Airmen flown to safety on chopper's wings

[B-29 Super Fort]

A two-person Apache helicopter crew staged a dramatic rescue Monday, ferrying two of their comrades out of a combat zone south of Baghdad, military officials said Tuesday.

The four of them flew away in a two-person Apache, with two in the cockpit and two others clinging to the outside of the chopper.

Here is the account from the military, which provided some video of the rescue.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/07/ ... index.html

[Jack Cook]

This was also done in VN a number of times with Huey Cobras
with crewmen riding on the rocket pods and sitting on the open access doors for the mini gun/grenade launcher. Good show!!!

[Former Member]

This was also done during the 1st Gulf War by one of our Apache units from the 1st Cavalry Division after they were shot down by ground fire. I've heard this is standard procedure and that crew members even carry a special strap-in harness to attach themselves to the wings.

John

[muddyboots]

True dat.^

This has been done forever and a day now. It's already been seen this go round as well--I think it was the Brits who did it with a couple of air commandos who were left behind or something like that. It's loud as hell, I would imagine, but not particularly uncomfortable aside from incoming fire
The harness is old school as well. Any Chinook aircrew would recognize the idea. I remember it called a monkey strap but I could be wrong, or a dog leash...

[Versatile]

May have been done forever and a day! I am sure it was quite a trip for those on the outside. Several Heros in my book!

[Cking]

True dat.^

This has been done forever and a day now. It's already been seen this go round as well--I think it was the Brits who did it with a couple of air commandos who were left behind or something like that. It's loud as heck, I would imagine, but not particularly uncomfortable aside from incoming fire
The harness is old school as well. Any Chinook aircrew would recognize the idea. I remember it called a monkey strap but I could be wrong, or a dog leash...

The Royal Marines went back on the wings of two Apache's (Sounds like a film to me ) to rescue a wounded colleague. Un fortunately he died. They say that when thay asked for volunteers to go, his entire squad stepped forward. (Typed with a lump in throat)

Rgds Cking

[hang the expense]

Monkey strap is the correct term.Also used in hueys during Nam.More than one guy has fallen out at altitude without the strap.Word to the wise, use it.

[muddyboots]

They say that when thay asked for volunteers to go, his entire squad stepped forward.Rgds Cking

Probly owed em money

Seriously, I can't imagine not stepping up for the cchance to go pull one of my best friends out. You see it over and over in history: a half dozen men die to retrieve one man, and consider it worth the cost. Such a work is man.

[tom d. friedman]

mash x 5 decades.......... good ole american ingenuity