On Point: the United States Army in Operation Iraqi ... - Boekje Pienter

Figure 99. Apache attack helicopter in dust-created brownout at FARP SHELLIgor Paustovski, US ArmyThe following account drawn form the battle summary of 6-6 CAV details how difficultthis mission became and conveys a sense of what flying that mission was like for one crew.Chief Warrant Officer 2 John Tomblin and First Lieutenant Jason King were inthe second aircraft to depart for the Medina fight, and when they finally tookoff to the north, the aircraft shuddered from the weight of the ammunition.Vehicle traffic trying to refuel the regiment’s aircraft had created 6 inches oftalcum powder dust—making it very difficult for everyone trying to depart theassembly area. The crew was not surprised when it monitored radio traffic thatan A Troop aircraft had crashed on takeoff. Along the 53-nautical mile route,Palerider 16 received very little small-arms fire but noticed heavy tracer fireto the west in the vicinity of its sister battalion, 1-227 AHB. As they began toturn west into the objective area, Tomblin and King noticed how bright thelights were in the nearby town; it seemed odd considering it was midnight[unit reports suggest time was actually 0100]. As they climbed to clear a set of200-foot wires, the lights went out for about 2 seconds. When the lights cameback on, they started receiving aimed AAA fire at the aircraft. It had beena coordinated ambush directed at taking out the Apache aircraft. Palerider16 conducted evasive maneuvers and returned fire. Tomblin stated “fire wascoming from all directions.” He could tell the aircraft had been hit when hesmelled electrical equipment burning. Looking down, Tomblin saw a man witha rifle shooting at the aircraft. He engaged with the 30mm, killing the man andhitting a nearby fuel tanker. There was a tremendous explosion that lit up the sky.As Tomblin maneuvered the aircraft, King was calling in [a] report that theyhad taken fire. In the middle of his report, a bullet entered the cockpit and wentthrough his throat. His transmission stopped and Tomblin asked, “Sir are youok?” There was no response. King’s throat had filled with blood, and althoughhe could hear everything that was going on, he was unable to answer. Tomblinturned the aircraft to the south and reported that his front-seater had been hit,187