About

A two-part look at the history, training, and role of Britain’s elite airborne forces. Part one looks at selection and training with the famous P Company, in which recruits endure rigorous physical and mental tests to find out if they’ve got what it takes to be a paratrooper. The programme speaks to World War Two veterans of the British airborne forces, as well as today’s Paras, including Afghan veterans like Colonel Stuart Tootal, who led 3 PARA in Helmand in 2006. The second part looks at the support elements that play such a crucial part in airborne operations, including Britain’s parachute-trained engineers, gunners, medics and logistics support.