The "had Seal team 6 killed" is a likely reference to what's known as the "Extortion 17" incident, the August 2011 tragedy in which a Chinook military helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan,. Each shouldered a rocket propelled grenade launcher, aimed at the dim silhouette of the approaching helicopter then fired. Charles Strange, whose son Michael, 25, died in the attack said Obama personally promised him a thorough investigation of what happened but has failed to deliver. As more responsibilities fall on the shoulders of special forces, the risk of more losses like this one will continue to increase. Honestly, sir, I dont think anybody had really looked at the LZ, said the pilot of Gun 1. This story has been corrected to reflect that only some of the families of the fallen SEALs say their loved ones were deliberately endangered. While the goggles are better than nothing, they turn everything green, distort depth perception and limit peripheral vision. But we are still sending people to another country to fight, and we need to understand why were doing that, he said. SEAL Team Six was assigned three pre-invasion missions: two clandestine political missions relating to regime change on the island, and reconnaissance from the sea of the new airfield under construction on the island's southwest coast. He spoke out against banning girls education. You also want to come in from a different direction for the element of surprise.. Everyone on board died within a fraction of a second30 Americans, eight Afghans and one American military working dog. One source says the team was thought to include 22 SEALs, three Air Force air controllers, seven Afghan Army troops, a dog and handler, and a civilian interpreter, plus the helicopter crew. But why? The route had been carefully planned, and gunships maintained continuous watch over the intended landing zone during Extortion 17's approach. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. That means more raids, more targets and more reliance on Afghan competenceall of which add up to more special forces casualties. "So much of the war is fought in areas where these helicopters have to fly at high altitudes," where the thin air can strain the performance of the engines and rotor blades, said Ed Darack, author of the recently published book, The Final Mission of Extortion 17: Special Ops, Helicopter Support, SEAL Team Six and the Deadliest Day of the U.S. War in Afghanistan. The families of these deceased heroes have been stonewalled by the Obama Department of Defense and the Obama National Security Agency in disrespect over their sons unexplained tragic deaths. On a moonless night, an Army helicopter carrying 17 members of the elite Navy SEAL Team 6, the unit that killed Osama Bin Laden, is shot down in Afghanistan. One by one, fathers and mothers of the victims of the crash spoke about what they see as gaping holes or inconsistencies in the review of what U.S. Special Operations considers its most deadly incident. But special forces don't get such a cushion: Because they can react more quickly, they undertake more dangerous missions; their risk tolerance is much, much higher. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. By the time the third sped away from its launcher, however, no target remained. In all, 17 members of the SEAL Team 6 counterterrorist force were on board the CH-47 Chinook transport helicopter, along with its Army National Guard aircrew, several support personnel and seven Afghan commandos. On his right wrist, he wears a bracelet with the names of the five crew members of Extortion 17. U.S. Up to 30 Dead in Afghanistan Following Failed Prison Heist, Total Iraq and Afghanistan Pricetag: Over $4 Trillion. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. I would say that on the three-minute call is when Gun 2 started looking at the LZ, giving an LZ brief op. They fail to mention it was Saudis who orchestrated 9/11, yet he elected to go after Iraq and Afghanistan. Apparently, someone tipped them off that the SEALs were coming; the helicopter was attacked from three sides in a coordinated ambush. [PHOTOS:Fighting in Afghanistan Continues]. Lee heard the call, and he knew what it meant. In addition to killing the man who was considered the mastermind behind the 9/11 terrorist attacks, U.S. forces snagged valuable items from the compound during the raid. The former vice president has become the Democratic front-runner with primary victories across the country. The crash sent shock waves throughout U.S. special operations. One of the engines flew off, and the other caught fire. The military's public contradictions raise more questions than answers.On a moonless night, an Army helicopter carrying 17 members of the elite Navy SEAL Team 6, the unit that killed