Friday, April 30, 2010

Stopping crime and saving goals in Helmand

Constable Billy Hayes with the team

Over a hundred people turned out last week to watch the inaugural Afghan National Police versus all-comers football competition held at the Police Headquarters in Lashkar Gah, Helmand Province.

There were 4 teams involved who all wore strips donated by the MOD Police and Guarding Agency (MDPGA) and the matches were refereed by MOD Police Constable Billy Hayes from Glasgow, who also organised the whole event.

Billy’s day job is as a police mentor for the ANP. He is helping to train the officers in all aspects of policing in order that they will eventually be able to take over the security of Helmand Province alongside the Afghan National Army.

Billy, 42, has also introduced a Crimestoppers 110 helpline that local people can call confidentially in order to seek help if they ever experience problems or insurgent intimidation in their communities.


Billy says: “I thought it would be a wonderful idea for everyone to enjoy some football in a safe place and they all certainly seemed to have a great day. The overall purpose behind the event was to let the young men know that they could call Crimestoppers 110 line any time they need to but, as a bonus, I think a better level of trust has been developed between the local young men and the Police Service in Lashkar Gah. ”

After some hard fought games, the contest was eventually won by a team captained by Jan, a local Afghan analyst working for the Crimestoppers team in the Police HQ. The winning team received a new strip as a prize.

Jan said: “I hope the next competition will be convened again soon so that we can wear our new team strip. Thanks must be expressed to ISAF and the ANP for convening the whole event”.

One of the other players, Abdul, commented: “It was an excellent competition and it was kind of the ANP to allow us use of the pitch for the contest and we particularly appreciate Billy’s efforts in refereeing the matches.”

Another player, Mustafa, said: “It was great that we had so many spectators. I think the standard was quite high and perhaps next time ISAF will compete as well!”

Coldstream Guards return from Helmand

Lance Sergeant James Clough smiles happily as his sons, Jordan-Lee, 8 and David-James, 10, try on their dads kit for size.

Friends and family were on hand to welcome home 120 soldiers from No. 1 Company, 1st Battalion The Coldstream Guards as they arrived at their Aldershot barracks this afternoon after a 6 month operational tour of Afghanistan.

Luke, 3, greets his daddy, Sergeant Damien Holland

No. 1 Company saw some of the fiercest action during their time in Afghanistan, and have been working jointly with Afghan forces on operations throughout their six-month tour of duty.

Thursday, April 29, 2010

PICTURE of the day: Guardsmen conduct final operation before tour ends

Days before they return to the UK soldiers from 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards have conducted a helicopter insertion operation, alongside Afghan Security Forces, to search a village suspected to be held under insurgent control.

As troops on the ground approached the village in south Malgir from one side, a secondary force was lifted in two Chinooks and inserted to the south of the village. This secondary force then swept north to eventually meet up with the ground troops.


Afghan Security Forces spearheaded the operation, conducting searches of village compounds looking for any signs of insurgent activity while at the same time speaking with locals. British Army search dog Caspian also aided them in their hunt.


The Battalion’s Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Toby Gray said: “The deployment of Coldstream Guardsmen on aviation operations in Babaji has paralysed the Taliban in the area and reassured the local population.”


Although no weapon caches were found, the operation removed the presence of insurgents from a known troubled area and reassured the population of the Afghan government's presence and commitment in the region.


The guardsmen have been working jointly with Afghan forces on operations throughout their six-month tour of duty.


Images: TFH Combat Camera Team

3 YORKS' soldiers return from Afghanistan


More than 60 soldiers from 3rd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment (3 YORKS) returned to Wiltshire after deploying for up to six months in Afghanistan.

They were welcomed back to Battlesbury Barracks, Warminster, by Lieutenant Colonel Tom Vallings, Commanding Officer of 3 YORKS, as well as colleagues, family and friends:

"It's a huge relief to have them back safe, a huge sense of pride of what they've achieved, and I'm glad to see them back in the arms of loved ones," said Lt Col Vallings.

"But the loss of Lance Corporal Graham Shaw and Corporal Liam Riley on this tour and last year the loss of Private Young hits us all and it is has been an immeasurable loss for us and their families. We and they will always remember them."

A total of 77 soldiers were deployed on a variety of tasks throughout Helmand province; 31 of them formed part of the 'Mastiff Group' operating in the Babaji region in the heavily armoured Mastiff protected mobility vehicle.

