Post by corsair67 on Jan 24, 2007 11:37:20 GMT 12
These guys are amazing! 
British marines turn stuntmen to bring home a fallen comrade
Wesley Johnson, London
January 23, 2007 .
THE first images have emerged of a daring mission in which four British marines strapped themselves to the sides of helicopter gunships in a bid to recover a fallen colleague in Afghanistan.
The astonishing images show members of Arbroath-based 45 Commando, strapped to the outside of two Apache helicopters as they prepared to retrieve the body of their comrade, Lance Corporal Mathew Ford.
Ford, 30, had been killed instantly by Taliban fire as he participated in an assault on a fort in the southern province of Helmand. When the marines fell back to regroup they realised the section commander was missing and hatched the dramatic plan to retrieve him.
Initial plans to return to the fort in amphibious Viking vehicles, which were used in the original assault were scrapped because it would have taken too long.
Instead, in a mission dubbed "Flight of the Phoenix", the two Apaches were scrambled and four volunteers were quickly found to carry it out.
The four commandos flew into a fierce gunfight in southern Afghanistan last week clinging to the stabiliser wings of two Apache helicopters before running to recover the body.
Military photographers captured a series of images showing how the four marines, Colin Hearn, 45, Gary Robinson, 26, David Rigg, 30, and Chris Fraser-Perry, 19, fastened themselves to bolted handholds on either side of the aircraft as it flew 35m above the desert. A third Apache provided covering fire.
Another of the dramatic pictures, taken from the gun camera of one of the Apaches, shows the other helicopter heading towards the Taliban fort.
The marines took just five minutes to find and retrieve Ford's body.
Yesterday, Gary Robinson described in detail the events surrounding the mission, but played down his and his colleagues' bravery, insisting they were only doing their job.
"We were given briefs on the layout on the ground and the position of Lieutenant Corporal Ford and told that we were going to be going in on the helicopter and what to do when we got on the ground," The Scotsman newspaper reported the marine as saying.
"All that was going through my head was what to do when we got on the ground and just make sure I knew exactly where I was going so I could reach (him) as soon as possible and get out myself.
"As we came in, there was a lot of firepower going down with our assets and artillery. There was a wall in front of us which had signs of battle damage."
Mr Robinson added: "Any of my colleagues would have done the same thing if the roles had been reversed. I don't think it was heroic or dangerous. I felt 100 per cent safe at all times because of the plan and the covering fire. At the end of the day, it's our job."
Royal Marines spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Rory Bruce described the mission as "a leap into the unknown" and paid tribute to the bravery of the soldiers.
"This is believed to be the first time UK forces have ever tried this type of rescue mission," he said. "It was an extraordinary tale of heroism and bravery of our airmen, soldiers and marines, who were all prepared to put themselves back into the line of fire to rescue a fallen comrade."
Ford was the second British serviceman to die in the country in three days.
Royal Marine Thomas Curry, 21, of 42 Commando, was killed during a battle to clear Taliban positions on Saturday.
Earlier this week, Prime Minister Tony Blair said the marines were "performing vital roles in working towards a safer and more secure world".
Tory leader David Cameron said the daring mission was a reminder of the "incredible professionalism" of Britain's armed forces.
The death brings the number of British service personnel who have died since the start of hostilities in early 2003 to 130.
PA
British marines turn stuntmen to bring home a fallen comrade
Wesley Johnson, London
January 23, 2007 .
THE first images have emerged of a daring mission in which four British marines strapped themselves to the sides of helicopter gunships in a bid to recover a fallen colleague in Afghanistan.
The astonishing images show members of Arbroath-based 45 Commando, strapped to the outside of two Apache helicopters as they prepared to retrieve the body of their comrade, Lance Corporal Mathew Ford.
Ford, 30, had been killed instantly by Taliban fire as he participated in an assault on a fort in the southern province of Helmand. When the marines fell back to regroup they realised the section commander was missing and hatched the dramatic plan to retrieve him.
Initial plans to return to the fort in amphibious Viking vehicles, which were used in the original assault were scrapped because it would have taken too long.
Instead, in a mission dubbed "Flight of the Phoenix", the two Apaches were scrambled and four volunteers were quickly found to carry it out.
The four commandos flew into a fierce gunfight in southern Afghanistan last week clinging to the stabiliser wings of two Apache helicopters before running to recover the body.
Military photographers captured a series of images showing how the four marines, Colin Hearn, 45, Gary Robinson, 26, David Rigg, 30, and Chris Fraser-Perry, 19, fastened themselves to bolted handholds on either side of the aircraft as it flew 35m above the desert. A third Apache provided covering fire.
Another of the dramatic pictures, taken from the gun camera of one of the Apaches, shows the other helicopter heading towards the Taliban fort.
The marines took just five minutes to find and retrieve Ford's body.
Yesterday, Gary Robinson described in detail the events surrounding the mission, but played down his and his colleagues' bravery, insisting they were only doing their job.
"We were given briefs on the layout on the ground and the position of Lieutenant Corporal Ford and told that we were going to be going in on the helicopter and what to do when we got on the ground," The Scotsman newspaper reported the marine as saying.
"All that was going through my head was what to do when we got on the ground and just make sure I knew exactly where I was going so I could reach (him) as soon as possible and get out myself.
"As we came in, there was a lot of firepower going down with our assets and artillery. There was a wall in front of us which had signs of battle damage."
Mr Robinson added: "Any of my colleagues would have done the same thing if the roles had been reversed. I don't think it was heroic or dangerous. I felt 100 per cent safe at all times because of the plan and the covering fire. At the end of the day, it's our job."
Royal Marines spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Rory Bruce described the mission as "a leap into the unknown" and paid tribute to the bravery of the soldiers.
"This is believed to be the first time UK forces have ever tried this type of rescue mission," he said. "It was an extraordinary tale of heroism and bravery of our airmen, soldiers and marines, who were all prepared to put themselves back into the line of fire to rescue a fallen comrade."
Ford was the second British serviceman to die in the country in three days.
Royal Marine Thomas Curry, 21, of 42 Commando, was killed during a battle to clear Taliban positions on Saturday.
Earlier this week, Prime Minister Tony Blair said the marines were "performing vital roles in working towards a safer and more secure world".
Tory leader David Cameron said the daring mission was a reminder of the "incredible professionalism" of Britain's armed forces.
The death brings the number of British service personnel who have died since the start of hostilities in early 2003 to 130.
PA
