130 Extortion 17 ideas | extortion, seal team 6, navy seals Extortion 17 119 Pins 9y K Collection by Kim&Pauly Us Soldiers Troops Fallen Soldiers Military Personnel Military Men American Soldiers American Heroes Naval Special Warfare Fallen Heroes Warnings from her crew to turn the Chinook back or cancel their mission went unheeded. But at least you should care about them and appreciate what were asking of them.. [39], During the same Pentagon news conference in which he announced that the F-16 airstrike had incapacitated "less than 10" of the insurgents involved, International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) commander in Afghanistan John R. Allen said that the military investigation would also review whether small-arms fire or other causes might have contributed to the downing. They may have seen Extortion 17 and its landing zone through their own night vision goggles or simply aimed by sound alone. At 2:36 a.m., Extortion 17 requested an infrared spotlight, visible only through night vision goggles, to illuminate the landing zone. In mid-2011, combined with a U.S. Army aviation battalion, they had spent weeks conducting operations nearly every other night in Wardak and surrounding provinces south of Kabul to capture or kill Taliban forces, disrupt attack plots, and deny them sanctuary on this strategic approach to Kabul City. unfolded that night are commonly referred to as Extortion 17, which is the call sign for the helicopter transporting the special op-erations personnel. Extortion 17 was the call sign of a special operations mission in Afghanistan on Aug. 6, 2011, that responded to an Army Ranger unit engaged in a firefight with the Taliban and in need of backup. Should the Apaches, or the AC-130 overhead, have fired upon the groups of suspected Taliban that gathered in the village after the raid began? | READ MORE. We continue our work at the Museum so that theirservice and sacrifice will never be forgotten. Stock photos, 360 images, vectors and videos. In March 2009, the U.S. 10th Mountain Division established a base in Tangi Valley after increased Taliban activity in the area. Six minutes from their estimated landing time, Extortion 16 broke away from the lead Chinook and orbited at a location close enough to help if needed. As they made their approach, there was a line of thunderstorms nearby. Instead, two rigorous U. S. military investigations followed every moment of the mission to determine what went wrong on Extortion 17s final flight. The Chinook smashed into the ground, the force ripping off his goggles. The SEAL commander assembled his force: 17 Navy SEALs, five Navy combat support specialists, three U.S. Air Force Special Tactics Airmen, seven Afghan Special Forces operators, an Afghan interpreter, and a military working dog. "It's a math problem. Operating with no lights save for the faint green glow of night vision goggles and cockpit instrument panels, the two helicopters, call signs Extortion 17 (one-seven) and Extortion 16, lifted into the darkness and accelerated toward a destination less than 20 miles west. As they started their descent, Lee heard a loud popping noise. (Photo Credit: Senior Airman Anthony Nin Leclerec / U.S. Air Force / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain) There were a total of 38 individuals onboard Extortion 17. In June 2005, a rocket-propelled grenade connected with the rear transmission of a 160th MH-47E Chinook as it attempted to come to a hover, downing it; all 16 on board were killed. "[31][32] NBC News reported that the Pentagon released the names of the 30 Americans killed. Also very suspicious that the only member of Seal Team Six that is still alive and in the public sphere happened to be the guy that killed Bin Laden?? Approaching to land or having just taken off, the craft is flying slow and low, so it presents a tempting target. But what really happened that night? This hearing also serves to "Over two years after Extortion 17 was shot down, the families still have these unanswered questions," said Klayman. Qari Tahir, the man our forces were attempting to capture or kill on August 5, 2011, isone of many Taliban leaders who dedicate their lives to a corrupt agenda that seeks to eliminate freedom, equality, and prosperity in exchange for a medieval society built on violent extremism and wanton destruction. About a dozen of the 33 troops in the back of the helicopter suffered broken bones, heavy bruises and scrapes. His account of the brave pilots, crew, and passengers of Extortion 17 . All 38 passengers aboard Extortion 17, including 30 U.S. military personnel, eight Afghans and a U.S. military working dog, were killed after the transport helicopter was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade. Andrew W. Harvell, 26, of Long Beach, California, Tech. Ryan Last. The events that unfolded that night are commonly referred to as Extortion 17, the call sign for the helicopter transporting the special operations personnel. Lee remained in Afghanistan flying combat missions for another eight months before returning home in the spring of 2012. Regarding the downing of Extortion 17, all of the DEVGRU Operators aboard were members of the Gold Squadron. Austin Williams visits the gravesite of U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Christopher C. Campbell in Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day, May 30, 2016. Lee heard the call, and he knew what it meant. Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a62b75e7a99f5de39e28d378788f7ec9" );document.getElementById("c08a1a06c7").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Content on this website is free to use and share, but please provide a link back to Spec Ops Magazine as a source. Missions like this one to insert or remove an assault force are the military equivalent of a perfect 10 in the Olympics equal parts skill, experience and daring. We were told at that time we were the first unit to make it through a rotation without having anyone killed.. Extortion 17 and 16 weren't MH-47s and their crews were not Night Stalkers. So the whole team went in one Chinook helicopter Extortion 17. Ranger assault helicopters had already engaged the enemy and killed six of eight Taliban fighters, causing the other two to retreat. The military has worked diligently to more tightly integrate gunship escorts with transport craft, according to Brady. Joining the 15 members of SEAL Team 6, two pilots and three-man crew inside Extortion 17: ten other Navy and Air Force personnel, eight Afghans and a combat assault dog named Bart. "[5], Subsequent reports stated that on the night during which the helicopter had been delivering reinforcements to personnel of the 75th Ranger Regiment, another special operations unit engaged in a night raid on a compound to kill or capture a senior Taliban leader. [9][10][11] After a 20-minute flight (around 23:00), the two Chinook helicopters landed near the compound ostensibly containing Tahir, offloaded the Ranger platoon and returned to base. But Tahir and a group of his fighters escaped. They heard a helicopter coming, they grabbed their RPGs, and they fired in quick succession, Darack said. Whether enemy fire brought down the Chinook or a tree strike would never be known for sure. Theyre going after in very hostile environments, who know the terrain very well, who know the battlescape very well, Darack said. Burn is on, they radioed. If this was survivable, that was the right crew to have. During a previous deployment to Iraq, Carters unit flew dozens of similar raids, which he often planned and led, and gained a reputation for working well with special operations troops. Two were still alive." Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. But one thing that doesnt fade is never forgetting what they did.. Two investigations of the incident proved inconclusive. The landing zone had been examined for a previous mission but had not yet been used. [25][original research? According to officials, the team included 17 SEALs, five Navy special operations troops who support the SEALs, three Air Force airmen, a five-member Army air crew and a military dog, along with. A source from the Navys special operations community described the reaction as Shock and disbelief. This was preventable only if they just had not taken off that night, Lee said. Those killed ranked among the worlds most highly trained and experienced commandos, including 15 men from Gold Squadron of the Naval Special Warfare Development Group, popularly called SEAL Team 6. The helicopter plunged tail first. So where did it go?? The crash is referred to as Extortion 17 by the callsign of the CH-47 Chinook helicopter involved in the crash. For helicopter crews in Afghanistan, the most dangerous times are landing and taking off. The CH-47 "Chinook" was carrying some of this nation's bravest and most capable military . The helicopter made its last radio transmission stating that it was one minute away from the landing zone, then descended to an altitude of 100150ft (3046m) and slowed to a speed of 50kn (58mph; 93km/h) as it approached the landing zone. As Extortion 17 moved into final approach of the target area at 0238 local time, the Rangers on the ground watched in horror as it took a direct hit from an RPG (rocket-propelled grenade). It was the deadliest helicopter crash in the history of U.S. special operations. He said, "And now, to our honor roll of American Service Personnel killed in the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts. And thats fine; thats what you signed up for, Lee said. God sees