21 January 2023 , 20:30
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A previous version of this article reported that Sergeant Major Michael Booley stated that the version of events published in Prince Harry's 'Spare' was a 'complete fantasy'. In fact, Booley has never made any reference to this version of events as being 'fantasy', but believed the reference to flying sorties was 'dramatised' and disputed the accuracy of some other accounts in the book. We are happy to clarify this and apologise for the error.
Prince Harry’s account of a “suicide” training flight has been written for dramatic effect – says the man who was sitting alongside him.
The royal claims in his autobiography that an Army instructor deliberately stalled their Slingsby T67 Firefly propeller plane without warning.
But ex-Sergeant Major Michael Booley insists every detail of training flights is discussed beforehand.
And he tells the Sunday Mirror: “I am staggered by this. In shock even.”
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His clear version of the incident suggests Harry has come up with yet another porker – after a string of claims in his book were proven to be inaccurate.
The prince wrote in his controversial bestseller: “On one of our first flights together, with no warning, Booley threw the aircraft into a stall.
Harry with his flying instructor Sergeant Major Booley (Sergeant Major Booley)“I felt the left wing dip, a sickening feeling of disorder, of entropy, and then, after several seconds that felt like decades, he recovered the aircraft and levelled the wings.
“I stared at him. What in the absolute—? Was this an aborted suicide attempt?’ No, he said gently. This was the next stage in my training.”
But Michael – who ranks father-of-two Harry in his top five students – dismisses the prince’s tale, saying: “Whilst the book compliments me, the recollection of the sorties and lessons is inaccurate, I’m afraid. It’s important to highlight that nothing in the cockpit comes as a surprise.
“Every sortie is thoroughly briefed beforehand, every single aspect.
Harry in the chopper (AFP/Getty Images)“The sortie is flown exactly as per that brief. The only time there are surprises is later in the syllabus, not as stated in the book, when emergencies are introduced.
“Engine failures are practised before the first solo obviously, in case the student suffers one.” Michael, 57, served in the military for 33 years and taught the Duke of Sussex to pilot the Firefly in 2009.
Harry – who flew Apache attack helicopters in Afghanistan – was presented with his wings a year later by his father King Charles, Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps.
While Michael maintains the utmost respect and admiration for Harry, he questions parts of Spare, which was ghostwritten by leading author John Joseph Moehringer.
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Harry's memoir Spare was published this month (Press Association Images)
Harry with his wife Meghan (Getty Images for 2022 Robert F.)Michael says he never called the royal Lt Wales, as the book claims. He adds: “I think the reference to the flying sorties has been dramatised. I think it’s a result of the ghost writing. I never called him Lt Wales, he was an officer, and I called him Sir.”
Michael still holds Harry, 38, in extremely high regard and recalls the time they shared a roast lamb for a Sunday lunch.
They were also photographed together in 2009 shortly after Harry graduated from the Defence Elementary Flying Training School.
Michael adds: “He was an exceptional student, very talented indeed. He is a friend and a man I respect immensely who would always have my ear.”
Michael is not the only former comrade to question Harry’s version of events.
A former Apache instructor told us: “All training sorties are briefed to the nth degree so the student is fully aware of what the plan is. In the air is not the time to try and brief somebody on what the plan is.
“The briefing will take place on the ground in front of a blackboard. I can only assume the book was written like this for dramatic effect because it’s wrong and no instructor would behave like this.”
In Spare, Harry reveals he killed 25 Taliban during two tours of duty in Afghanistan.
He was slammed by military experts for exposing fellow veterans and even his family to risk of potential reprisals by terrorists.
We asked Harry’s team for comment.