John Nichol flew for the RAF for fifteen years. On active duty in the Gulf War he was shot down with his pilot John Peters. Captured and tortured, he was paraded on television provoking world-wide condemnation of the Iraqis and leaving one of the enduring images of the conflict. He is the bestselling co-author of TORNADO DOWN and TEAM TORNADO, both co-written with John Peters, and four novels POINT OF IMPACT, VANISHING POIN, EXCLUSION ZONE and STINGER. He has written for various national newspapers and is a widely quoted commentator on military affairs. He has also been a consultant and presenter for Newsnight, World in Action and Cutting Edge.