you, You do see that A-12(1963! No evidence has emerged to support any of these claims. Soldiers killed in Chinook shot down on Saturday came from 24 U.S. states First full list of names, ages and hometowns revealed - 17 were Navy SEALs Eye witnesses to the crash describe seeing. You also want to come in from a different direction for the element of surprise.. August 2011 Attack on U.S. All hand picked by Red Squadron really makes your neck hair standup! American, French and Afghan National Police forces carried out a three-day sweep of the area, and the area was then deemed secure. [11], By 16:25, all of the remains were taken from the crash site via ground convoy and transported to Combat Outpost Sayyid Abad. Cookie Settings, 5,000-Year-Old Tavern With Food Still Inside Discovered in Iraq, Archaeologists Discover Wooden Spikes Described by Julius Caesar, The Surprisingly Scientific Roots of Monkey Bars, Kids Start Forgetting Early Childhood Around Age 7, Artificial Sweetener Tied to Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke, Study Finds. The mission had begun about four hours prior to the shootdown, when the two helicopters touched down side by side in Juy Zarin, a village in the bare rock-walled Tangi Valley of Wardak Province. . The pilots and crew of Extortion 17, however, had ideal experience and abilities for the mission that night. The first grenade missed Extortion 17. He presents the Final Flight of EXTORTION 17 (spoken one seven and seventeen), like a Defense Attorney or an investigator. The crash killed all 38 people on board including 25 American special operations personnel, five United States Army National Guard and Army Reserve crewmen, seven Afghan commandos, and one Afghan interpreter as well as a U.S. military working dog. The landing zone was small, and the commanders didnt want to split up the strike force. In July 2010, an RPG-wielding fighter put a round into the tail boom of a Marine AH-1W Super Cobra, downing it and killing both pilots. There is still a tremendous level of chance for a tragedy of such huge magnitude.. The crash killed all 38 people on board including 25 American special operations personnel, five United States Army National Guard and Army Reserve crewmen, seven Afghan commandos, and one Afghan interpreter as well as a U.S. military working dog. The theories suggest that Afghan forces leaked information to the Taliban about the mission. Extortion 17 sped alone toward the landing zone. At the pilots request, the AC-130 flashed an infrared spotlight, which could be seen only through night vision goggles, to light up the landing zone. A catastrophic crash seemed unavoidable. The IRF commander then made a critical decision: In order to get everyone on the ground as quickly as possible and deny the Taliban time to react, he ordered the entire force to fly in Extortion 17. This remains the greatest single loss of life to Naval Special Warfare since the Afghan War started in 2001. Campbell was one of 30. We were supporting special operations, but not to the degree of the 160th. Nothing tests the capabilities of a young helicopter pilot like flying in the extreme conditions of Afghanistan. The crash occurred in Tangi Joi Zareen, in the district of Sayd Abad in Wardak Province after it was struck by an. [43][44], American rules of engagement were tightened by Gen. Stanley McChrystal in 2009 in order to improve American counterinsurgency strategy. However, the Afghan government forces did not occupy the base, which was seized by the Taliban shortly after the departure of American forces. [1][5][6][7][8] At 30 American military personnel killed, the shootdown of Extortion 17 represents the greatest single-incident loss of American lives in Operation Enduring Freedom Afghanistan, surpassing the 16 lost in the downing of Turbine 33, a 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) MH-47 helicopter, during Operation Red Wings on 28 June 2005.[2]. The helicopter fell from the sky, killing all 38 on board. As he did, he felt the craft leveling off. According to his book, No Easy Day (detailing his participation in Operation Neptune Spear), Mark Owen (the pen name of former SEAL Operator Matt Bissonnette) stated that nearly all of the Operators on that mission were handpicked from Red Squadron. [45] McChrystal cited a previous "overreliance on firepower and force protection" and the need to reduce civilian casualties and win the cooperation of the local population. The crash is referred to as Extortion 17 by the callsign of the CH-47 Chinook helicopter involved in the crash. He grew up in Tyler, went to Texas A&M;, joined the Corps of Cadets and stared in shock at the news that two planes slammed into the World Trade Center and another into the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001. The