Their duties included transporting troops and protecting large convoys, as well as directly engaging the Taliban with their advanced weapons systems.

The other 46 were split across the region and performed a variety of tasks ranging from drivers through to snipers.

Many of them were performing the vital and challenging role of being battle casualty replacements, replacing troops in a number of different units who had lost soldiers through death or injury.

All these soldiers played a key role in the recent Operation Moshtarak, during which they were responsible for improving the security and quality of life of the Afghan people.

The return was tinged with sadness as the battalion and its wider family remembered those who made the ultimate sacrifice on this tour of duty. Lance Corporal Graham Shaw and Corporal Liam Riley were both killed by improvised explosive devices on the same patrol in February.

The 3 YORKS' soldiers' return marks the end of a year-long commitment to operations that has seen 118 soldiers return from Baghdad last May, and a further 131 soldiers return from Afghanistan in November.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Stopping Crime and Stopping Goals in Afghanistan

Over a hundred people turned out last week to watch the inaugural Afghan National Police versus all-comers football competition held at the Police Headquarters in Lashkar Gah, Helmand Province.


There were 4 teams involved who all wore strips donated by the MOD Police and Guarding Agency (MDPGA) and the matches were refereed by MOD Police Constable Billy Hayes from Glasgow, who also organised the whole event.

Billy’s day job is as a police mentor for the ANP. He is helping to train the officers in all aspects of policing in order that they will eventually be able to take over the security of Helmand Province alongside the Afghan National Army.

Billy, 42, has also introduced a Crimestoppers 110 helpline that local people can call confidentially in order to seek help if they ever experience problems or insurgent intimidation in their communities.

Billy says: “I thought it would be a wonderful idea for everyone to enjoy some football in a safe place and they all certainly seemed to have a great day. The overall purpose behind the event was to let the young men know that they could call Crimestoppers 110 line any time they need to but, as a bonus, I think a better level of trust has been developed between the local young men and the Police Service in Lashkar Gah. ”

After some hard fought games, the contest was eventually won by a team captained by Jan, a local Afghan analyst working for the Crimestoppers team in the Police HQ. The winning team received a new strip as a prize.

Jan said: “I hope the next competition will be convened again soon so that we can wear our new team strip. Thanks must be expressed to ISAF and the ANP for convening the whole event”.

One of the other players, Abdul, commented: “It was an excellent competition and it was kind of the ANP to allow us use of the pitch for the contest and we particularly appreciate Billy’s efforts in refereeing the matches.”

Another player, Mustafa, said: “It was great that we had so many spectators. I think the standard was quite high and perhaps next time ISAF will compete as well!”

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Behind the headlines, what is it like to fight in Afghanistan?


The 3rd Battalion of the Rifles Regiment has just returned from a six-month tour of duty in the country.

Among their number is Major Richard Streatfeild. During the tour, he commanded "A Company" 4 Rifles, attached to 3 Rifles in Battlegroup North, from a base in the upper Sangin valley where the heaviest of the fighting has been so far. The BBC have been be following his progress over the past months.

For a full insight into life on tour in Helmand click here for the blog on the BBC website.

Monday, April 26, 2010

Nad-e Ali hosts “Super-Shura”


More than 1100 people from throughout the District of Nad-e Ali attended a ‘super-shura’ today to discuss the upcoming District Council elections.

The shura was held in District Governor Habibullah’s compound and was attended by the Provincial Governor of Helmand, Gulab Mangal.

The process to elect a new District Council was discussed as the current District Council, elected back in February 2009, is being dissolved. Governor Mangal and the Chairman of the Provincial Council spoke to the assembled crowds.

They both commented on the improved security situation in the District after the run up to the February 2009 elections was plagued by insurgent violence and intimidation of the local nationals. Those elections eventually had to be held in nearby Lashkar Gah because the Nad-e Ali District was so unstable.

Governor Mangal stressed the importance of local communities taking responsibility for their own futures.

He said: “We need you to bring your children to be educated and we need you to save our country. ISAF and the security they bring here are far from their homes and will not be here forever”

The District Governor said: “This is an encouraging start to electoral process, you need to select good people to work for you on the District Council”

There will be now 3 local electoral zone shuras held next week where a list of notables will be drawn up to be approved ready for the election of the 11th May. 44 Council members will be elected and the 45th member will be appointed by the Provincial Governor.