Osama Bin Laden, is shot down in Afghanistan. The helicopter was shot down by insurgents in August 2011; many of those killed were part of the same Navy SEAL Team 6 unit that carried out the raid on Usama bin Laden's compound three months . But over time, they became more disturbing, including one that suggested the Taliban had been tipped off by someone inside the Afghan government as revenge for bin Ladens killing. What went so terribly wrong? The incident comes just months after DevGru's raid that killed Osama bin Laden. All Rights Reserved. What in the world was that Navy Seals conspiracy that Trump retweeted? He would eventually do two tours and become commander of a Chinook unit during his second deployment in 2011. Aug. 6, 2011 -- A helicopter was shot down today by Afghan insurgents as it was rushing to aid troops in a firefight, killing 30 Americans, including 22 Navy SEALs, most of whom belonged to Team 6, the unit whose members were involved in the raid that killed Osama bin Laden, U.S. officials said. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. That same day he obtained a medical waiver he needed to pursue an Army commission -- to serve an eight-year hitch before going to law school. As they started their descent, Lee heard a loud popping noise. Get the latest breaking news from North Texas and beyond. The conspiracy has a number of moving parts, all of which have surfaced before, but none of which have any truth to them. The tragedy took some of the glow off SEAL Team 6s grand achievement just three months earlier: A team penetrated Pakistan airspace, infiltrated a compound in Abbottabad and killed al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. The compounds unusual and extensive security features, along with further intelligence information, prompted suspicion that the residence was Osama bin Ladens hideout. Whether enemy fire brought down the Chinook or a tree strike would never be known for sure. 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 quick reaction force included SEAL Team 6 and other special operations personnel. ", While not commenting directly on the allegations, he called those who were lost "warriors" who represented "the diversity and talent of America and its military.". See GlobalPost: Navy SEALs had "kill" order on Osama bin Laden, report claims. "In releasing their identity, they put a target on their backs," said Doug Hamburger, whose son, Army Staff Sgt. Hamburger added. The U.S. Army knows the risks when it plans air assault operations in Afghanistan. While the press conference was long on speculation and short on concrete evidence, the family members and their supporters didn't pull any punches. There was a lot of experience in that cockpit, the flight engineers and the door gunners. Some of the most highly trained and skilled war fighters in history, the Rangers moved overland to a location where intelligence indicated Lefty Grove and his small cadre of fighters would be holding a meeting. The insurgents had no way of knowing the helicopter would be coming in, at the speed it was coming and at the altitude, Darack said. Three months after bin Ladens death, members of the SEAL Team 6 force -- though apparently not the same ones who carried out the bin Laden raid -- were on board the CH-47 Chinook transport helicopter, along with its Army National Guard aircrew, several support personnel and seven Afghan commandos. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! The conspiracy theories didnt bother Lee at first. The Chinook helicopter was carrying a quick-reaction force to provide back-up to the troops on the ground in the eastern Afghan province of Wardak, a U.S. official said. On April 29, 2011, President Barack Obama authorized a small special operations team, known as SEAL Team Six, to carry out a raid on the compound. A native of Pittsburgh, Pa., he remains obsessively curious about Texans and the Lone Star State culture. An initial investigation indicates the helicopter was shot down by insurgents in the volatile Tangi valley of Wardak province, several hours south of Kabul. Winds whipped through the fir trees. Nearby, there were two enemy fighters with rocket-propelled grenade launchers. However, the AP has reported, the Afghan forces never staffed the outpost after American forces left, and the Taliban moved back in. Still, the one the president retweeted earlier this week may have been the weirdest yet. A junior, he was ready to fight, but the war would be over, he figured, before he even got out of college. The loss of a helicopter carrying more than 20 U.S. special forces and as many as 8 other U.S. military service members is an unprecedented one in this war. The United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DevGru)better known by its