reality is, every time a helicopter lifts off the ground in a war zone, it might get shot down, Darack said. The U.S. Navy SEAL task force assigned to conduct operations in Tangi Valley was well conditioned to the dangerous operating environment. [33], The New York Post reported that the Pentagon released 30 names from the crash. Night Stalker pilots and crew rigorously train for nighttime raids, like the one in Juy Zarin. The helicopters are capacious and fast, and they can perform well in Afghanistans performance-degrading high altitudes and heat. Captain Marquez claims that had the AC-130 been allowed to fire on the remaining enemy insurgents, Extortion 17 would not have been shot down. [9][11], Around 02:38, the helicopter was fired upon and shot down by a previously undetected group of Taliban fighters approximately 220m (240yd) south of the helicopter. As is routine on such missions, two Apache attack helicopters provided extra cover and security for Extortion 17, while circling above was an AC-130 aircraft, a gunship that also provides surveillance. The team boarded Extortion 17 with Dave Carter and Bryan Nichols at the controls. No one is planting victory gardens, and were not rationing. During the Ranger insertion earlier that night, the CH-47D had approached from the south; this time, it approached from the northwest. Its like taking a paper towel roll, cutting it in half and strapping it to your eye, Lee said. On the anniversary of the Extortion 17 tragedy, we remember the heroic men who were felled rushing into battle, as they had done hundreds of times . Its crazy how many times I can think of where me or the guys I was with had to do that.. Intelligence had revealed Tahir to be the senior Taliban chief of the Tangi Valley region, with probable ties to upper-echelon Taliban leadership in Pakistan. Copyright 2023 | National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum, The Museum is a 501(c)(3) organization. He was assigned to the 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment(General Support Aviation Battalion), New Century, Kansas, Staff Sgt. At any moment, they could come under rocket attack. [11] At 22:37 (local time) on the night of 5 August, a platoon of 47 U.S. Army Rangers left a forward operating base in Logar Province via two CH-47D transport helicopters, one of which would later be involved in the accident. The shoot-down of 'Extortion 17' constitutes the greatest loss of American life from a single battle in the history of the Afghanistan War. There was a lot of experience in that cockpit, the flight engineers and the door gunners. Extortion 17 is a name etched in our minds as one of the worst losses our military has ever experienced. Cookie Policy To lose even one precious life is too many, and the United States lost 38 soldiers that day. Please take a moment and pause to honor and remember these heroes. Director Franois Garcia Writer Sandeep Panesar Stars Robert O'Neill (archive footage) Patricia Economo Enrique Garcia Neither did the risk he and his pilots faced every night. Then they have to stick the landing. Lees wife, Christy, hoped the news would bring a sudden end to the war. Photo by Sgt. Sometimes the enemy succeeds in delivering one of these To whom it may concern projectiles. U.S. Special Operations Command possesses its own specialized ChinooksMH-47sflown by the ultra-secretive 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, the Night Stalkers. The MH-47s modifications include inflight refueling probes, additional and upgraded sensors, more powerful engines, and more powerful defensive weapons than their conventional counterparts. The Taliban shot at the Chinooks all the time with RPGs and rifles, Darack said. Thirty members of the American special forces have been killed in Afghanistan in the deadliest day of the 10-year war for US military personnel when the Taliban shot down . Upon learning of Tahirs possible location, a U.S. Army Rangers and Afghan Special Forces team was deployed into the valley from the south. The next night, the pair had orders to drop off more troops in the same spot. Privacy Statement For the last two years, hes been an attorney with the law firm Jackson Walker. Were handing rifles to 20-year-olds and asking them to shoot people. They were part of his command. ], Four years after the downing of Extortion 17, there were many theories about a possible government coverup. The United States military continually works to improve protection for transport helicopters and their occupants, according to Glover and Brady. Connor Mendez, courtesy of U.S. Army. Two fired at roughly the same time. Austin Williams visits the gravesite of U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Christopher C. Campbell in Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day, May 30, 2016. 