Haji Inside the wire: Harriers, CO lost

[blackeagle603]

6 Harriers lost. 2 seriously damaged. 2 KIA -- one being the skipper. Pretty much wipes a squadron off the board for now.

On Friday Sept. 14, at around 10.15 p.m. local time, a force of Taliban gunmen attacked Camp Bastion, in Helmand Province, the main strategic base in southwestern Afghanistan.

About 15 insurgents (19 according to some reports), wearing U.S. Army uniforms, organized into three teams, breached the perimeter fence and launched an assault on the airfield, that includes the U.S. Camp Leatherneck and the UK’s Camp Bastion, where British royal Prince Harry, an AH-64 Apache pilot (initially believed to be the main target of the attack) is stationed.

The attackers fired machine guns, rocket propelled grenades and possibly mortars against aircraft parked next to the airport’s runway. Two U.S. Marines were killed in the subsequent fighting whereas eight of 10 AV-8B+ Harrier jets of the Yuma-based Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 211 were destroyed (6) or heavily damaged (2): the worst U.S. air loss in one day since the Vietnam War.

The VMA-211 “Avengers” is part of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing headquartered in San Diego at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. It deployed to Afghanistan in April and relocated from Kandahar Airfield to Camp Bastion on Jul. 1.

link

[blackeagle603]

This posted by a FB friend...

UPDATE: (Photos to follow) I had a very quick chat with some pilots and maintainers from the Harrier RAG today; they (HQMC) are rapidly loking at the stateside squadrons to see how quickly they can identify, prep and TRANSLANT airframes to 211. I also took the time to express my condolences at the loss of two fine Marines, including hte squadron CO who fought back against the attackers armed only with his 9MM M9.

Stud.

[Highspeed]

the squadron CO who fought back against the attackers armed only with his 9MM M9.

I can't really think of anything I can say that is appropriate or does his heroism justice.

[Yogimus]

Someone fucked up.

[rightisright]

Michael Yon writes about it:

https://www.michaelyon-online.com/afgha ... ch-out.htm

[Highspeed]

Someone fucked up.

No shit ? I'll look forward next to your next amazing insight about water being wet and the sky being in the general direction of 'up' then shall I ?

[Yogimus]

Someone fucked up.

No shit ? I'll look forward next to your next amazing insight about water being wet and the sky being in the general direction of 'up' then shall I ?

Considering airbase defense is one of my core competencies, when I say "someone fucked up" it holds a bit more weight than a casual comment made in passing. We need to know how they entered the base (through ECP? Fenceline?) How they got near the resources, did they present identification? HOW was such a pre planned attack not picked up on intel, especially considering the high value target at the base (Prince harry) and if the intel was picked up, how come the base wasnt notified?

Someone fucked up.

[Highspeed]

Considering airbase defense is one of my core competencies

I don't like you one tiny little bit, but I respect your profession.
Now we have got that out of the way, why don't you educate us further ?
I wouldn't know what an ECP was if it kicked me up the arse.

[Yogimus]

Considering airbase defense is one of my core competencies

I don't like you one tiny little bit, but I respect your profession.
Now we have got that out of the way, why don't you educate us further ?
I wouldn't know what an ECP was if it kicked me up the arse.

ECP- entry control point
basically, the primary way into a base. Right now, all I have is questions.

[blackeagle603]

Brit base. Brit perimeter.