former name, Team 6-reportedly suffered the bulk of the casualties. The actual mission, dubbed Operation Neptune Spear, officially started in the early-morning hours of May 2, Pakistan time (afternoon of May 1, Eastern Daylight Time). Then they have to stick the landing. Legal Statement. As he did, he felt the craft leveling off. They heard a helicopter coming, they grabbed their RPGs, and they fired in quick succession, Darack said. File: A US Army CH-47D Chinook helicopter in flight. The missions commanders decided to insert another team to go after Tahir while the Rangers held the compound. At that time, this marked deadliest moment in the war in Afghanistan. They knew. Nobody tipped off the fightersnor could anyone have alerted them. This is all, needless to say, completely unsubstantiated if not outright false. He pushed hard on the cyclic stick to tilt the helicopter forward. On July 25, a Chinook was hit by a rocket propelled grenade fired by the Taliban. Click here for reprint permission. Information about the incident is still trickling in, but these are a few of the most important questions in the immediate aftermath. Not all will end as well as bin Laden's takedown, as PM noted in July. Chinooks are American forces' preferred helicopters in Afghanistan because they are powerful enough fly over mountains while carrying a full complement of troops. With David Boreanaz, Max Thieriot, Jessica Par, Neil Brown Jr.. PRX is a 501(c)(3) organization recognized by the IRS: #263347402. Ninty-six days after the death of Osama bin Laden by SEAL Team Six, an old Vietnam era Army Reserve helicopter, call sign "Extortion 17," was shot down in the Wardak Province, Tangi River Valley, Afghanistan on Aug 6, 2011.On board the Chinook CH-47D were 15 members of SEAL Team Six, 15 SEAL Team Six Support personnel, 1 Bomb Dog, 7 unidentified members of the Afghan National Army, and 1 . This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, "We will draw inspiration from their lives, and continue the work of securing our country and standing up for the values that they embodied.". Over time, certain memories will fade, certain details will fade. It wasnt preventable. Conspiracy theories started almost immediately. They start the movie showing George W Bush saying that after 9/11 we will hunt down those responsible. "Chance will always play a role in war," stated Justin "Buddy" Lee, the commander of Extortion Company, who had flown with Dave Carter the night before Extortion 17's demise on a similar raid, and who had co-piloted a number of missions with Bryan Nichols. Were asking people to do incredible things. While the vast majority of attempts to down helicopters failed, the lucky shot that took down Extortion 17 had a precedent. That left it to .css-3wjtm9{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.125rem;text-decoration-color:#1c6a65;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:inherit;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-3wjtm9:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}Navy SEALs to undertake a dangerous raid in a notorious insurgent area to stem the Taliban's advance. I didnt want to die., He remembered the words of his old flight instructor: Never stop flying the aircraft.. No family members were allowed to testify. Forces to the threat of spying. Lee had just flown the night before on a similar mission with one of the pilots, David Carter. Guys on the bush line. When the shock subsided, questions arose and persisted. It was the worst day for fatalities in the history of naval special warfare. Image:U.S. PresidentDonaldTrumpholds a campaign rally at John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, U.S. October 13, 2020. I find it quite disturbing that the government is not willing to give us the answers we deserve. Retired Army Lt. Gen. William Boykin, who served as deputy undersecretary of defense for Intelligence and was a commander in the Army's super-secret "Delta Force," denounced politicized rules of engagement as a "deliberate plot" within the American armed forces that he says puts political correctness above the safety of the troops. Aerial view of Osama bin Laden's compound in the Pakistani city of Abbottabad, made by the CIA. A CH-47D Chinook helicopter lands at a small landing zone at Firebase Blessing, in eastern Afghanistans restive Kunar Province at the start of a combat operation. The landing zone was small, and the commanders didnt want to split up the strike force. Per factcheck.org, while Obama and his advisers were deliberating over which mission to authorize for attacking Bin Ladens compound, Biden advised the president to wait for further confirmation that bin Laden was actually in the compound in Pakistan before acting. Biden was not, as implied, altogether opposed