84-24175

 

 

         
Checking for leaks on CH-47D Chinook helicopter 84-24175 at an undisclosed location in Afghanistan, late 2003.

             "Checking for leaks" on CH-47D Chinook helicopter 84-24175 at an undisclosed location in Afghanistan, late 2003.

 

 

             84-24175, Boeing D model kit number M3329, was a CH-47D helicopter. The U.S. Army acceptance date was 3 October 1985. As of 2002, 84-24175 had accumulated at least 2,255.8 D model hours and 4,689.7 total aircraft hours.

    84-24175 was a conversion from the original C model Chinook 69-17113.

   At some point, 84-24175 was assigned to B Company - "Muleskinners", 2nd General Support Aviation Battalion, 135th Aviation Brigade (B-2/135 GSAB), Army National Guard, with elements in Aurora, Colorado and Grand Island, Nebraska, through 5 August 2011. It is unknown to which element and what location 84-24175 was assigned.

   On 5 August 2011, at approximately 2209 hours Zulu (UTC) time, 84-24175 [callsign Extortion 17] was shot down by a suspected rocket propelled grenade (RPG) while on a combat mission flying in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) in Afghanistan. 84-24175 was on a Quick Reaction Force (QRF) insertion mission to assist members of the 75th Rangers pinned down by enemy fire in a fierce fire fight. The crash site was at Tangi Joi Zareen, in the district of Sayd Abad in Wardak Province, about 60 miles (97 kilometers) southwest of Kabul.

   All five crew members perished in the crash.

   One member of the flight crew, CW4 Carter, was from the Colorado Army National Guard, based at Buckley Air Force Base in Aurora.

   One member of the flight crew, SGT Hamburger, was from the Nebraska Army National Guard, based at the Central Nebraska Regional Airport near Grand Island.

    Three members of the flight crew, CW2 Nichols, SPC Bennett and SPC Duncan were from Company B - "Spartans", 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment, United States Army Reserve (USAR), home based at New Century AirCenter in Olathe, Kansas.

    As of 5 August 2011, this aircraft was 41.1 years old.

   As of 5 August 2011, the last known location of 84-24175 was in Afghanistan assigned to B-2/135 GSAB.

    Aircraft status: Shot down.

 

 

          Press Release

 

 

         
Map of hostile area where MH-47 was shot down.
6 August 2011: KABUL, Afghanistan — Insurgents shot down a NATO Chinook helicopter, 84-24175, during an overnight operation in eastern Afghanistan, killing 38 people on board, a military official said on Saturday. It was one of the worst single-day losses of life for coalition troops in the nearly decade long war and comes amid rising violence across the country.

   The majority of those killed were NATO troops but Afghan soldiers were
          also among the dead, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the crash was still being investigated.

             The Chinook from B Company - "Muleskinners", 2nd General Support Aviation Battalion, 135th Aviation Brigade (B-2/135 GSAB), Army National Guard, with elements in Aurora, Colorado and Grand Island, Nebraska was carrying 38 personnel, most of them from the elite Navy SEAL Team 6 unit that killed al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, along with seven Afghan commandos. None of the Sea Air Land (SEAL) Team members aboard were involved in the Bin Laden incident.

             Sources indicate that all five crewmen, 22 United States Navy (USN) SEALS, three United States Air Force (USAF) Forward Air Controllers (FACs), seven Afghanistan Special Forces (SF), 1 Afghanistan interpreter, and 1 dog were killed.

             It is suspected the helicopter was hit by a rocket propelled grenade (RPG) as it was operating in the Tangi valley of the Wardak Province just west of Kabul. The Taliban claimed credit for the attack.

             U.S. Air Force Capt. Justin Brockhoff, a NATO spokesman, confirmed the crash but could provide no further information, including what caused the crash or whether there were casualties.

 

 

          Aircrew Fatalities:

 

 

         
Chief Warrant Officer 4 David R. Carter, Instructor Pilot (IP), 47, of Centennial, Colorado. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 135th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion), Aurora, Colorado.
Chief Warrant Officer 4 David R. Carter, Instructor Pilot (IP), 47, of Centennial, Colorado. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 135th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion), Aurora, Colorado.

 

 

         
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Bryan J. Nichols, Pilot in Command (PC), 31, of Hays, Kansas. He was assigned to the 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion), New Century, Kansas.
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Bryan J. Nichols, Pilot in Command (PC), 31, of Hays, Kansas. He was assigned to the 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion), New Century, Kansas.

