I was imprisoned in Baghdad so they were every night.
Because the main emphasis was on night operations
so every night
you could hear the bombing going on around us.
And indeed, on one night, our building,
the building we were in, seemed to be a target
because we did have bombs hitting our building
and then subsequently we were evacuated
out of that building to another prison
in the early hours of the morning.
Every night we could hear the bombing
Squadron Leader Bob Ankerson was forced to eject from his Tornado GR 1 when on a mission over Basra during Operation GRANBY in January 1991. Bob was one of seven RAF servicemen to be captured and held as a prisoner of war in Baghdad. They were finally released in March, days after the end of the war.
Baghdad , Iraq
I spent most of my time in captivity in solitary confinement.
Sqdn. Ldr. Bob AnkersonThe Red Cross put themselves in great danger, with only a badge for protection.
Sqdn. Ldr. Bob AnkersonIf I didn't answer they would beat me.
Sqdn. Ldr. Bob AnkersonI heard people screaming and wondered if I was next.
Sqdn. Ldr. Bob AnkersonI told my wife I was alive, well and free.
Sqdn. Ldr. Bob AnkersonI can't quite remember what it felt like to be released.
Bob AnkersonI spent most of my time in captivity in solitary confinement.
Sqdn. Ldr. Bob AnkersonI found myself hanging under a parachute for the first time in my life.
Bob Ankerson
All of a sudden you're just two bodies lost in the desert
John PetersI spent seven weeks getting the shit kicked out of me
John PetersWe knew we weren't going home.
Bob Ankerson
Unless I tell him something I'm going to die.
Robbie StewartThey beat us with their pistol butts
John Peters
Once you see the missile you have 3.5 seconds until impact.
David WaddingtonThe Red Cross put themselves in great danger, with only a badge for protection.
Sqdn. Ldr. Bob AnkersonThey took my gun and both my watches, but they didn't find the gold.
Robbie Stewart