Meet Juliette, the RAF bombshell who terrified the Taliban in her fighter jet

Awesome noise: Flt Lt Fleming sent Taliban fanatics scurrying for cover by repeatedly swooping low over their heads in her Tornado GR4 fighter bomber


A female RAF pilot has revealed how she terrified Taliban fighters by screeching low over their heads in her Tornado fighter jet - a new tactic to avoid killing civilians with stray bombs.

Flight Lieutenant Juliette Fleming, 31, was repeatedly called on to swoop down low over fanatics attacking British and coalition troops on the ground in Afghanistan.

The awesome sound of her GR4 jet roaring overhead at 550mph just 100ft above the ground would deafen the enemy and force them to take cover.

Flt Lt Fleming carried out her sorties during a three-month posting at Kandahar airfield with 31 Squadron, known as The Goldstars.

She said the policy of trying to 'win the hearts and minds' of local people meant that the RAF was dropping as few bombs as possible to avoid killing civilians.

The pilot, who last week returned to her base at RAF Marham, Norfolk, said: 'Dropping bombs is a last resort and we don't want to do it if we can help it.

'We found that our sheer presence alone through a show of force was enough to achieve results 99 per cent of the time.

'The noise of a low level swoop directly overhead is usually enough to get the enemy's heads down so the friendlies can withdraw and get back to a safe place.

'You just concentrate on doing the job as quickly and effectively as you can. People ask about the threat to yourself - but I don't really think about that.

'I am just there to deter that threat to the guys on the ground. As soon as you get called to do something, your brain clicks into gear and you crack on with it.

'It is a procedure you have practised time and time again back home so it is a natural thing to do.'

Flt Lt Fleming, who has been a pilot for ten years, said: 'I personally didn't drop a bomb while I was out there, although the squadron released a few munitions.'

Members of 31 Squadron were also responsible for saving troops' lives by identifying IED bombs on roads and tracks used by Coalition forces.

The Tornado crews regularly flew patrols over key areas, using special equipment at a height of 15,000 feet to spot disturbed earth, vehicle tracks and suspicious activity which might indicate the presence of a bomb.

Flt Lt Fleming said: 'We could relay pictures directly to air controllers on the ground and zoom in to take a closer look.'

In December, Flt Lt Fleming and flying partner Nikki Thomas were told how they spent Christmas flying a fighter jet 15,000ft above the battlefields.


Flt Lt Fleming, who has been a pilot for ten years, said: 'I personally didn't drop a bomb while I was out there, although the squadron released a few munitions'


Pilot Flight Lieutenant Juliette Fleming (left) and Navigator Squadron Leader Nikki Thomas (right), with 31 Squadron from Royal Air Force Marham


Pilot Flight Lieutenant Fleming and navigator Squadron Leader Thomas have logged nearly 100 hours as the first all-female Tornado crew.

Their missions have helped both British and US troops under fire.

The duo - call-sign 'Monster Seven Three' - often fly as low as 100ft in their supersonic Tornado GR4 from their base at Kandahar to attack enemy positions.

Flt Lt Fleming said: 'For us it was just another working day. There was a Christmas dinner in the dining hall and a few decorations and cards.


A replica RAF Tornado GR4 - the jet the all-female crew flew in Afghanistan - acts as gate guard on the main gate at RAF Marham. Below, a GR4 in flight


'We will celebrate our Christmas when the tour is over at the end of January.'

Sqn Ldr Nikki Thomas, 31, from Exmouth, told the BBC: 'Really for me the best bit of my role is the operational flying.

'To spend years training to do a job and to do it well it is very satisfying, and you really get to see the results on operations.

'It may also sound really cheesy but life on a squadron is brilliant, everyone pulls together to get the job done and everyone has a vital role to play.'


source: dailymail