Tom Blakey | ParaData

Tom Blakey completed P Company with 551 Platoon in March 1990.

1990
The 1st Battalion The Parachute Regiment (1 PARA)
1995
Pathfinder Platoon
2000
Red Devils The Parachute Regiment Freefall Display Team (Not known)
2003
Pathfinder Platoon
2007
Joint Air Delivery Test and Evaluation Unit JADTEU (Sergeant)
2010
Pathfinder Platoon Pathfinder Platoon (Sergeant)

Operations

Afghanistan (Operation Herrick IV)

‘Hot spot’ battle areas were around the towns of Now Zad, Musa Qala, Sangin and Gereshk. Fighting might last six to eight hours with paratroopers operating with 70lbs of ‘fighting order’ in temperatures of up to 50 degrees centigrade.

Event

Afghanistan (Operation Herrick XIII)

To mark the change, which signified the start of Operation HERRICK 13, a 'friendship feast' was held at the headquarters of the Helmand Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Lashkar Gah, which was attended by Afghan and British dignitaries.

Event

Iraq (Operation Telic)

This was the first time the brigade had deployed complete on an operation since its inception in September 1999.

Event

Kosovo (Operation Agricola)

On 6th June the 1 PARA group reinforced by 125 men from 3 PARA was deployed in Macedonia under 5 Airborne Brigade to spearhead a forced entry by the NATO KFOR Peacekeeping Force. The aim was to clear any pockets of hard-line resistance that might impede the negotiated Serb Army withdrawal.

Event

Macedonia (Operation Bessemer)

HQ 16 Air Asslt Bde became HQ Task Force Harvest with a multinational force of 15 nations under command. Their mission was to deploy to collect and dispose of NLA weapons and ammunition in order to restore stability in the FYROM.

Event

Northern Ireland (Operation Banner)

A brief honeymoon as peace keepers between two warring communities locked in civil unrest descended into a virtual civil war between Republican IRA and Protestant para-military groups during the Northern Ireland ‘Troubles’ that were to last 37 years.

Group photos_3

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551 Platoon

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Sgt Tom Blakey and veterans of 21st Independent Parachute Company at Oosterbeek War Cemetery, 23 September 2012.

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Pathfinder Platoon, Musah Qaleh, Afghanistan, Op Herrick IV, 2006.

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Photos_14

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WMIK on Herrick IV, Afghanistan, 2006.

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Sgt Blakey on patrol during Herrick XIII, Afghanistan, c2011.

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Members of Pathfinder Platoon ready to jump during Exercise Joint Warrior, 2012.

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Pathfinders walking out to a C130 Hercules prior to jumping on Joint Warrior, Scotland, 2012.

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Two Pathfinders in a compound in Afghanistan, 2010.

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The Pathfinder display at Airborne Assault, November 2012.

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Sgt Tom Blakey and Sgt Don Turner of 21st Independent Parachute Company, Oosterbeek War Cemetery c2010.

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Paratroopers over the DZ at Ginkel Heath, near Arnhem, 22 September 2012.

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Pathfinders on a descent, 2005.

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A Pathfinder undertaking a HALO jump, California, 2009.

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Tom Blakey exiting a C130, California, 2009.

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Tom Blakey and Bryan Budd shortly after insertion into Kosovo

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Pathfinder performing a 'frog' exit from the side door of a C130

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Pathfinder jumping from a Hercules on a HALO jump, c2008.

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Solo photos_8

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Sgt Tom Blakey, Belize, 2011.

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Sgt Tom Blakey at Musa Qala, Herrick IV, Afghanistan, 2006.

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Sgt Blakey on patrol during Op Herrick XIII, Afghanistan, c2011.

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Sgt Blakey shooting the Combat Shotgun on Bastion range, Herrick XIII, Afghanistan, 2010.

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Sgt Tom Blakey prior to a HALO jump, date unknown.

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Sgt Tom Blakey with a L85 SA80A2 Underslung Grenade Launcher, Herrick IV, Afghanistan, 2006.

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Sgt Tom Blakey during Herrick XIII, Afghanistan, 2010.

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Sgt Tom Blakey on patrol during Op Herrick IV, Afghanistan, 2006.

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