2023 Smithsonian Magazine Its almost always a miss.. Petty Officer 1st Class Aaron Vaughn was one of the SEAL Team 6 operators who died in the crash. According to Glover, improved systems in place enable U.S. forces to monitor a target for days or even weeks prior to an operation, so they theoretically will know of even well-hidden potential RPG shooters throughout a village before transport helicopters first touch down. There are more operations than can be supported by the 160th at any given time, says Major Matthew Brady, a former 160th pilot and company commander. And now, the government wants to make the Taliban legitamet. He finished his contract with the Army shortly afterward, and that September enrolled in Southern Methodist Universitys Dedman School of Law. The crew of Slasher 02, the AC-130 circling above, flipped the switch on their powerful light. There's also that little issue that came up when 6 Navy SEALs' funerals were conducted by a Muslim Cleric that condemned them to Hell during the service. On this day 11 years ago, 30 American military servicemen and a U.S. military dog were killed when a CH-47 Chinook helicopter-call sign Extortion 17-was shot down in Afghanistan. [26], The U.S. military helicopter carrying special operations forces to a night-raid in the Tangi Valley of Wardak Province, was most likely brought down by a rocket-propelled grenade, according to military officials. This is the Group Burial for unidentified remains of casualties of the Chinook helicopter (CH-47D 89-00175) which crashed in Afghanistan on August 6, 2011. [9][11], Almost an hour later (01:50), the aviation brigade commander approved a new landing zone for infiltration of the SEAL team. [7][27][28] During the battle, American forces observed a small group of Taliban trying to flee the scene. Over time, certain memories will fade, certain details will fade. [40], In October 2011, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that an investigation following the shootdown concluded "that all operational decisions, linked to the incident, were deemed tactically sound." Many of these SEALs were made famous, credited with the killing of Osama bin Laden. In the afternoon of 6 August, a flash flood swept through the area, washing away parts of the wreckage. And while all military helicopters carry countermeasures for guided missiles, nothing can interdict the dumb luck of an unguided RPG round sailing through the air. Carter and Nichols continued the descent. The helicopter carrying the SEALs proceeded to the landing zone alone, without external lighting. The aircraft jerked. LZ is ice, transmitted one of the Rangers on the ground, indicating the landing zone was free of enemy activity. It was a good crew, it really was. American forces continued to carry out operations in the area (mostly via helicopter and using special forces), encountering resistance from Taliban fighters on several occasions. In The Final Mission of Extortion 17, Ed Darack debunks this theory and others and uncovers the truth behind this mysterious tragedy. Darack did extensive research of what happened next. Senior Chief Robert James Reeves was one of those Americans. Commanders frequently request CH-47 Chinooks to insert troops. Through the goggles, the landing zone shone brilliantly. Some news stories reported that investigators couldnt find the helicopters black box, referring to the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder. These are the words of Billy Vaughn. Thirty-eight boarded Extortion 17 Boeing CH-47 Chinook helicopter pilots from the 159th General Support Aviation Battalion. Published Aug 6, 2018 5:05 PM EDT. The incident became known as "Extortion 17" after the helicopter . Photo by Jake Simkin for Coffee or Die Magazine. Directors Karl Horstmann Stephen Spivey Writer Stephen Spivey Stars Sean Hannity Raj Kala Photo: We pay Tribute Chief Petty Officer Nicholas H. Null Operation Extortion 17 August 6, 2011 You may leave a condolence for his family on our YouTube channel https://youtu.be/L2lB37qizaI Comebacks Photo Photo: We pay Tribute to Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Stephen M. Mills Operation Extortion 17 August 6, 2011 Battalion Regiment Warrant Officer [11] Going forward, the two AH-64 Apache helicopters would be engaged in tracking those two groups of Taliban, and hence unable to provide surveillance or fire support to the inbound helicopter carrying the SEAL team. For example, on 8 June 2011 another Chinook helicopter was engaged from five to six locations (i.e., points of origin) with 14 rocket-propelled grenades, forcing the crew to abort their mission. Cart. But even a precisely aimed shot fired from an unguided weapon by a seasoned fighter is subject to the ballistics-altering whims of atmospheric