Royal Marines Strapped to Apache in Rescue Attempt

You may be a bad ass. Have you ever been a strap yourself to the outside of an Apache bad ass? Check out this video from the AP that shows two Royal Marines strapped to the outside of an Apache helicopter attempting to rescue a member of their team who was wounded during a raid in Afghanistan in 2007.

Royal Marines Strapped to Apache

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnMHLof-u2AThe Guardian wrote about the details behind the rescue mission, which ultimately was not successful. From The Guardian:It was an extraordinary end to a tragic operation. When Lance Corporal Mathew Ford was shot during an assault on a Taliban fortress last Monday, his comrades mounted a dramatic rescue mission that saw soldiers being strapped to the wings of helicopter gunships as they crossed a river under heavy enemy fire.The remarkable mission, dubbed "Flight of the Phoenix" by some, did not save the life of the 30-year-old marine who, it turned out, had died instantly from gunshot wounds. But it may gain four courageous marines an honoured place in British military history books.

The drama unfolded during a British assault on Jugroom fort, a Taliban base in Garmser, a district of southern Helmand racked by violence. The riverside fort - a high walled compound ringed by watchtowers - had been under surveillance for more than two months. Military intelligence believed key Taliban leaders were hiding inside and that it was the command headquarters for insurgent activity across Garmser.On Sunday night a 200-strong British force, led by Royal Marines, launched an operation to flush the Taliban out of the heavily fortified position. They started by launching a diversionary attack on other enemy positions to the north. Then at about 2am, they turned their sights on the real target. B1 bombers and 155mm artillery attacked as a company of marines from 45 Commando gathered on the western bank of the river, across from the fort.Read the rest of the story at The Guardian. This story shows the incredible lengths brothers in arms will go to in order to never leave behind a fallen comrade.[mwi-cat-listing cat="94" ppp="4" cols="4" desc="false" type="view" btn_color="black" ]