The huge number of attendees who clearly want to engage positively with the election process is a good indication that the legitimacy of the governance in the district is improving.

ISAF supported the ‘super-shura’ by providing advisory teams from the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT).

The Governance Advisor, Derek Griffiths, said: “This super-shura lived up to its name. The situation 14 months ago was hugely different from today, the security situation has improved greatly and has allowed the local people to have a voice and take part in the election of the community council.”

Vikings home from Helmand


Corporal David Garner, from Sudbury in Suffolk, with Freja, 2, Odin, 11 months and his wife Carly after six months in Afghanistan.

90 soldiers from the 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment returned home from Afghanistan.

The soldiers, from A (Norfolk) Company, returned to Elizabeth Barracks, Pirbright on Friday 23rd April and were met by their families after completing a six-month tour of Afghanistan.

The Battalion, nicknamed the Vikings, had 400 soldiers deployed across Helmand Province working with 3 different battle groups. A (Norfolk) Company was attached to the Household Cavalry Regiment Battlegroup in Musa Qa’la, C (Essex) Company with the Grenadier Guards Battlegroup in Nad-e-Ali and D (Cambridgeshire) Company formed part of the Danish Battlegroup to the North of Gereshk.

Many of the soldiers have already returned and these were among the final soldiers from the regiment to come home.

Sadly, five members of the Regiment were killed during the deployment. These were: Lance Corporal Scott Hardy, Private James Grigg, Captain Martin Driver, Private Robert Hayes and Lance Corporal Adam Drane.

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Transfer of Authority for the Nahr-e Saraj (South)


The 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards, who played a leading role in the recent Operation MOSHTARAK, have marked the Transfer of Authority for the Nahr-e Saraj (South) area to 1st Battalion the Royal Gurkha Rifles (1 RGR).

For the past six months, the Coldstream Guards have been operating in partnership with the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) to build positive relationships with the local people, enabling a move towards reconstruction and development in the area. Most notable is the progress made with constructing a new road through the area. The Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Toby Gray, was commended by Brigadier Richard Felton, Commander Task Force Helmand, for his excellent work. Brigadier Felton also paid tribute to the sacrifices made since the Coldstream Guards took command of the area from the Light Dragoons in 2009.

Brigadier Felton said: "The Coldstream Guards have done an excellent job during their six months here. They are leaving this area in a far better position than when they arrived. Now I know 1 RGR will continue the good work and build on the strong relationships the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards have established with the locals."

At the ceremony at the main patrol base attended by soldiers from both battalions, Brigadier Felton handed command to Lieutenant Colonel Gerald Strickland, Commanding Officer 1 RGR. The Regimental flag of the outgoing 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards was lowered and the flag of the Gurkhas raised in its place. During the flag change, Corporal Lilbahadur Gurung of 1 RGR played the bagpipes; a time-honoured tradition shared between the Gurkhas and Scottish Highland regiments.

Lieutenant Colonel Strickland said: “Today 1 RGR takes over Nahr-e Saraj (South) from the Coldstream Guards who have achieved enormous amounts and made great progress, albeit with great sacrifice. 1 RGR will continue to take forward the good work they have done, particularly in bringing Afghan governance into the southern part of the Nahr-e Saraj district. Progress will not be easy as there are still many in the area who would resist what the Afghan Government would offer – but we will work together with the Government, the Police and Afghan National Army to deliver the security the people need.

1 RGR last deployed to Afghanistan on Operation HERRICK 7 in 2008. Since then, they have conducted extensive training in the UK and a multi-national exercise in Brunei in preparation for this latest operational tour. The Nepalese soldiers of the Royal Gurkha Rifles have a long-standing history as a unique part of the British Army and are no strangers to Afghanistan. The Gurkhas enjoy a cultural affinity with the Afghans and will use that to build strong relations with their partners in the Afghan National Army, Afghan National Police and with the local communities.

Saturday, April 24, 2010

VIDEO: Afghan and British army forces conduct first ever partnered engineering task



Army engineers from Close Support Kandak, 3rd Brigade, Afghan National Army and 21 Regiment, Royal Engineers, are undertaking a programme of infrastructure works at Patrol Base Rahim, in Nahr-e Saraj, as partnered engineering teams.

