Guns and Snakes
 

"On March 18, 2003, two days prior to the U.S. invasion of Iraq, my unit—Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 269, which consisted of 18 AH-1W SuperCobras (we call them Snakes), nine UH-1N Hueys, and 323 Marines out of Jacksonville, North Carolina—moved about half of our aircraft into Kuwait from the USS Saipan, an amphibious assault ship that was our home at sea. I was designated the division leader for a four-Snake flight that was tasked with destroying three Iraqi border posts. We moved ashore so we could react more quickly to the rapidly changing and confusing timeline for the coming battle’s opening phases."

"I had never been so nervous as I was flying off the boat that day. This was my first combat mission, and as we flew across the teal waters of the Persian Gulf toward Kuwait, I thought about my children. I feared them being left fatherless, and I begged God for strength."


Read more: http://www.airspacemag.com/military-...mEzHDbEbxhW7dD.

A gripping account of Marine Super Cobras and the crews in combat. I found the article interesting and informative as a basis for my scenario attack helicopter ops. See http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/showp...44&postcount=1.

Re: Guns and Snakes
 

Nice article - Thanks.

If anyone is interested in the British attack helicopter experience in Afghan, may I recommend the book "APACHE DAWN - Always Outnumbered Never Outgunned" by Damien Lewis. It is written with a similar wit and self effacing manner and a jolly good read.

Re: Guns and Snakes
 

As the old saying goes, the only people that aren't nervous going into combat are fools and idiots.