Army chief backs 'exceptional' RAF

12 April 2012

The country's top soldier has praised the Royal Air Force as "exceptional" in the wake of comments by an officer condemning its performance in Afghanistan as "utterly, utterly useless".

The Chief of General Staff, General Sir Richard Dannatt lavished praise on the RAF's efforts in support of the ground forces, and described the remarks made by Major James Loden of 3 Para as "irresponsible".

Major Loden, serving in the troubled Helmand province, made the comments in a series of e-mails.

In them, he warns that more helicopters and more manpower are "desperately" needed for the operation to be successful.

In a statement, Gen Dannatt said: "The way the RAF has performed in support of our operations in Afghanistan has been exceptional.

"Irresponsible comments, based on a snapshot, are regrettable.

"Following my recent visit, which happened after the incident described in the e-mails, the men of the battlegroup left me in no doubt as to the value of the RAF's support to their operations.

"The Harriers and the support helicopters have played, and continue to play, a vital role in ensuring the battlegroup's success."

A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said: "The comments this major makes about the RAF are unfortunate.

"They do not reflect the view of the vast majority of soldiers about the Harrier Force in Afghanistan, which has consistently performed brilliantly in defending coalition forces, so much so that it is in regular demand not just from British commanders on the ground, but from our allies too."

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