The History Podcast: The Fort – Episode 7: "In the Zone"

Date: September 15, 2025
Host: BBC Radio 4

Overview

This gripping episode of The History Podcast transports listeners to the heart of a daring Afghanistan rescue mission. Through firsthand accounts from commanders, soldiers, and Apache pilots, the episode reconstructs the tense search and extraordinary retrieval of a missing British Marine, Lance Corporal Matthew Ford, during a fierce assault in Helmand Province. The narrative explores not just the tactical maneuvers and split-second decisions, but also moments of fear, camaraderie, and surreal humor in extreme circumstances.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Battlefield Mindset and Role of Apache Pilots

• Charlotte Madison and other pilots emphasize the duality of the Apache role—lethal force to protect troops, but with a deeper focus on saving lives.
  • “I know a lot of people will think about the job and think about the killing, but actually for me it was more about saving and preventing loss of life to our troops.” (Charlotte Madison, 00:15)
  • It's "incredibly easy" to pull the trigger when witnessing imminent danger to friendly forces.

2. The Rescue Mission Unfolds

• Overview: During the withdrawal of a major Marine operation near Garamsia, Lance Corporal Matthew Ford was left behind.
• The Search:
  • Apaches used thermal imaging overnight to find Ford.
  • The plan: land nearby, retrieve Ford with Marines transported externally on Apache wing stubs—a desperate, never-before-attempted maneuver in real combat.
• Personal Stakes:
  • “I was absolutely convinced that I wasn’t going to be the first girl to go through and fail.” (Unnamed Apache Pilot, 01:28)

3. Teamwork and Life Paths

• Charlotte Madison recounts her roundabout journey into military aviation, from school cadet exercises to being awestruck at her first helicopter ride.
  • “[W]e spent six weeks on an exercise in Canada...and these pilots came out and they said, hi, do you want a ride in the helicopter? And I thought I died.” (Charlotte Madison, 02:21)

4. The External Ride: A Marine Perspective

• Captain Chris Fraser Perry details the hazardous process of strapping onto an Apache:
  • “I hooked my right arm through one of the ladder rungs that the pilots used to climb into the cockpit. That’s how I'm secured onto the Apache.” (03:21)
  • He likens it to being “on a roller coaster,” surprisingly not feeling unsafe.
• Dave Rigg recalls the unforgettable physical experience: “That’s spooling up and actually you feel the helmet being sucked backwards...I had to lean forwards to avoid being pinned to the engine air intake.” (03:58)

5. Moments of Humor and Human Error

• Dave Rigg realizes his rarely-used rifle might malfunction mid-mission, leading to a test-fire from the side of the airborne Apache.
  • “[S]o I thought, well, that's as good a time as any.” (04:58)
  • The pilots panic, fearing a negligent discharge.
  • “I did bollock him.” (Ed Basie, 06:38)

6. The Surreality of Combat

• Chris Fraser Perry recounts a surreal exchange—being saluted by a tank crewman who suddenly notices Marines clinging to an Apache mid-firefight.
  • “Given everything that was going on...I remember just laughing to myself thinking, this moment is so surreal.” (06:55)

7. The Insertion and Assault

• The attackers rely on heavy air support, including a planned B1 bomber strike that almost gets aborted due to a technical issue.
  • “We knew how far we got to go. We’re waiting for the bombs to drop.” (Tom O’Malley, 07:52)
  • The bomb detonates, kicking up a dust storm and triggering buried munitions:
    • “The air was black with sooty deposit...there was stuff everywhere.” (Ed Basie, 09:05)
• Decision and Dread:
  • Helicopters descend blindly into dust and hostile fire.
  • “As we got close, I vividly remember seeing the muzzle flashes coming from the fort...I just remember feeling the most helpless of that entire talk.” (Captain Chris Fraser Perry, 09:58–10:53)

8. The Extraction Under Fire

• Ed Basie and Tom O’Malley describe flying in near-zero visibility, coordinated with frantic radio calls to prevent a catastrophic collision.
  • “We could fly into the back of him. We’re going to have £80 million worth, a helicopter and crew in a smoking wreck.” (Ed Basie, 11:47)
• The landing: the commandos leap from the Apaches and rush into the haze, racing to Ford’s position under fire.
  • “As soon as we touched down, I was off.” (Dave Rigg, 12:24)
  • “So I knew straight away that I’m right now sat next to a bullet magnet. So I jumped off the Apache and just ran forwards.” (Captain Chris Fraser Perry, 12:48)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Charlotte Madison:
  • “For me it was more about saving and preventing loss of life to our troops.” (00:15)
• Tom O’Malley:
  • “Nothing ever goes to plan. The B1. His bomb rack jams and he’s like, I need five minutes to reset, guys. And I’m like, we don’t have five minutes.” (08:16)
• Ed Basie (on friendly fire panic):
  • “I heard a bang on the right hand side and I looked across and Dave Rigg was giving me the thumbs up. He fired his rifle ahead just to make sure it was working.” (05:47)
• Chris Fraser Perry (surreal humor):
  • “A guy on top of the tank...looked up, looked away, and then snapped his head back as if he just realized, hang on a minute, is there someone sat on the side there? And then he saluted...I remember just laughing to myself thinking, this moment is so surreal.” (06:55)
• Tom O’Malley (the chaos of landing):
  • “If I land where I was supposed to land, we’re not going to get two aircraft in because the visibility is so poor.” (11:34)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Battlefield Philosophy & Job Realities: 00:04 – 00:49
• Discovery of the Mission & Setup: 00:49 – 02:21
• The ‘External’ Extraction Plan: 03:03 – 04:29
• Onboard Experiences & Comic Relief: 04:49 – 06:38
• Vulnerability and Surreal Moments: 06:55 – 07:52
• Assault and Bomb Drop Sequence: 07:52 – 09:27
• Approach and Emotions of Near-Contact: 09:27 – 11:01
• Landing and Extraction Execution: 11:13 – 12:58

Tone and Narrative Style

The episode blends tense, matter-of-fact retellings with dry humor and moments of reflection. Speakers candidly share not just operational details, but visceral emotions—the fear, adrenaline, helplessness, and fleeting camaraderie that define frontline service.

This summary covers the main narrative arc and highlights major themes and moments, omitting promotional content and unrelated segments.