ianstone
09-29-2010, 08:53 AM
Exclusive
Copter blaze hero bags top gong
http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01134/SUN231GM29-682_1134414a.jpg Attack ... our graphic shows how Taliban hit chopper
A SPECIAL Forces pilot has been awarded a top medal after saving his crew by landing his burning, smoke-filled helicopter in the dead of night.
His £40million Chinook was hit by a Taliban rocket-propelled grenade in Afghanistan - but he managed to fly it half a mile before landing in a safe zone.
The hero then removed secret data and was picked up along with his three comrades by another Chinook.
http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01134/SNN2923G-380g_1134262a.jpg Honour ... the Distinguished Flying Cross
MOD
An air strike was then called in to destroy the crippled chopper so it did not fall into enemy hands. Last night a military insider said: "What he did was awesome - and he did all of this wearing night vision goggles. It was an incredible feat of flying."
The elite RAF pilot - who we are not naming to protect his identity - has received the Distinguished Flying Cross for his heroics in August last year.
The Chinook is believed to have been targeted after dropping off SAS fighters tasked with hunting Taliban bomb makers in Helmand province.
Insurgents fired guns before hitting one of the engines with the RPG - as shown in our graphic, right. It was the first British helicopter to have been shot down by the Taliban.
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The insider said: "The Taliban hit the craft with everything and got the engine. The Chinook filled with black smoke but the pilot remained in control at all times.
"Despite the blaze and smoke he made a textbook landing. And he was able to remove sensitive data before leaving the Chinook.
"He did everything by the book despite the most challenging of circumstances.
"He is a top pilot - he wouldn't be flying these sorts of missions if he wasn't - and a top bloke too."
An MoD spokesman said: "We do not comment of Special Forces operations."
d.willetts@the-sun.co.uk
Copter blaze hero bags top gong
http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01134/SUN231GM29-682_1134414a.jpg Attack ... our graphic shows how Taliban hit chopper
A SPECIAL Forces pilot has been awarded a top medal after saving his crew by landing his burning, smoke-filled helicopter in the dead of night.
His £40million Chinook was hit by a Taliban rocket-propelled grenade in Afghanistan - but he managed to fly it half a mile before landing in a safe zone.
The hero then removed secret data and was picked up along with his three comrades by another Chinook.
http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01134/SNN2923G-380g_1134262a.jpg Honour ... the Distinguished Flying Cross
MOD
An air strike was then called in to destroy the crippled chopper so it did not fall into enemy hands. Last night a military insider said: "What he did was awesome - and he did all of this wearing night vision goggles. It was an incredible feat of flying."
The elite RAF pilot - who we are not naming to protect his identity - has received the Distinguished Flying Cross for his heroics in August last year.
The Chinook is believed to have been targeted after dropping off SAS fighters tasked with hunting Taliban bomb makers in Helmand province.
Insurgents fired guns before hitting one of the engines with the RPG - as shown in our graphic, right. It was the first British helicopter to have been shot down by the Taliban.
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http://pixel.quantserve.com/pixel/p-e4m3Yko6bFYVc.gif?labels=NewsAndReference,Entertai nmentNews
The insider said: "The Taliban hit the craft with everything and got the engine. The Chinook filled with black smoke but the pilot remained in control at all times.
"Despite the blaze and smoke he made a textbook landing. And he was able to remove sensitive data before leaving the Chinook.
"He did everything by the book despite the most challenging of circumstances.
"He is a top pilot - he wouldn't be flying these sorts of missions if he wasn't - and a top bloke too."
An MoD spokesman said: "We do not comment of Special Forces operations."
d.willetts@the-sun.co.uk