to killing Bin Laden. That is why, they say, a fighter just happened to be stationed in a turret within 150 yards of a landing zone that had never been used before. The Chinook smashed into the ground, the force ripping off his goggles. Theyre going after [enemy fighters] in very hostile environments, who know the terrain very well, who know the battlescape very well, Darack said. This misinformation persists in part because those unfamiliar with the battlefield aren't taking into account a fundamental part of war: chance. The front rotor shattered, and the back pylon sheared off. Special forces are very selective on who they partner with, but any collaboration with Afghans opens up U.S. President Obama offered his thoughts and prayers to those killed in the crash. Chance, however, a component of war intimately understood by war fighters, can never be completely mitigated. Insurgents shot down a U.S. military helicopter during fighting in eastern Afghanistan, killing 30 Americans, most of them belonging to the same elite unit as the Navy SEALs who killed former Al. Our families are in danger,' " Vaughn recalled. The co-pilot, Bryan Nichols, was one of Lee's closest friends in the Chinook company. But what if it was a more advanced missile? President Trump has also claimed, including in the first presidential debate, that Biden opposed the raid that took out Bin Laden. Lee is 36 now, a civil attorney in Dallas, a world away from Afghanistan. The Justice Department said at least 50 documents in the Pentagon have been identified as relevant, but only one has been turned over. One of the best crews in my company. they won't view it as wrong, just a "necessary" sacrifice for your country. Some of those Seals were members of Seal Team 6 that took part in the raid that killed Osama Bin Laden, the AP reported today; although they were not actual participants in the Pakistan raid, according to the New York Times. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. There are more sophisticated threats out there, such as the SA-16. Extortion 17, however, would never reach that landing zone. Onboard were 17 members of SEAL Team 6; five naval special warfare operators, including one to intercept communications and another to handle Bart the war dog; five Army flight crewmen, including a National Guard and an Army Reserve pilot; and three Air Force personnel. The Associated Press is reporting that a rocket attack took down the Chinook (probably a MH-47) , quoting an unnamed source in Washington D.C., but this has yet to be confirmed officially. The alleged hit on SEAL Team 6 is a reference to the downing of a Chinook transport helicopter by insurgents a few months after the bin Laden raid. The Chinook headed to a different landing zone than the first assault team -- one in the narrowest part of the Tangi Valley. The parents of three SEALs. And Justice unilaterally set a new deadline for the release and then ignored it, Mr. Klayman said. The immediate reaction force (IRF) was assembled hastily for insertion into Tangi Valley to help Army Rangers capture fleeing Taliban. It requires the highest level of skills from the pilots because they are some of the most dangerous operations.. The night her son Aaron died, he was in a helicopter that was built in the 1960s and last retrofitted in 1985. It had been loaded well within its limits. In all 38 troops died after the helicopter was shot down by what a review determined to be a Taliban RPG over Wardak Province, Afghanistan, on Aug. 6, 2011. Or when something went terribly wrong. The Obama administration is violating a judges order to turn over documents in the Aug. 6, 2011, shootdown of a U.S. helicopter call sign Extortion 17 that killed members of SEAL Team 6 in Afghanistan, a watchdog group is charging. You never want to use the same landing zone twice, Darack said. It's certainly possible. Planners selected a landing zone that had never been used before. David Tarrant. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Some of those Seals were members of Seal Team 6 that took part in the raid that killed Osama Bin Laden, the AP reported today; although they were not actual participants in the Pakistan raid, according to the New York Times. That night, nearly 10 years after the U.S. had gone to war in Afghanistan, Lee believed they were the best team for this dangerous mission. But at least you should care about them and appreciate what were asking of them.. 