Filmed and edited by Captain Philip Atkinson, SCOTS

Afghan and British army forces conduct first ever partnered engineering task

Soldiers from the Afghan and British Armies are conducting their first ever partnered engineering task.

Army engineers from Close Support Kandak, 3rd Brigade, Afghan National Army and 21 Regiment, Royal Engineers, are undertaking a programme of infrastructure works at Patrol Base Rahim, in Nahr-e Saraj, as partnered engineering teams.

Previously, Afghan Engineers were guided through their projects by soldiers of the Brigade Advisory Group. They are now working under their own commanders to complete a number of specialist engineering projects including erecting new accommodation and Patrol Base defences.

The Patrol Base is being expanded and upgraded to accommodate approximately 300 soldiers from the Afghan National Army and the British 1 Mercian Regiment.
Lieutenant Mohammed Khalid, the Afghan Engineers’ Platoon Commander, has worked alongside British troops for four years.

He said: “When we were in Shorabak [Afghan National Army camp], the British soldiers were giving us training. But now that we are here we are implementing that training.

“Wherever people are living, accommodation is important for them, and it is the same for soldiers. We came here to make accommodation for British and ANA troops. That is why it is so important.

“We have learnt as much as we can from our mentors. If we get the type of machinery and instruments that the British troops have, then hopefully we will be able to do all of this type of work for ourselves.”

The eleven Afghan troops are partnered with sixteen soldiers from 21 Regiment, Royal Engineers, led by Lieutenant Fran Bullock: “This is the first time ANA and UK engineers have partnered on a task like this” she said.

“Before, it was more of a mentored role through the Brigade Advisory Group. They were looking at what skills were necessary and trying to improve those skills back in camp.

“Now however, we are going out on the ground with them, working alongside them on an active site and putting all of that training into practice. This is an important step for them because it means their work has to be up to a certain standard.

“Together with the Afghans, we are constructing the ANA accommodation, the showering units and the force protection elements. We will also build a dedicated secure helicopter landing site and an entry control point, all for when the new troops arrive.

“They have an excellent plant operator/mechanic who drives the bulldozer. He is very proficient and able to do pretty much everything we have wanted him to do. They have also been working on basic carpentry and joinery and there are so many other roles that we will develop in time. Once this project is complete, we will feed back to the Brigade Advisory Group to identify areas for further training to equip them with the skills to be entirely self-sufficient and bring them up to an even higher standard of combat engineer trades”.

An expansion of the base will allow more troops to control the surrounding area, creating the conditions for stabilisation and reconstruction. A growing Afghan National Army presence is an important element in securing the support of the local population for the ISAF mission.

Sgt Archie Gemmell from 21 Regiment, Royal Engineers, works as Brigade Advisory Group mentor. He has trained the Afghan engineers for their current role.

“The Afghans are in the early phase of their skills development. The engineer Brigade Advisory Group before us did a fantastic job in bringing them up to their current level. We are here now, partnering them in order to bring them on that little bit further and to identify areas of future training.

“It can be challenging sometimes, but it is extremely rewarding. There are a few characters in there, just as there are with any UK soldiers. There can be real highs and lows, as you would expect from a unit in a new role, but we all get on really well and they appreciate the advice we can give them".

Many of the Afghans have received technical training, allowing them to use plant and machinery. Sergeant Mabeed, a bulldozer operator said: “I really wanted to be a plant operator, and now I am a plant operator and I am really enjoying my work. Everything I have learnt on this excavator has been from British troops over four years in Helmand.”

The commander of the Afghan engineers, Major Bahadar Khan, has welcomed his unit’s first active role: “The work of an engineer is so important because whenever our soldiers deploy somewhere they need accommodation, showers, toilets, and this sort of thing. If engineers are not here, who is going to build these things?

“At the moment they are getting training, but after the training, god willing, our soldiers will be able to run this sort of project themselves”.

The joint engineering task at Rahim is the first of a number of planned partnered projects. The Afghan National Army will increasingly undertake projects of a similar scale without any assistance from ISAF and UK forces.

