Black Hawk Down is another one of those films I look back on as a genuine highlight of my career. Directed by Ridley Scott and based on the events of the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu, it was a relentless, high-intensity production — and the finished film remains something I’m incredibly proud to have been part of.

I worked as a Special Effects Lead Technician, helping to deliver everything from aerial gunfire hits, squibs and debris charges to vehicle burns, explosions and the full-scale helicopter crash work. The coordination between Special Effects, stunts, camera and the military advisers was extraordinary. With so much happening simultaneously, the precision required sometimes felt almost military in itself.

What gave the production another level of reality was having men who had actually been involved in the mission working alongside us. There were days when, after take after take of sustained gunfire, squibs and explosions, you could see just how powerful those memories still were. On a couple of occasions I remember seeing guys visibly shaking as the action unfolded around them. It brought home very clearly that, while we were recreating these events for a film, they had actually lived through them.

On a rather different note, I also got the chance to fly in both a Black Hawk and a Little Bird helicopter. What a thrill that was — definitely one of those experiences that comes with this job that you never forget.

We spent a great deal of time filming in Morocco, and as with so many of the big location films from that period, the memories extend well beyond the set. The locations, the crew, the work — and, it has to be said, some fairly memorable nights out after wrap — all became part of the experience.

I loved being part of Black Hawk Down. The scale of the practical effects, the intensity of the filming, the time in Morocco and ultimately seeing what Ridley created from it all made this another very special production for me — and another film that sits right up there among the highlights of my career.

We also got the lung tester out, please see below!!