[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. Extortion 17 sped alone toward the landing zone. The extreme G-forces killed everyone on board within a fraction of a second, Darack said. Find the perfect extortion 17 stock photo, image, vector, illustration or 360 image. Save up to 30% when you upgrade to an image pack. When the auto-complete results are available, use the up and down arrows to review and Enter to select. The group fired two or three RPG rounds from a two-story building, the second striking one of the helicopter's three aft rotor blades. We had guys who had flown in Desert Storm, guys who had just come off active duty, Lee said. 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. Extortion 17 and 16 werent MH-47s and their crews were not Night Stalkers. Over time, certain memories will fade, certain details will fade. Copyright 2023 | National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum, The Museum is a 501(c)(3) organization. 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. (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. His father Billy Vaughn recounted Thursday a phone call from his son following the White House . 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. Terms of Use Lightboxes. The Taliban shot at the Chinooks all the time with RPGs and rifles, Darack said. Lee and his friend Bryan Nichols flew their Chinook into battle several times the first night, dropping off troops at a landing zone (LZ) almost 10,000 feet above sea level. His account of the brave pilots, crew, and passengers of Extortion 17 . Stock photos, 360 images, vectors and videos With 38 people killed on board, it was the largest single-day loss of life in naval special warfare history and the largest single-day loss of life during the war in Afghanistan. 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. His account of the brave pilots, crew, and passengers of Extortion 17 and . That June, the U.S. military launched Operation Hammer Down to drive out insurgents entrenched in remote strongholds of eastern Afghanistan. The crew of Slasher 02, the AC-130 circling above, flipped the switch on their powerful light. What are the odds? One of the best crews in my company. Alexander J. Bennett, 24, of Tacoma, Wash. 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). We continue our work at the Museum so that theirservice and sacrifice will never be forgotten. Afghanistan has long been a counter-insurgency campaign: The United States strategy has been to win Afghan trust through cooperation and aid. Petty Officer 1st Class Aaron Vaughn was one of the SEAL Team 6 operators who died in the crash. It was the deadliest helicopter crash in the history of U.S. special operations. Aired: 08/01/21 Rating: NR He was assigned to the 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion), New Century, Kansas, Tech. [36][37], After the shootdown of Extortion 17, the insurgent responsible used a two-way radio to brag to others about the act. 3 U.S. Army Reserve personnel from the 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment. The guy was incredibly skilled.. David Tarrant, The Dallas Morning News It would never return. You never want to use the same landing zone twice, Darack said. Some sources state that at the shootdown, the two AH-64 Apache helicopters were engaged in tracking another Taliban group and were thus unable to provide surveillance (of the landing zone and infiltration route) and fire support the inbound CH-47D helicopter carrying the Navy SEAL team. 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. In 2006, he was called into Afghanistan, where he turned 25. Extortion 17 was attached to a mission to capture or kill a senior Taliban leader, Qari Tahir, near Kabul, Afghanistan. To address some unanswered questions, the committee received briefings, classified and unclassified, on the operational component leading up to the loss of the 30 servicemen and eight Afghan nationals and the postmortem handling of the 30 American servicemen on Extortion 17. Conspiracy theories started almost immediately. Having studied and directly observed the counter-insurgency campaign in Afghanistan, Ive watched commanders and individual American troops consistently lean far to the side of restraint to encourage Afghans to side with American interests long after U.S. forces have left. Campbell was one of 30. See more ideas about extortion, navy seals, seal team 6. When the Boeing CH-47D Chinook helicopter was hit, all 38 onboard were instantly killed. Forces Killed in Helicopter Crash", "30 Americans Killed in Afghanistan Helicopter Crash", "Pentagon names 30 Americans killed in downed Afghan chopper", "Pentagon releases names of 30 Americans killed in Afghanistan helicopter crash", "22 Navy SEALs among 30 U.S. troops killed in Afghanistan as NATO helicopter is shot down", "30 Americans, including 22 Navy SEALs, killed in Afghan copter crash", "Names of Afghan Helicopter Attack Victims Released", "The OBJECTIVE GINOSA strike Payback for the shootdown of Extortion 17", "Military killed Taliban who downed US helicopter", "Afghan soldiers enter a Taliban nest without U.S. troops by their side", "Congress to probe lethal crash that killed SEAL Team 6 members", "A retired Air Force captain says Pentagon covered up real cause of deadly chopper crash", "A Retired Air Force Captain Says Pentagon Covered Up Real Cause of Deadly Chopper Crash", "Rules of Engagement Are a Dilemma for U.S. Sometimes the enemy succeeds in delivering one of these To whom it may concern projectiles. So many unsettling details are coalescing with the resurgence of Extortion 17. The men who serve in the American military are the finest! In April 2011, American forces turned over control of Combat Outpost Tangi to Afghan government forces. 