Picture Credit: Captain Philip Atkinson SCOTS

PICTURE of the day: Army Air Corps Lynx Mk 7 Crewman in Action


A poignant picture of a Lynx crewman


Lynx crewman scanning the ground


Fast and low approaching a forward operating base (FOB)


Air to air shot of the formation No 2 over the green zone


Pictures: Cpl Barry Lloyd, RLC, Theatre Combat Camera Team

Friday, April 23, 2010

Medics receive Afghanistan medals

Military medics who have been serving in Afghanistan for the last six months and arrived back in the UK this week with the help of HMS Albion were presented with their campaign medals yesterday.

After arriving in Portsmouth on Wednesday night, the medics, from 63 Squadron, 253 Medical Regiment, and C Squadron, 254 Medical Regiment, both part of the Royal Army Medical Corps, made their way back to their home base of Fulwood Barracks in Preston where yesterday they were presented with their campaign medals by Brigadier Chris Parker, Commandant of the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine.


The medics had been deployed in more than 70 locations across the network of infantry patrol bases in Helmand province.

Captain Craig Fulton said:

"It's been a tough tour. But the guys have achieved a hell of a lot supporting the Battle Group, and the infantry have really appreciated what we do. It's been hard on them, but it's definitely something the guys can be proud of."

1 Mercian - Ready for Helmand Task

1 Mercian ready for Helmand task as they take over new operating base

Soldiers from Malta Company, 1st Battalion the Mercian Regiment have taken over control of Patrol Base One in Malgir, south of the town of Gereshk in Helmand Province from the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards. The Company’s operating area for the next six months was cleared of insurgents by ISAF during operation Panchai Palang in the summer of 2009. It has since become a key focus for stability and reconstruction.


In the run up to the handover, Guardsmen from the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards and soldiers from 3 Yorks, who have been working in the area, have been carrying out joint familiarisation patrols of the region with 1 Mercian. Each patrol aims to show the incoming unit the checkpoints and bases within the area, any projects that are ongoing and allow the new unit to start interacting with the local nationals in the surrounding villages. Of particular importance has been the handover of many of the reconstruction and military assistance projects running in the joint Afghan National Police and ISAF checkpoint along the Nahri-e-burghri canal.

Lieutenant John Sanderson, 1 Platoon Commander, Malta Company, 1 Mercian said, “The purpose of the patrol this morning was two-fold. On the one hand, it was to familiarise those of us who are taking over from the Company at Patrol Base One and secondly it was a patrol to reassure the local population and dominate the ground in order to deter insurgents from infiltrating this area.”

He continues, “The big thing for us though, is time on the ground and interacting with the local people. For me and my men, success will be based on the effect we have on the population here.”

Major Charlie Foinette, the outgoing Officer Commanding Number 4 Company, 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards explained what he was handing over: “When I’m handing over control of a patrol base like this, where we have been soldiering for six months now, the most important thing we want to get across to our successors is the population. We’ve spent six months getting to know them, and engaging with them while out on patrol and in meetings. The only important thing about this area is the population, what their fears are, what their concerns are, what their difficulties are and how we can help.”


Members of 1 Mercian will spend the next six months working in partnership with Afghan soldiers to provide continued security across the region, so projects such as the building of a medical centre and permanent school can take place. Working alongside them will be a Brigade Advisory Group from 1 Royal Ghurkha Rifles who will be training the Afghan National Army soldiers based at Patrol Base One.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Homecoming with a difference for soldiers as UK flights resume


Troops returning from Afghanistan have arrived back in the UK following a six-month operational tour. It was a homecoming with a difference as flight restrictions meant the soldiers had to come back via the sea.

The 450 soldiers included elements from 33 Field Hospital and sections from the HERRICK 11 Battle Groups.

Sgt Adrian Wendrich, 31, a Multiple Commander with D Coy 1 R WELSH, was based in Nad e-Ali before deploying as part of Op MOSHTARAK with an ANA platoon.

“We achieved a lot working with the ANA," he said. "It was the first time we had patrolled with them like that, and it was critical we had them with us as they could integrate with the local community in a way that we couldn’t because of language barriers. So we did achieve a lot.

“The biggest threat since our last tour has been IEDs. But our Battalion found around 270 – which is a really good result in saving lives.”

Travelling home with the Infantry soldiers were 110 medics from 254 and 253 Med Regt. The medics had been deployed in more than 70 locations around the Infantry Patrol Bases.

