Gulf War: BBC Breakfast News 17 January 1991

BBC news coverage on the morning after the start of Operation Desert Storm - 17 January 1991.
The presenters are Nicholas Witchell and Laurie Mayer.
Reports from Ben Brown, Michael MacMillan and Gavin Esler

[@rosshilton]

Today, exactly 30 years ago, I was in Perth Australia, on my way back from the mining town of Kalgoorlie. It was a Friday morning. I arrived at Perth airport from Kalgoorlie and there were TV sets in the terminal, with a crowd of people standing looking at them. Thr Gulf War had just kicked off. Operation Desert Storm. The TV showed hundreds of bombing raids. The TV kept repeating crosses to Bagdad. I watched history take place live in front of me. It was the first time. The flight from Perth to Sydney was long, and in those days you had no communication. On arrival everyone rushed to the TV screens in the Ansett arrivals area to catch up. It seems like last week.

[@whatamalike]

Wonder if there's an interview with Solid Snake?

[@ennbee3490]

Born on this very day..

[@dylannnnnnnnn]

Wow. I was born the day it started. 2nd August 1990

[@benreadspoetry7958]

At 11:36 - isn’t it weird how there was less of a sound delay compared to today?

[@stevenobrien3763]

Loved watching the news on a morning before going to school back then👍👌

[@ponyboycurtis5734]

`Saddam` "The mother of all battles has now begun. " Might of had a point on reflection ?

[@vomitur]

*have

[@carlainyonga7009]

Ben Brown, still presenting on the BBC these days.

[@user-ld2mn3sr8h]

I was a 20 year old tanktransporter it was over before it began!

[@kino-cathedral]

How do you air to air refuel ???

[@cmparsons6360]

Section 29J Sweedie I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to answer your question; I got the chance to go up into the no fly zone in 1990 I refueled three fighter jets A14s and one A 10 war hog it was very intense and interesting I did this with the Italian Air Force where I was stationed Near Vincenzo Italy

[@puellamservumaddominum6180]

One plane refuels another with a fuel line

[@AviationHighlights]

There are two ways air to air refuelling can be conducted: The tanker aircraft can have what is known as a ‘boom’ which is essentially a long probe protruding from the underside of the fuselage. The aircraft being refuelled has an opening, somewhere on the topside of the airframe. It then flies up behind and slightly underneath the tanker, until the boom is inserted into the opening. There is close communication between the ‘boom operator’ and the pilot to make sure they align safely. The other way is basically the same, but instead of the tanker using a boom, it extends wires with baskets on the end of them. The airflow keeps them up as the aircraft flies. In this case, the aircraft being refuelled has a probe which the pilot has to aim into the basket. For both of these ways, when contact is made, the tanker starts transferring the fuel over. Hope this helps :)

[@johnpunchard8161]

The aircraft is called a KC-130 tanker plane. They can refuel 5-6 aircraft.

[@danchaplin134]

Great times

[@oldmanc2]

Dish dashas or khaki? Take your pick

[@jameskeeth4037]

Saddam was flattened

[@larbislimane36]

17 Jan 1991... The Sounding of the 5th trumpet....and the 1st Woe...2 Woes are coming.

[@youtuber2021]

The War in Iraq of 2003 happened after 9/11. So what was the reason for this Iraq War because I'm too young to understand. What was happening back then.

[@richardvernon317]

Iraq invaded Kuwait in august 1990 and refused to withdraw.

[@chrisrichardson5023]

Politics and oil. In essence Saddam's forces attached Kuwait. America is an ally of Kuwait. The war was over for Saddam before it began.

[@columnedfox5508]

The Americans and British rely too much on technology, they never fight man to man - Saddam Hussain

[@Zawa-world-vlogs]

LOVE U SADAM HUSSAIN

[@softdrink-0]

Dead

[@user-se7fs1kp4y]

Henderson A loss

[@mdshoaibmdshoaib451]

Saddam Hussein is unik Tiger

[@shayboubbinshaddad7181]

💭✊🏽 Bush Bush Bush Bush Make the right decision 💯 اتخاذ القرار الصحيح فصدام يشكل خطر علي السلم العالمي بعصابته لانه ان وصل لسلاح نووي لاستخدم السلاح دون تراجع فحزب البعث دموي ولا يتخذ عهد معه فشكرا لبوش الاب القرار السليم لحماية دول الخليج من تمدد حزب صدام Thanks America and Britain And all friends 🌸

[@georgerobert4709]

I recall being woken very early morning on my AFV and told to get into NBC KIT. Then we looked up to see hundreds of aircraft criss crossing the night sky before they doused all lights as they crossed the border into Iraq . Sometime later we could hear and feel the detonation of the bombs and Cruise missiles. I think we all had a wee moment digesting the fact that we were now at war for real.