RAF pilot: 'utterly horrific' drone warfare gave me PTSD

RAF pilot: 'utterly horrific' drone warfare gave me PTSD

A former military drone pilot says he has been left with PTSD after being put at risk of "psychological harm" for years on end while viewing "utterly horrific" things on screen. Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live’s Adrian Chiles, ‘Rob’ (not his real name) also said he became suicidal due to the way the armed forces dealt with his request for mental help. Rob was a member of 13 Squadron until 2017, a specialist team within the Royal Air Force which operate unmanned drone aircraft from a military base in the UK. The Remotely Piloted Aircraft System, or Reaper, was first used by the UK in Afghanistan in 2008 for surveillance, and later fitted with weapons. By March 2015 the UK had carried out some 70 drone strikes against so-called Islamic State (IS) targets in Iraq.

The MOD issued this statement, ‘‘We do not recognise the allegations made with respect to the working environment on our Reaper Squadrons. The RAF actively manages Reaper Force crews to ensure that their workload is manageable, sustainable and balanced, alongside providing world-class military healthcare for those that need it. “All allegations of civilian casualties are subject to extensive investigations. We continue to do everything we can to minimise the risk of civilian casualties through the rigorous targeting processes and the professionalism of our crews.”

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The Holocaust: My family story

The Holocaust: My family story

13-year-old Rudolph Goldberg and his brother fled Nazi Germany in 1939, the parents and family they left behind were murdered in the Holocaust. On the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, 5 live's Adrian Goldberg tells his family story through home recordings of his father. And travelling for the first time to Rudolph's home town, he tries to find out what happened to his relatives. Adrian also hears from those who survived the horrors of Auschwitz and ask how genocide on such a scale could have been allowed to happen.

1 Helmi 201550min

Migraine sufferers: ‘It's an invisible illness’

Migraine sufferers: ‘It's an invisible illness’

Rachel Burden speaks to people who suffer with migraines and how the “invisible illness” has affected their lives.

22 Tammi 201538min

Why do we need ‘This Girl Can’?

Why do we need ‘This Girl Can’?

A new advert called This Girl Can shows women ‘wiggling’ and ‘jiggling’ whilst working out and playing sports. ‘Sweat like a pig, look like a fox’ is one of the slogans from the advert which encourages women to embrace their bodies whilst being active. 5 live Breakfast asked: Are we getting it right when it comes to women and sport?’

16 Tammi 201534min

The scourge of alcoholism

The scourge of alcoholism

Peter Allen reports from an alcoholic treatment centre with a difference – it allows patients to drink.

15 Tammi 201529min

In Short 4 January

In Short 4 January

A look back at the week's news including the missing Air Asia flight, the challenge facing supermarkets in 2015 and the New Year's Honours list.

6 Tammi 201550min

Lizard Squad hackers talk to Stephen Nolan

Lizard Squad hackers talk to Stephen Nolan

In their first broadcast interview since they claim to have hacked Xbox and Playstation consoles on Christmas Day, the group Lizard Squad, say they warned one of the manufacturers, Microsoft, that they were going to do it. Two of the group, who call themselves Member 1 and Member 2 tell Stephen Nolan why they did it

27 Joulu 201421min

Children of the Tsunami

Children of the Tsunami

In the early hours of 26th December 2004 the third largest earthquake ever recorded struck the Indian Ocean. The result was a tsunami which travelled at 800 km per hour. As it reached the shores the waves grew to over 15 metres in height. A quarter of a million people died and two million were made homeless in countries across Southeast Asia and beyond. Ten years on BBC Radio 5 live revisits local survivors, who were children at the time, and British tourists as we remember the horror of one of the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history.

26 Joulu 201449min

Come Rain or Shine - 2014 weather review

Come Rain or Shine - 2014 weather review

From devastating winter floods to the hottest Halloween on record, it's been a year of headline making and record breaking weather. 5 live's Simon King is joined by Professor Liz Bentley, Chief Executive of the Royal Meteorological Society, to take a look back at how the weather impacted our lives in 2014.

26 Joulu 201448min

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