variation, subtle and undetected flaws in launcher or projectile, and uncontrollable environmental factors such as wind gusts, large temperature variations, or even particulates in the air. All content is protected by copyright and may not be used for commercial purposes without prior written permission. On August 6th, 2011, the helicopter was fired upon and shot down by a previously undetected group of Taliban fighters. Strange, 25, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL/Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist) Jon T. Tumilson, 35, of Rockford, Iowa, Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL)Aaron C. Vaughn, 30, of Stuart, Florida, Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL)Jason R. Workman, 32, of Blanding, Utah, Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL)Jesse D. Pittman, 27, of Ukiah, California, Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 2nd Class (SEAL)Nicholas P. Spehar, 24, of Saint Paul, Minnesota, Chief Warrant Officer David R. Carter, 47, of Centennial, Colo. Justin Buddy Lee will never forget that night six years ago. The shootdown was the single, deadliest loss of U.S. forces in the war. Prior to the mission, the deadliest incident was June 2005's Operation . The two may have been those who escaped Apache cannon fire, or they may have split away from either of the groups that formed after the start of the raid. The downing of the Seal Team Six chinook with all of those team members who participated in the Bin Laden raid and the subsequent request by President Obama to destroy the images that were released only adds to the suspicion around the events. Two of the SEALs were from a West Coast SEAL unit, but the others were from the Gold Squadron of Naval Special Warfare Development Group, or DEVGRU, sometimes known as SEAL Team 6, said the NSW source.. Bissonnette also said that there was one DEVGRU Operator on the mission who was not a member of Red Squadron and that he was chosen for the mission because of his linguistic abilities. The group probably contained the commander and a few of his bodyguards, while the remaining Taliban fighters offered resistance in an effort to buy the group enough time to escape. When asked what lessons Americans can draw from the crash of Extortion 17, Lees answer is simple: Americans should care about what happens in Afghanistan because theyve sent Americans to war there. Air Force C-17 Crashes Just After Takeoff in Alaska | Dangerous Aerobatics (With Real Video) TheFlightChannel 2.1M views 1 year ago Feature History - Chinese Civil War Feature History 1.9M views. Yesterday, the Pentagon released the names of the 30 troops-- Navy SEALs, soldiers, and airmen, killed in the helicopter downed by Taliban fighters in eastern Afghanistan last weekend. Monitored and controlled by a Joint Terminal Attack Controller at Forward Operating Base Shank via a General Atomics MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle, all six were positively confirmed killed by the bomb strike and subsequent attacks by a Lockheed AC-130 gunship and two Boeing AH-64 Apache helicopter gunships. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Geneva G. Brier/Released) On his first deployment, he felt fortunate to be surrounded by veteran pilots he could learn from. A body went into the ocean, but Ill bet it wasnt Bin Ladens. On board the Chinook CH-47D were 15 members of SEAL Team Six, 15 SEAL Team Six Support personnel, 1 Bomb Dog, 7 . In The Final Flight of Extortion 17, Ed Darack debunks this theory and others and uncovers the truth behind this mysterious tragedy. Lee earned his wings at Fort Rucker, Ala., then deployed to Pakistan, where he did humanitarian missions, learning to fly into and out of mountainous terrain. Early media reports suggested that the Army had been tardy to recover flight recorders from the downed Chinook, and, as a consequence, the recorders had been swept away by the flood. The 30 American Servicemen killed in action (KIA) with the downing of Extortion 17. The mission was flown by conventional pilots flying unmodified CH-47Ds. To remove the risk of rocket-propelled grenades downing helicopters in Afghanistan 100 percent, youd have to remove the opposable thumbs of every fighting-age male in the objective area, and thats not how we win a counter-insurgency., Ed Darack To find answers to many of the outstanding questions regarding Extortion 17, a congressional oversight committee held a hearing on February 27, 2014. It would never return. The basis of the provocative hit military documentary Fallen Angel Call Sign: Extortion 17. After some time, another group of about 10 Taliban fighters was spotted that we suspected could be Qari Tahir himself fleeing the scene.
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