The History Podcast – "The Fort: 6. Call Sign: Ugly"

BBC Radio 4 | September 14, 2025

Episode Overview

This gripping episode recounts the harrowing true story of an intense assault and incredible rescue mission in Afghanistan. Commanders, Apache pilots, and Royal Marines share how they risked everything to recover Corporal Matthew Ford, who was stranded and at risk of capture by the Taliban. The episode delves into tactical decisions, the improvised rescue plan, and the deep personal motivations behind the actions of those involved.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

The Changing Mission and Rising Stakes

• The mission shifted swiftly from a standard assault to an urgent rescue:
  • B (Command voice): “Our mission changed. Our mission then was to prevent Matthew Ford from being captured by the Taliban. And so we set about looking for the enemy.” (00:40)

Inside the Apache Cockpit

• Ed Basie and Tom o’Malley, both former Apache pilots, describe how they supported the ground troops and scoured the area for threats:
  • Ed shares his unorthodox path to becoming a pilot after injury (01:00-02:27):
    • “I never wanted to be a pilot. … I died three times and my body was completely trashed … He said, well, if you can't join them and run around on the ground, why don't you fly for them?... That's the reason why I ended up being a pilot.”
  • Tactical “race patterns” were used to maintain constant pressure on the enemy (01:00):
    • “One of us flying inbound slowly-ish, one flying outbound really quickly, so that by the time I broke off from the target, he was already inbound ... we just kept this running fire going.”

Observing the Enemy and Hidden Dangers

• The pilots’ nickname “The Mosquito” among the Taliban (02:37)
• Discovery of possible tunnels being used by the enemy (02:37-03:30):
  • Ed spots a Taliban fighter emerging from a tunnel near Ford’s position and quickly neutralizes the threat.

The High Cost and Emotional Realities

• Fears of friendly fire and the horrors of Taliban capture (03:30-04:53):
  • “The closer this gets to Matt … we're gonna end up killing him ourselves. ... right, you know, this is crazy.” – B (03:30)
  • The trauma of previous missions and the threat of propaganda killings if captured:
    • “We were told … if they should catch us, they would catch us Skinners and put it all out on tv… If they got to [Matthew], what they would do to him would be horrific.” – C (04:53)

The Turning Point: Proposing a Daring Rescue

• B asserts that drastic action is needed (05:04-05:28):
  • “I had said through the command net, you know, that we would land and we would get Matt.”
• The proposal to land Apaches, load Marines on the wings, and physically extract Ford under fire:
  • “Why don't we go into the desert, land, get some Marines, strap them onto the outside of the wings ... then they can drag him back. And I'm thinking, he's nuts.” – C (05:50)

The Volunteers and Their Preparation

• Dave Rigg and other Marines, including Chris Fraser Perry and mountain leader Colin Hearn, volunteer for the mission (08:13-08:33):
  • Dave Rigg: “The four guys that went all volunteered, but I guess I knew more about what I'd volunteered to do… Marine Fraser Perry was … about 19.” (08:13)
• Quick battle planning drawn in the sand by the Apaches (09:54-10:48):
  • “I drew in the dirt where the fort was … If you get there first, you pick him up and you drag him to the nearest aircraft...” – C (10:10)
• Improvised safety with only three straps for four men (11:29):
  • Chris Fraser Perry remembers his own resolve:
    • “Guess who didn’t get a strap. But he did give me a carabiner … I thought, I can’t really do anything with that because the last thing I want to be is clipped on to a bullet magnet.” (11:29)
    • “So I climbed up to those stubs … hooked my right arm through one of the ladder rungs … with my feet resting on the missile pods.” (11:29)

The Infiltration and Execution

• Aircraft call signs detailed; “Ugly 50” and “Ugly 51” carry the Marines (12:39):
  • “Ugly. 50 lead aircraft. ... Colin who was sat on the right hand side and Gary … Ugly Five One was Ed in the front seat … On the right wing was Dave and Chris on the left wing…” – Tom o’Malley (12:39)
• The tension before launch, the involvement of a B1 bomber to conceal their entry, and the sense of urgency:
  • “Time is fuel and we don’t have a lot of either. ... and anyone, it’s a go. And nothing else was said. We just went.” – B (13:09)
• The pilots’ personal stake and determination to avoid previous tragedy:
  • “We’re not having a repeat of this ... That Marine’s coming out of there today.” – C (13:53)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “If you can't join them and run around on the ground, why don't you fly for them?” – Ed Basie on becoming a pilot, in a moment of determination after life-threatening injury (01:00-02:27)
• “We were nicknamed by the Taliban as the Mosquito. When we get there, they run away. … They know they can't hide from us in the night, they know they can't hide from us in the day.” – Ed Basie (02:37)
• “We need to do something. Get me four Marines and I will take them in and we’ll get that boy home.” – B (05:28)
• “There’s no guarantees that someone’s not going to get shot. On the wing. … But we’ve got to try this.” – C, relaying the risk to command (07:48)
• “The four guys that went all volunteered ... But no one hesitated.” – Dave Rigg (08:13, 09:19)
• “He only had three [straps] and I was the youngest mariner and the most junior. So guess who didn’t get a strap. But he did give me a carabiner ... I put that carabine in my pocket and I’ve still got it somewhere.” – Chris Fraser Perry (11:29)
• “We just went. We just went.” – B, reflecting the urgency and gravity of the moment (13:09)
• “We’re not having a repeat of this. … That Marine’s coming out of there today.” – C, on the need to rescue Ford (13:53)

Timestamps for Significant Segments

• 00:40 – The mission shifts to rescuing Matthew Ford
• 01:00 – Ed Basie’s background and entry into Apache aviation
• 02:37 – Use of Apaches, discovering enemy tunnels
• 03:30 – Fear of friendly fire; trauma of past missions
• 05:15 – Discussing the rescue plan: land, strap Marines onto Apaches
• 06:06 – Personal reflections; the emotional driver for rescue
• 08:13 – Volunteer Marines are chosen
• 10:10 – The sand diagram briefing and rescue instructions
• 11:29 – Practicalities: Strapping onto Apache wings
• 12:39 – Aircraft, crew, and seating arrangement
• 13:09 – Tension and final go for the rescue
• 13:53 – The unwavering determination to save Ford

Conclusion

This episode delivers a vivid, first-person account of a remarkable military rescue, striking a powerful balance between technical detail and emotional depth. Listeners gain insight into the unflinching camaraderie and personal sacrifice that drove these soldiers and airmen to risk everything for a comrade, against impossible odds. The raw honesty of those involved, their improvisation under fire, and the absolute refusal to leave a fellow Marine behind form the core narrative—a testament to courage and ingenuity under extreme pressure.