DISPATCHES FROM AFGHANISTAN
The helcopters fly fast and low is because a fast moving target is difficult to hit when it is close to the ground.
(KABUL, Afghanistan) - The thunderous blades of U.S. Army helicopters mean many things to soldiers at war.
Sometimes the sound means an infantryman is approaching battle, while other times the deafening roar is the sound of rescue and evacuation.
These helicopters making an approach in an Afghanistan mountain valley carry combat troops that are on the move. This CH-47 Chinook was also my ride back to the Afghanistan capitol, Kabul.
The Blackhawk helicopter represents the new technology in place in the U.S. military. Blackhawks are used in a number of combat roles and they are also widely used in military and civilian rescue operations.
The CH-47 Chinook helicopter is used primarily for troop transport. Afghanistan is a high country and the extra elevation limits the capabilities of these aircraft. While the twin overhead blades of the CH-47 are powerful, these helicopters fly very low to the ground, often lower than nearby mountaintops.
Aircraft in war often fly in pairs for protection, and the crewman aboard this helicopter wastes no time after getting airborne in locking and loading his machine gun. Increasing hostilities in Afghanistan and Iraq have put aircrews on high alert and the recent loss of a helicopter like this one in a similar location in recent weeks is a reminder of how vulnerable they are to everything from groundfire to mechanical failure.
Afghan combat troops in flightCold weather is also an obstacle, winters in Afghanistan are cold and unforgiving. The area is known for it's rugged terrain and hearty people, they live in sub zero conditions without adequate fuel for heat, food or clothing. Many children here are seen walking through the snow without shoes. It is a pathetic sight all too often.
The soldiers of the Afghanistan National Army say they take the fight to the Taliban and other anti-Coalition forces whenever possible and it is commonly agreed that their fighting fury and spirit inspires great fear in the fanatical pseudo religious enemy. An enemy that is known for their black turbans and cruelty toward women and little girls.
So they climb aboard the helicopters without fail and fly off to destinations unknown, the only sure thing they can always count on is the violence that lies ahead. They aren't known for their aim, but all the American, British and Canadian soldiers I worked with say the Afghans are brave and always willing to fire their weapons in anger.
In this region of Afghanistan, an aircraft can fly at nine thousand feet of altitude and only be a hundred feet off the ground. Another reason the helcopters fly fast and low is because a fast moving target is difficult to hit when it is close to the ground.
Pilots and crews say they do all they can to keep the helicopters out of harm's way when possible and the mechanical and avionic crews on the ground keep the planes in top shape for the mission ahead.
All told, it is a vast effort to keep these huge flying machines in order. But with IED's becoming an increasing problem on the roads below, air travel still remainsa fast and effective option for the military forces at war.
Watch the Streaming Video News Report below, direct from Kabul, Afghanistan by Tim King:
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Tim King is a former U.S. Marine with twenty years of experience on the west coast as a television news producer, photojournalist, reporter and assignment editor. In addition to his role as a war correspondent, this Los Angeles native serves as Salem-News.com's Executive News Editor. Tim spent the winter of 2006/07 covering the war in Afghanistan, and he was in Iraq over the summer of 2008, reporting from the war while embedded with both the U.S. Army and the Marines.
Tim holds awards for reporting, photography, writing and editing, including the Silver Spoke Award by the National Coalition of Motorcyclists (2011), Excellence in Journalism Award by the Oregon Confederation of Motorcycle Clubs (2010), Oregon AP Award for Spot News Photographer of the Year (2004), First-place Electronic Media Award in Spot News, Las Vegas, (1998), Oregon AP Cooperation Award (1991); and several others including the 2005 Red Cross Good Neighborhood Award for reporting. Tim has several years of experience in network affiliate news TV stations, having worked as a reporter and photographer at NBC, ABC and FOX stations in Arizona, Nevada and Oregon. Tim was a member of the National Press Photographer's Association for several years and is a current member of the Orange County Press Club.
Serving the community in very real terms, Salem-News.com is the nation's only truly independent high traffic news Website. As News Editor, Tim among other things, is responsible for publishing the original content of 82 Salem-News.com writers. He reminds viewers that emails are easily missed and urges those trying to reach him, to please send a second email if the first goes unanswered. You can write to Tim at this address: newsroom@salem-news.com
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