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. 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 Nothing tests the capabilities of a young helicopter pilot like flying in the extreme conditions of Afghanistan. The helicopter carrying the SEALs proceeded to the landing zone alone, without external lighting. Pinterest. In March 2009, the U.S. 10th Mountain Division established a base in Tangi Valley after increased Taliban activity in the area. Extortion 17 and 16 weren't MH-47s and their crews were not Night Stalkers. In less than five seconds, the helicopter crashed, killing all occupants, and approximately 30 seconds later, one of the AH-64 Apache helicopters radioed in the crash. 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. Lees second deployment started in May of 2011. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) The downing of a Chinook helicopter gunship (known by its call sign Extortion 17) in Afghanistan on August 6, 2011, has for years been shrouded in mystery, with the . The co-pilot, Bryan Nichols, was one of Lees closest friends in the Chinook company. The mission was flown by conventional pilots flying unmodified CH-47Ds. The helicopter fell from the sky, killing all 38 on board. The downing of Extortion 17 spurred a number of conspiracy theories, such as the idea that the shootdown was revenge for bin Laden's death. The 30 American deaths represent the greatest loss of U.S. military lives in a single incident in the decade-long war in Afghanistan that began in 2001. Faced with the possibility of confronting nine or 10 Taliban fighters, planners increased the reinforcement team from 17 to 32 men, formed around the 15-man SEAL group. It is also the most disastrous incident in the. The RPG that struck Extortion 17 threw the helicopter into an uncontrollable spin. He would not have hesitated to fly with any of them. There are no survivors. The torque of the spinning rotor assembly, now catastrophically imbalanced, ripped the rear pylon off the Chinooks fuselage. No one is planting victory gardens, and were not rationing. [7][27][28] During the battle, American forces observed a small group of Taliban trying to flee the scene. To reach the crash site, one must wind slowly through the ancient, narrow streets of the villages of Logar to reach the Tangi Valley in Wardak. Tangi valley remained under Taliban control until April 2013, when more than 1,000 Afghan security forces personnel launched an offensive in an effort to clear the area of Taliban fighters. 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. Some 30 seconds later, one of the AH-64 Apache helicopters in the area reported: Fallen Angel.. On August 6, 2011, the final flight of Extortion 17 resulted in the single deadliest incident for the US military during the War in Afghanistan. Humm, to have all the Seal Team 6 members in one place at one time?? All rights reserved. THIS COMBAT MARINE SALUTES YOU ALL WE ALL GET A NEW STATION WHEN GOD OKS OUR TRANSFER I AM QUITE CERTAIN THAT GOD LOVES WARRIORS A BIT MORE THAN WE MIGHT REALIZE, I always suspected ObamaTard had something to do with this tragedy. extortion 17 crash photos. 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. Seconds later, with the Chinook just over 100 feet off the ground and traveling at 58 mph, two or three previously unseen fighters emerged from the tower of a two-story building roughly 220 yards south of the helicopter, shouldering RPG launchers. As for himself, he speaks out about Extortion 17 because he wants to remember the men on that mission. And why was the fire control officer of the AC-130 Gunship flying above denied permission . Around 02:23, the two helicopters departed the forward base. All hand picked by Red Squadron really makes your neck hair standup! The following was extracted from The Navy Times: If one is to believe the account of Matt Bissonnette, the only possibility of a participant of the bin Laden raid perishing on Extortion 17 is if the one SEAL specifically noted not to be a member of Red Squadron was a member of Gold Squadron and a passenger aboard the ill-fated Chinook. The quick reaction force included SEAL Team 6 and other special operations personnel. [11], The 30 American deaths represent the greatest loss of U.S. military lives in a single incident in the war in Afghanistan that began in 2001. American intelligence officials identified this individual as "OBJECTIVE GINOSA." Its almost always a miss.. In the afternoon of 6 August, a flash flood swept through the area, washing away parts of the wreckage. Caring is more than just slapping a bumper sticker on your car, he said. Sat 6 Aug 2011 19.08 EDT. Nichols had deployed three times to combat zones, and Carter, with more than 4,000 hours of flight time, was one of the most experienced helicopter pilots in the U.S. military. NFTs Simplified > Uncategorized > extortion 17 crash photos. [43][44], American rules of engagement were tightened by Gen. Stanley McChrystal in 2009 in order to improve American counterinsurgency strategy. [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. Buy images; Sell images; On 6 August 2011, a U.S. CH-47D Chinook military helicopter operating with the call sign Extortion 17 (pronounced "one-seven") was shot down while transporting a Quick Reaction Force attempting to reinforce a Joint Special Operations Command unit of the 75th Ranger Regiment in the Tangi Valley in Maidan Wardak province, southwest of Kabul, Here, in silence, are the names and photographs of all 30 men. 