Captain Adam Cunningham 2 Para, MI6 Case Officer, 42yrs. Cunningham was born in Norfolk into family with a long history - three generations - of distinguished military service. Both his older brother and father served valiantly during the Normandy campaign in the latter stages ofWW2.

After joining the Royal Military College at Sandhurst at which he was a keen and successful student. He joined the 2nd Parachute Regiment and served admirably for 6 years seeing action in the Falklands Conflict and Northern reland among others. He was forced into retirement by a recurring leg injury gained whilst training that put him below physical par.

An intelligent and popular officer his charges called him "The Rod" as he had a reputation of straight talking and a no-nonsense approach to warfare. His bridging skill between officers and enlisted men won him respect from both factions and his superiors often noted his usefulness in the field.

Consequently he was approached by MI6 after his reluctant discharge from duty. He became a case officer attached to RAF intelligence a few months prior to the onset of DESERT STORM.

Soon after mobilisation to the theatre he learnt that part of his role was monitoring allied air movements over Iraq. It was through this study that he became aware of flight paths over the desert avoiding an established Iraqi military site at Samara by approximately 50km. The site was moderately served by three desert MSRs and contained several low, hanger-like buildings that seemed a reasonable target for further investigation.

Upon enquiry into reconnoitring Samara he met with some resistance from command and an awkward wall of silence. Intrigued, he began to ask around his friends within other departments and regiments, discreetly and without causing undue attention to his activities. It was a few days later that he was able to get a jet from RAF Firalti in UN-occupied Syria to fly over the site.

The fly-by revealed that several Iraqi armoured vehicles were at the site and five S60 57mm anti-aircraft guns were being deployed in its defence. This was reason enough to launch some further action and a request was put to Tactical Command.

When the request was denied Cunningham was dumbstruck. The Samara installation was now proven to be some sort of base of operations for the enemy. The pictures taken by the fly-by showed Iraqi soldiers patrolling the area and conclusive cause for concern.

While he waited at RAF Firalti, thinking through the situation at hand, he observed an administrative Warrant Officer at work. This young man was efficient and almost independently in charge of the activities of RAF Firalti being due to be relieved in a few days. He learned his name was Alex Voight, a NCO in RAF admin and situational commander of the Firalti airfield.

He had recently renewed his acquaintance with Sgt Robert Brookes of 22 SAS Air Troop who Cunningham had met whilst parachute training alongside him. Brookes and his men were awaiting orders for launching tactical reconnaissance of suspected SCUD sites in northern Iraq. Over a stiff brandy in a corner one of RAF Firalti's hangers Operation: TORCHLIGHT was born.

Brookes was a strong, impulsive soldier with a hot head and broad shoulders. As the situation was outlined to him, Cunningham's interest in the site became clear. Brookes felt sure that no action was to be given his boys for at least a week and so a 'quick jaunt over the border' was arranged.

As the mission would be approximately 24hrs in the field maximum the risk was worth it. Within days TORCHLIGHT was launched. A detachment of the US 303rd Airborne Platoon was seconded to Firalti and Brookes convinced their CO Captain James Warren to send 25 of his men into Samara.

When only one Chinook returned Cunningham was astonished. The flight crew were debriefed on the tarmac and reassigned overnight. The survivors were rushed to the infirmary where those that could gave testimony to what they had seen to Cunningham, Brookes and Warren.

Captain Warren's men had been decimated, only two Marines made it back to tell of what they had seen. One of these was in an advanced state of shock due to blood loss and exhaustion and had to be sedated to silence him. The other PFC Nathan Cartwright gave a detailed report.

The SAS survivors were three. One was raving in a deranged state and had to be subdued and bound by the other two in the helicopter during the exfil. Upon arrival at Firalti the soldier was found to be in a catatonic state and a UN medical team were given strict instructions to keep him separated from the other casualties and to relay any information he divulged to Cunningham whilst arranging his return to a military hospital in England.

Later, in private, the SAS soldiers David Bradley and Frank Ludlow gave their report to Sgt Brookes. Cunningham had the door slammed in his face metaphorically and was irked at loosing the opportunity to get the full picture of events. But the Cartwright's testimony was enough to convince Cunningham that Samara was just the tip of the iceberg.

There was still more to know.


Credits: Chris Glew