excellent overall account of the Tornado pilot/navigators experience of fighting in those 6 weeks.
His descriptive powers, and using his interviews with other crews puts the reader right into the cockpit as they speed along, sometimes less than 100ft above the sand, at 650mph about to attack a heavily defended airfield.
I had always known of the reverence people in the know have held these fighter crews with, but reading their first hand accounts really does earn them the respect they rightfully deserve. Far too little know of the extreme pressures and sacrifices made by those courageous men. Even their preparations for war cost crews their lives. The author puts people behind the statistics. Shows us what it was like - to some extent- for the wives and children left behind trying to go on with their lives as the world continues to spin regardless of their losses.
A thorough recommend to read.
The authors experiences of the Gulf War from the cockpit and his subsequent capture don’t distract from his excellent overall account of the Tornado pilot/navigators experience of fighting in those 6 weeks.
His descriptive powers, and using his interviews with other crews puts the reader right into the cockpit as they speed along, sometimes less than 100ft above the sand, at 650mph about to attack a heavily defended airfield.
I had always known of the reverence people in the know have held these fighter crews with, but reading their first hand accounts really does earn them the respect they rightfully deserve. Far too little know of the extreme pressures and sacrifices made by those courageous men. Even their preparations for war cost crews their lives. The author puts people behind the statistics. Shows us what it was like - to some extent- for the wives and children left behind trying to go on with their lives as the world continues to spin regardless of their losses.
A thorough recommend to read.
March 3, 2022
Absolutely riveting read. I was in my early 20's when the Gulf War started and I remember watching the newsreels of the planes taking off on their first sorties. How can it be so long ago?
Really edge of your seat descriptions that had me gasping aloud several times. It's incredibly detailed and not only describes what the Tornado pilots were dealing with, but also their families back home... wives, siblings, parents and children, who didn't know whether their loved ones were dead or alive and also the despair from the ground crew when their plane failed to return. It brought a tear to my eyes several times.
It's gripping, exciting, horrific, sad....just everything. I did smile to myself when I was reading one part of the book whilst flying on a BA 787 .... the screen in front of me informed me we were travelling at 567mph.... but at 40000 feet! I then imagined the Tornado flying at 600mph at just 100ft! Incredible.
I hope the Tornado will fly at RIAT this year!
I will certainly read more of John Nichol's books.... and thank you Sir for your service.
Really edge of your seat descriptions that had me gasping aloud several times. It's incredibly detailed and not only describes what the Tornado pilots were dealing with, but also their families back home... wives, siblings, parents and children, who didn't know whether their loved ones were dead or alive and also the despair from the ground crew when their plane failed to return. It brought a tear to my eyes several times.
It's gripping, exciting, horrific, sad....just everything. I did smile to myself when I was reading one part of the book whilst flying on a BA 787 .... the screen in front of me informed me we were travelling at 567mph.... but at 40000 feet! I then imagined the Tornado flying at 600mph at just 100ft! Incredible.
I hope the Tornado will fly at RIAT this year!
I will certainly read more of John Nichol's books.... and thank you Sir for your service.
April 23, 2025
"When you have been through an experience like war, life-threatening and life-defining, it concentrates the mind and you realize what is important. And what is not. I had faced death and survived, some of my friends had not. At that moment, looking at the crowds rushing by, I suddenly realized what was important in my own life - holding hands with my wife and son. Nothing else mattered"
As a military aviation enthusiast, I was expecting it to be a thrilling retelling of Desert Storm, the daring mission and dangerous low level flying, a hairs width away from death told in a way that grips you. And it was that, but more. It is also a first hand recount of the struggles of being a POW in Iraq, the effects of PTSD, the hardships of the families back home, and the bonds that are made through shared blood, sweat, and tears.
It isn't told first person, but almost documentary or interview style, usually being third person with many quotes in first. Very unique and I think benefits the story.
Highly recommend. Came for the planes, stayed for the people.
As a military aviation enthusiast, I was expecting it to be a thrilling retelling of Desert Storm, the daring mission and dangerous low level flying, a hairs width away from death told in a way that grips you. And it was that, but more. It is also a first hand recount of the struggles of being a POW in Iraq, the effects of PTSD, the hardships of the families back home, and the bonds that are made through shared blood, sweat, and tears.
It isn't told first person, but almost documentary or interview style, usually being third person with many quotes in first. Very unique and I think benefits the story.
Highly recommend. Came for the planes, stayed for the people.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 14, 2022
Having lived through this period in history as an adult & with a keen interest in learning more about this plane I was looking forward to this book and it didn’t disappoint.
The way the author weaves the story together is remarkable. You feel like you are there, you’re in the action, part of the story. Drawing from numerous sources, but especially the flight crews directly involved, it never loses pace or focus. So often these type of books chop around from source to source but the author has skilfully crafted a consistent commentary which is seamless to the reader and you cannot help but be being swept along with.
I’m left with the utmost respect for the men who flew these planes during Gulf War 1, on which this story is mostly centred, but also the impact their work has on the families left behind hoping & praying for their safe return.
Not many books move me to tears, this did. A fabulous account of the technical marvel that was the Tornado & those who flew her.
The way the author weaves the story together is remarkable. You feel like you are there, you’re in the action, part of the story. Drawing from numerous sources, but especially the flight crews directly involved, it never loses pace or focus. So often these type of books chop around from source to source but the author has skilfully crafted a consistent commentary which is seamless to the reader and you cannot help but be being swept along with.
I’m left with the utmost respect for the men who flew these planes during Gulf War 1, on which this story is mostly centred, but also the impact their work has on the families left behind hoping & praying for their safe return.
Not many books move me to tears, this did. A fabulous account of the technical marvel that was the Tornado & those who flew her.
