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Casevac at Musa Qal'eh
On 12th August 2006, two Lynx Mk7 helicopters of 9 Regiment Army Air Corps set off from Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, on a mission to extract wounded Danish soldiers from the District Centre (DC) at Musa Qal’eh. The DC was besieged by overwhelming numbers of heavily armed Taliban fighters. During the preceding ten days there had been intensive fighting and the risks of flying into the base were extremely high. Chinook helicopters had been regularly attacked with rocket-propelled grenades when landing nearby.
The mission had to be approved at Brigade then subsequently Commander JHF(A) level due to the risk involved in landing the Lynx in the compound. Two Apache AH-64 helicopters were to provide escort. The Helicopter Landing Site at the DC was not suitable to land in the dark and was too small to land a Chinook.
The two Lynx initially deployed from Kandahar Airfield (KAF), several hours before dawn, and arrived at Camp Bastion. The mission commander, WO1 DM Wilson MBE, delivered the joint mission brief to the crews. The two Lynx launched in the dark, a few minutes behind the Apaches. The low level run-in, some 20 miles out, had to be in sufficient daylight to be safe. Landing shortly after sunrise would give the element of surprise and minimise the risk of anti-aircraft fire. If the mission was delayed by even a few minutes it was deemed too risky and was to be aborted.
The two Lynx were commanded by Major Steve Riff (Royal Canadian Air Force) and WO1 Wilson. Their pilots were Sergeant Barry “Jack” Russell and Captain Andrew White. The Air Door Gunners were Lance Corporal Craig O’Donnell and Sergeant Matt Mockford.
The Apaches set off direct towards Musa Qal’eh. The Lynx followed a different route as a deception until they reached their let-down point to convert to low level. They then altered course for the final 20 miles to the target. Suddenly they appeared over the compound’s western wall, flaring to land, doors open and guns manned. The casualties were loaded onto the aircraft and successfully flown back to the Medical Treatment Facility at Camp Bastion.
This painting is the result of an idea generated during the Army Air Corps’ 50th anniversary dinner at Winchester Guildhall in 2007. The picture was selected as one of the Aviation Paintings of the Year in the annual exhibition of the Guild of Aviation Artists, 2013. Originally in the Officers' Mess at 9 Regiment AAC, Dishforth, North Yorkshire, the painting is retained in the Officers Mess, Headquarters Army Air Corps.
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Printed image size(s): B2 only (58 x 38 cm)
Owner: HQ Army Air Corps
Price(s): £70
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