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. 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. Whether enemy fire brought down the Chinook or a tree strike would never be known for sure. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Geneva G. Brier/Released) Photo by Jake Simkin for Coffee or Die Magazine. It wasnt preventable. The IRF also included two SEALs from another team, five Navy special operations support personnel, three Air Force special tactics airmen, seven Afghan National Army commandos, a translator, and a combat assault dog. Near the site of the Extortion 17 crash stands a memorial to Taliban fighters killed in the August 2011 battle during which Extortion 17 was shot down. To lose even one precious life is too many, and the United States lost 38 soldiers that day. Winds whipped through the fir trees. ", "Taliban laid trap for Chinook: official", "Honor Roll: Remembering the 30 U.S. [35] The Seattle Times and The New York Times also reported this information. One rocket struck a rotor blade, causing the aircraft to crash almost instantly. Critics blame Biden for Extortion 17 attack. For Lee, there was no time to reflect on how close he had come to dying. The suspicious August 6th, 2011, CH47-D Chinook helicopter crash in Wardak Province, Afghanistan which claimed the lives of 38 American military personnel. 2 U.S. Army personnel from the 2nd Battalion, 135th Aviation Regiment, part of the Colorado Army National Guard, PO1 John Douangdara & Navy SEAL Dog Bart, Of the 22 NSW members killed, 17 were SEALs, and five were direct support personnel, according to the source in the NSW community. All content is protected by copyright and may not be used for commercial purposes without prior written permission. "Over two years after Extortion 17 was shot down, the families still have these unanswered questions," said Klayman. The first grenade missed Extortion 17. The worst of the wounded was one of Lees crew members, who suffered what was later diagnosed as a severe traumatic brain injury. Spec Ops Magazine 2023 All Rights Reserved. Among the 38 occupants inside the Chinook were some of the most highly trained and battle-seasoned fighters in the U.S. military, including 15 commandos from the Navys SEAL Team 6, the unit that three months earlier had killed Osama bin Laden. Despite the risk, operations like these were taking place with such frequency in Afghanistan they only made news when they produced a spectacular success, like the bin Laden mission. Available for both RF and RM licensing. There was a lot of experience in that cockpit, the flight engineers and the door gunners. Eleven U.S. servicemen aboard Extortion 17 entered the military after the 9/11 attacks, answering the call to arms as so many brave Americans have done throughout the history of our great country. Carter and Nichols continued the descent. The Afghan soldiers were an essential part of the package; they were trained to move with our forces to the target. ], Four years after the downing of Extortion 17, there were many theories about a possible government coverup. The U.S. Navy SEAL task force assigned to conduct operations in Tangi Valley was well conditioned to the dangerous operating environment. Through sensors on manned and unmanned aircraft, U.S. forces observing the mud walls and terraces of the village saw new groups of fighters gathering and maneuvering. 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. The helicopter crashed less than 5 seconds later, killing all 38 people on board. Cookie Policy 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. #neverforgotten #screwedbygovt #demmandanswers. . The five other Navy casualties were NSW (Naval Special Warfare) support personnel; in addition to these, three AFSOC operators, one Combat Controller and two Pararescuemen, all members of the 24th Special Tactics Squadron, died in the crash. When tactical conditions allow, they initiate operations by calling out enemy forces. Originally just two people, the group eventually swelled to a total of nine or ten fighters, and the special operations task force commander and the Immediate Reaction Force commander became concerned that it might include Tahir. Two fired at roughly the same time. The shoot-down of 'Extortion 17' constitutes the greatest loss of American life from a single battle in the history of the Afghanistan War. [9][10], After American intelligence services discovered in 2011 that senior Taliban leader Qari Tahir was possibly in Tangi Valley, Wardak province, Afghanistan, local American forces launched a mission to apprehend or kill him.