November 18, 2023
Interesting read but too much about the captured pilots and iltreatment which obviously resonated with the author as he was there and a captive.
What was astounding was the fact that the Tornado was the wrong a/c for the job and that it took so long for the senior management at the RAF to acknowledge the fact - sounds familiar as that is the same as back in ww1 and ww2. The other issue was that 38 pilots and crew died in training but 10 died in the various wars/conflicts. Not encouraging at all. Then there was the shabby treatment of the wives after their husbands were shot down. Again an aspect of the treatment of the war veterans that should shame the UK government.
So those were the facts that I took from the book but were very much asides in the book.
What was astounding was the fact that the Tornado was the wrong a/c for the job and that it took so long for the senior management at the RAF to acknowledge the fact - sounds familiar as that is the same as back in ww1 and ww2. The other issue was that 38 pilots and crew died in training but 10 died in the various wars/conflicts. Not encouraging at all. Then there was the shabby treatment of the wives after their husbands were shot down. Again an aspect of the treatment of the war veterans that should shame the UK government.
So those were the facts that I took from the book but were very much asides in the book.
April 1, 2023
So very real and so very thrilling. To hear from the pilots the navigators, the men and women involved and more importantly the families of serving and lost heros during the two Gulf wars. John Nicol instils a vision and an approach to documenting the war in a new and insightful perspective, he doesn't just tell you the events he relives them and recites their affect on him and his dearest friends who fought alongside him. It also shows the less flashy parts of the war, the gruesome and bare truths which haunt and echo throughout, the larger picture too, the confusion and the turmoil presiding Hussain's continued influence and control.
August 31, 2023
OUTSTANDING HISTORY AND TRIBUTE TO THE TORNADO FORCE IN THE GULF
Like everyone who remembers the First Gulf War I watched it unfold on my TV set. I clearly recall the air assault. I do not remember all the losses, operational and training. The Tornado was at the heart of it. John Nichol has created an amazing history of this aircraft and those who flew it. There is, quite rightly, a focus too on those airmen who were downed and captured in Iraq. The aftermath of the war and subsequent deployments are related. A full book worthy of all those involved with the Tornado Force.
Like everyone who remembers the First Gulf War I watched it unfold on my TV set. I clearly recall the air assault. I do not remember all the losses, operational and training. The Tornado was at the heart of it. John Nichol has created an amazing history of this aircraft and those who flew it. There is, quite rightly, a focus too on those airmen who were downed and captured in Iraq. The aftermath of the war and subsequent deployments are related. A full book worthy of all those involved with the Tornado Force.
February 2, 2022
Very well written account of the development and then military use of the Tornado in the Gulf War. Gripping accounts and just the right amount of technical information made this a rip-roaring, but at times, melancholy read. It was a shame less detail was provided on the Tornado ‘experience’ following the Gulf War, not sure why so much emphasis was put on the War Windows Association? (but understand it’s a very worthwhile cause)
September 9, 2025
This book, although slow to start, is amazing. More than once I found myself silently crying while reading. Having read tornado down there were parts of the Two Johns story i recognised but also the names of other POWs mentioned in tornado down. It felt a privilege to hear their gulf war stories after being introduced to them in tornado down. This book is almost an extension. It feels like a book I will come back to time and time again.
June 26, 2021
Quite his best book. Living history and experiences of men at war, together with their loved ones left at home. Unforgettable!! Their stories will live on in the memories of those of us privileged to read of them. Thank you John, for all the conversations, research and care you have taken in writing this book. Your own story, a part of the RICH TAPESTRY OF THE TORNADO AT WAR IN THE OPERATION -DESERT STORM.
August 14, 2022
Fantastic book. Written by a man with first hand experience of the Gulf War and who was captured by the enemy.
Some great detail about the Tornado aircraft and what it felt like to fly such an incredible machine, but also a lot about the many individuals whose personal experience this story details.
Wonderful. Highly recommend.
Some great detail about the Tornado aircraft and what it felt like to fly such an incredible machine, but also a lot about the many individuals whose personal experience this story details.
Wonderful. Highly recommend.
December 26, 2022
I kept seeing this cover everywhere, so I had to pick it up. Thing is I didn’t read the blurb on the back before I went into it, so I didn’t know it was a memoir. There were some great insights into what it was like to fly during the gulf war but it seemed over descriptive. Not a bad book, I just think I’m the wrong audience.
July 30, 2022
A very interesting book primarily focusing on the involvement of the Tornado aircraft in the First Gulf War, but also the broader history of the plane.
By including lots of stories about the experiences of individual crew and their families, it makes for a very engaging and emotional book.
By including lots of stories about the experiences of individual crew and their families, it makes for a very engaging and emotional book.
July 27, 2023
"Nige dabbed on the reheat but couldn't keep the probe in the basket . The turbulence was throwing us around , the tanker around and the basket around . It was like trying to get cooked spaghetti up a jumping cat's arse as it runs away from you. "
July 8, 2024
Took a while to get Into as it's quite long winded. Thoroughly enjoyed it after maybe the 2nd chapter where I was more drawn to the book and hooked. Would 100% read another John Nichol book, think the other one related to this book will be my next read!
March 19, 2025
Fantastic book. Different to Spitfire and Hurricane in that it's subject was utilised in many conflicts, not just the one. Personally, I think it should have been called Gulf War as I would've liked more information on how it was used pre and post Gulf War, but still a cracking book.
July 14, 2021
Fantastic read on the Tornado in the Gulf War. Explores the impact on the crew and families back home. Hard to believe it’s 30 years ago
February 20, 2022
What a fantastic gripping read. Could not put this book down. It’s a must read!
March 10, 2022
Brilliant read. Took me back to the 90s and my time in the RAF. Excellent technical detail without it being overbearing.
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