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Strange. HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate. Stephen M. Mills, 35, of Fort Worth, Tex., was reportedly the leader of the Navy SEAL team killed in the Chinook helicopter attack on Aug. 6. The force included seven Afghan soldiers and an Afghan interpreter. A catastrophic crash seemed unavoidable. August 6, 2011 / 6:08 PM / CBS Boston KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- A military helicopter was shot down in eastern Afghanistan, killing 31 U.S. special operation troops, most of them from the. "We have an ideology problem with this war, and we need to address it. "The downing of Extortion 17 was a catastrophic and unprecedented tragedy for our nation," Reid testified. This crash is incredibly demoralizing. The Obama administration is violating a judge's order to turn over documents in the Aug. 6, 2011, shootdown of a U.S. helicopter call sign Extortion 17 that killed members of SEAL Team 6 . No one is planting victory gardens, and were not rationing. Stephen Silver, a technology writer for The National Interest, is a journalist, essayist and film critic, who is also a contributor to Philly Voice, Philadelphia Weekly, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Living Life Fearless, Backstage magazine, BroadStreet Review and Splice Today. The next day, a DNA test confirmed that the body was indeed that of Osama bin Laden. FACT CHECK: We strive for accuracy and fairness. Some congressional lawmakers demonstrated their support for the group, including former Florida Republican Rep. Allan West -- an Iraq war vet -- and Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn. Hes also sent more than his fair share of curious retweets, often of the accounts of conspiracy theorists and those associated with QAnon and other outlandish conspiracy frameworks. The first grenade missed Extortion 17. ", Ed Darack's The Final Mission of Extortion 17, published by Smithsonian Books, will be available on September 19. I had to learn how to land while browned-out, wearing NVGs, on the side of a mountain or an uneven field, Lee said. Ultimately, bin Laden was found and killed within nine minutes, and SEAL Team Six was credited with carrying out a nearly flawless mission. But why? Justin Buddy Lee will never forget that night six years ago. I would say that was the first time that we really had eyes on the LZ.. Asked for comment, Pentagon spokesman Lt. Col. James Gregory said: "We share in the grief of all of the families who lost their loved ones. It means being informed. Were handing rifles to 20-year-olds and asking them to shoot people. By what name was Fallen Angel: Call Sign - Extortion 17 (2021) officially released in Canada in English? Still, SEAL Team Sixs bold raid to take down bin Laden was an extraordinary operation that most experts regard as a resounding success. Saturday's deaths bring the total number of coalition troops killed in Afghanistan to 334 this year, according to the Associated Press. Does Donald Trump believe that Joe Biden played a part in murdering those Navy Seals? Petty Officer 1st Class Aaron Vaughn was one of the SEAL Team 6 operators who died in the crash. because seals have a habit of writing books once they retire. We also mourn the Afghans who died alongside our troops in pursuit of a more peaceful and hopeful future for their country. All rights reserved. For the last two years, hes been an attorney with the law firm Jackson Walker. Special forces routinely use helicopters in raids on homes in Afghanistan. The shootdown was the single, deadliest loss of U.S. forces in the war. Their names and their missions had never been revealed before. Get everything off your social media. While some of those who lost their lives that day were members of Seal Team 6, it was not the same platoon that had carried out the Bin Laden raid, and none of those killed in the crash had been a part of that event. It was exactly four years ago, at 2:22 a.m., that a rebuilt conventional CH-47 Chinook helicopter took off from a forward operating base, carrying some of the most skilled and advanced warriors ever molded by U.S. special operations. During a press conference on Washington Thursday, family and advocates for the fallen troops called into question the rules of engagement that they say prohibited their sons from being able to return fire, and the White House's decision to announce shortly after the killing of Osama bin Laden that SEAL Team 6 was responsible for the raid. They happened to be in the right place at the right time. A spokesman for the Taliban, Zabiullah Mujahid, confirmed that insurgents had been gathering at the compound, adding that eight of them had been killed in the fighting. Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft that supported the raid, including a Predator drone, and a variety of highly specialized spy planes, had kept continuous watch over the region during the operation. 2023 A&E Television Networks, LLC. International reactions to bin Ladens death ranged from favorable to mixed. Seven Afghan commandos were also reportedly killed. Telling stories about ordinary people involved in extraordinary events is his passion. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? In 2006, he was called into Afghanistan, where he turned 25. All rights reserved. Military officers interviewed by investigators said they could not recall an IRF ever being sent for such a mission. Enterprise writer at The Dallas Morning News. The Rangers were not in need of rescue. He would not have hesitated to fly with any of them. Since the agencys main task is to eavesdrop on phone and Internet messages, it may have recorded communications related to the attack. MARTHA RADDATZ, LUIS MARTINEZ and MIKE BOETTCHER, helicopter was shot down today by Afghan insurgents, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. (AP). On board were 22 Navy SEALs, rushing to support troops in firefight. Charlie Strange, whose Navy cryptologist son, Michael, was on Extortion 17, told The Times last year that it was too much of a coincidence for Taliban to be standing so near the landing zone. Family members are hoping Freedom Watch, a watchdog legal group led by Larry Klayman, can force new disclosures using the power of the FOIA process. The World is a public radio program that crosses borders and time zones to bring home the stories that matter. It was an auspicious day for the two enemy fighters. The chopper's manifest. 4:10 p.m. - A backup helicopter scoops up remaining team members and leaves the area. The family members, speaking at the National Press Club, tried to reopen the book on the crash, in which 30 Americans were killed, most of them belonging to the same unit as those who carried out the raid on Usama bin Laden earlier that year. Sign up for The Top of the World, delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Lee, now a captain, was placed in command of a Chinook helicopter unit at Forward Operating Base Shank. Its almost always a miss.. The guy was incredibly skilled.. The more likely explanation seems to be that the president, like a lot of us, tweets without thinking, especially if the subject matter is something that praises him or denigrates his political opponents. The story itself is tragic, but tons of war propaganda. . The loss of a Chinook helicopter carrying members of Navy SEAL Team Six made yesterday the deadliest single day in the entire Afghan War for the U.S., The New York Times reports. The sheer amount of experience with our pilots, flight engineers and back-seaters and mechanics offered a wealth of knowledge, he said. With Sean Hannity, Raj Kala, Justin Torrence, Vee Bhakta. On his first deployment, he felt fortunate to be surrounded by veteran pilots he could learn from. Members of Navy SEAL Team Six formed the core of the IRF, with other American special operations personnel and highly-vetted Afghans playing integral roles. Virginia-based Navy SEALs in a training exercise. Aug. 6, 2011— -- A helicopter was shot down today by Afghan insurgents as it was rushing to aid troops in a firefight, killing 30 Americans, including 22 Navy SEALs, most of whom belonged to Team 6, the unit whose members were involved in the raid that killed Osama bin Laden, U.S. officials said. He probably doesnt. "We simply didn't know those guys with those RPGs were there," he said. 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. Darack did extensive research of what happened next. A US helicopter crashed in Afghanistan yesterday killing 31 special operation troops, most of them from the elite Navy Seals unit that killed Osama bin Laden. A silhouette of a flight engineer manning an M240 machine gun on the ramp of a CH-47D Chinook in eastern Afghanistan. We were told at that time we were the first unit to make it through a rotation without having anyone killed.. The police chief of Wardak said the attack occurred around 1 a.m. Saturday after an assault on a Taliban compound in the village of Jaw-e-Mekh Zareen in the Tangi Valley. But the CH-47D has neither a flight nor voice recorder, only an engine performance data. There was no conspiracy. He finished his contract with the Army shortly afterward, and that September enrolled in Southern Methodist Universitys Dedman School of Law. The families hope to raise awareness of the incident, which they say the government has largely forgotten since the official report was released in October 2011. Two investigations of the incident proved inconclusive. My life is in danger. The subject of the tweet, per The Beast, is Alan Howell Parrot, a falconer-turned-CIA whistleblower who was once the star of a documentary called Feathered Cocaine.. I am afraid that with this FOIA case that the government is purposely delaying turning over documents because they need the time to redact and to delete things they do not want the American public to become aware of..