Chinook Crew 'Chick': Highs and Lows of Forces Life from the Longest Serving Female RAF Chinook Force Crewmember

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She said: "In August 2020, I woke up one day and I can only describe it as an out-of-body experience because I felt so detached emotionally from myself at this point and I decided that I was going to end my life. I wasn’t able to be with people, I began to spiral and it triggered PTSD as I began to relive life at war. That’s the only protection, the rest of the aircraft is just like a big bullet magnet and it’s quite a big target. This was one of the deadliest war zones in the world – crawling with Taliban insurgents – where British, American and Afghan forces were trying to secure peace in a country which had known nothing but war for decades.

The author's captivating storytelling and her ability to provide a unique perspective make this book a true gem. It was only then that I was able to come to terms with the fact that, I’m a veteran and I’m a PTSD survivor.With the support of the veterans' system, McConaghy began her recovery journey, recognising how crucial that support network was to her survival. At just 21, she was the youngest aircrew member to be deployed to Iraq and the only female in the Chinook Crew for the first four years of her service.

If I had the chance of eternal life, winning the lottery or [being given] a rewind button, I’d still pick the rewind button. The first part of the book covers her training, the deployments, her love affair with the Chinook and the unique role she had, often being the only female in the room. This involved recovering wounded soldiers from the battlefield, often under fire, and witnessing them both die and indeed come back to life right before her very eyes in the cabin of her Chinook. A wonderfully written story which really brings to life how challenging being in the Chinook force can be.Having said that, teamwork is vitally important on and around the aircraft and McConaghy was never afraid to ask for help when needed, such as if struggling to lift something heavy.