“It’s been a tough tour,” confirmed Capt Craig Fulton, 31, RAMC. “But the guys have achieved a hell of a lot supporting the Battle Group, and the Infantry have really appreciated what we do. It’s been hard on them, but it’s definitely something the guys can be proud of."

The medics made their way back to Preston last night to join the rest of their Regiment for their medal parade through Preston this morning.

Army Website

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Welsh snipers show courage and constraint


Members of Fire Support Company, 1st Battalion the Royal Welsh have been showing courage and constraint whilst clearing insurgents from positions near Shahzad in South West Helmand. Tasked with providing flanking protection for army bomb disposal teams, army marksmen held insurgents back from positions in a towered compound as their colleagues moved through the area. The action was part of building on the progress of Op Moshtarak.

The team had been tasked to secure a compound, but on patrolling towards the location came under heavy fire from Taliban fighters.

Sniper two “We left our patrol base just before first light towards the compound we wanted to go to and came under contact. We carried out our drills and observed, but couldn’t see anyone so pushed on and that’s when all hell broke loose. We were attacked by different weapons and people, so we moved under fire towards the compound.”

The commander in charge of the team, continues, “Straight inside, after the complete adrenaline outside, we were expecting them (the insurgents) to be in the compound, but we were confronted by four children, an elderly man and his wife. The lads switched on straight away, cleared the compound of the locals and the interpreter dealt with them. From there, I co-ordinated the two snipers up onto the roof…. As soon as they started observing, we took fire from small arms….with shots hitting the compound wall to our front.”

The snipers had to use their observation skills to clearly identify the insurgents from the locals. Using the British Army .338 L115A3 Long Range Rifle, which has state-of-the-art telescopic day and night all-weather sights, the soldiers were able to win the fire fight without injuring civilians.

Sniper one comments, “Once we got up into the tower, we identified the enemy with a weapon, and distinguished between them and civilians, who they were using as human shields at the time. We had sniper rifles, the .338, which is a precision weapon, so we were able to take clean shots without injuring any civilians.”

Sniper Two, “When I was observing, first of all I saw women and children. I was trying to find the firing points, because they had been using ‘murder holes’, holes in walls which they’ve knocked out so they can stick their rifle through. I was checking the walls for that. At the end of the wall, I saw an insurgent take a knee, raise his weapon up to his soldier and fire a burst at our compound, so I took my aim, took my time with the shot and engaged him”

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Camp Bastion Water Bottling Plant Saving Lives

The temperatures are now creepy up massively here at Camp Bastion; it is averaging 35 degrees at the moment. It is predicted that by the height of the summer the thermometer will soar past 50 degrees. So it is recommended that soldiers drink upto 10 litres of water if they are in body armour and helmet out in those conditions.


Given there is a huge demand for water, it is fortunate that the camp can provide its own supplies. Two and a half years ago, army engineers bored down 150 metres to tap into water that naturally springs under the desert. Over 22 million litres have been extracted and yet levels are naturally renewed with water that runs off from the imposing mountains surrounding the area.

The man in charge of extracting and processing the water is Mr Colin Howell, the Camp Bastion Bottling Plant Manager.


“We have to be scrupulously clean here. If the water gets contaminated then it affects every single person in camp. Our quality control is second to none and we sample and test the water every 20 minutes”.


So hair covers, beard covers, white coats and plastic overboots are de rigeur within the plant.


Even plastic bottles are manufactured on site. So instead of having to transport water by land, Bastion’s DIY water process saves transportation tenfold and more importantly, lives.


Colin noted, “If we had transported 22 million bottles of water, we would have needed 3,500 container lorries to bring in supplies. Imagine the risks by doing that; we are very proud that we are reducing the carbon footprint and reducing the chances of people getting killed too”.



Picture credit: Corporal Lynny Cash, RAF
Story credit: Squadron Leader Dee Taylor, RAF

Monday, April 19, 2010

PICTURE of the day: RAF Chinook in Helmand Operations

Chinook low over the desert

Following the terrain and river in the green zone

The Green Zone

Landing in the rotor dust storm

Troops being sandblasted upon landing

Turning at low level

Mutual support by working as a pair

Chinook firing flares

Homeward bound

High level view from the ramp

Almost home

Pictures: Squadron Leader Neville Clayton, RAF