 

 

         
SGT Alexander J. Bennett, Flight Engineer (FE), 24, of Tacoma, Washington. He was assigned to the 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion), New Century, Kansas.
SGT Alexander J. Bennett, Flight Engineer (FE), 24, of Tacoma, Washington. He was assigned to the 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion), New Century, Kansas.

 

 

         
SGT Patrick D. Hamburger, Flight Engineer (FE), 30, of Lincoln, Nebraska. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 135th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion), Grand Island, Nebraska.
SGT Patrick D. Hamburger, Flight Engineer (FE), 30, of Lincoln, Nebraska. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 135th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion), Grand Island, Nebraska.

 

 

         
SPC Spencer C. Duncan, Door Gunner (DG), 21, of Olathe, Kansas. He was assigned to the 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion), New Century, Kansas.
SPC Spencer C. Duncan, Door Gunner (DG), 21, of Olathe, Kansas. He was assigned to the 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion), New Century, Kansas.

 

 

          Passenger Fatalities:

 

 

          United States Navy

 

          Sailors assigned to an East Coast based Naval Special Warfare unit - SEAL Team 6

 

 

         
Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Darrik C. Benson, 28, of Angwin, California.
Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Darrik C. Benson, 28, of Angwin, California.

 

 

         
Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Brian R. Bill, 31, of Stamford, Connecticut.
Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Brian R. Bill, 31, of Stamford, Connecticut.

 

 

         
Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL/Parachutist) Christopher G. Campbell, 36, of Jacksonville, North Carolina.
Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL/Parachutist) Christopher G. Campbell, 36, of Jacksonville, North Carolina.

 

 

         
Information Systems Technician Petty Officer 1st Class (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist/Freefall Parachutist) Jared W. Day, 28, of Taylorsville, Utah.
Information Systems Technician Petty Officer 1st Class (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist/Freefall Parachutist) Jared W. Day, 28, of Taylorsville, Utah.

 

 

         
Master-at-Arms Petty Officer 1st Class (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist) John Douangdara, 26, of South Sioux City, Nebraska.
Master-at-Arms Petty Officer 1st Class (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist) John Douangdara, 26, of South Sioux City, Nebraska.

 

 

         
Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) John W. Faas, 31, of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) John W. Faas, 31, of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

 

 

         
Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Kevin A. Houston, 35, of West Hyannisport, Massachusetts.
Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Kevin A. Houston, 35, of West Hyannisport, Massachusetts.

 

 

         
LCDR (SEAL) Jonas B. Kelsall, 32, of Shreveport, Louisiana.
LCDR (SEAL) Jonas B. Kelsall, 32, of Shreveport, Louisiana.

 

 

         
Warfare Operator Master Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Louis J. Langlais, 44, of Santa Barbara, California.
Warfare Operator Master Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Louis J. Langlais, 44, of Santa Barbara, California.

 

 

         
Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Matthew D. Mason, 37, of Kansas City, Missouri.
Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Matthew D. Mason, 37, of Kansas City, Missouri.

 

 

         
Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Stephen M. Mills, 35, of Fort Worth, Texas.
Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Stephen M. Mills, 35, of Fort Worth, Texas.

 

 

         
Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician Chief Petty Officer (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist/Freefall Parachutist/Diver) Nicholas H. Null, 30, of Washington, West Virginia.
Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician Chief Petty Officer (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist/Freefall Parachutist/Diver) Nicholas H. Null, 30, of Washington, West Virginia.

 

 

         
Special Warfare Operator Senior Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Thomas A. Ratzlaff, 34, of Green Forest, Arkansas.
Special Warfare Operator Senior Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Thomas A. Ratzlaff, 34, of Green Forest, Arkansas.

 

 

         
Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Robert J. Reeves, 32, of Shreveport, Louisiana.
Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Robert J. Reeves, 32, of Shreveport, Louisiana.

 

 

         
Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Heath M. Robinson, 34, of Detroit, Michigan.
Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Heath M. Robinson, 34, of Detroit, Michigan.

 

 

         
Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL/Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist) Jon T. Tumilson, 35, of Rockford, Iowa.
Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL/Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist) Jon T. Tumilson, 35, of Rockford, Iowa.

 

 

         
Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Aaron C. Vaughn, 30, of Stuart, Florida.
Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Aaron C. Vaughn, 30, of Stuart, Florida.

 

 

         
Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Jason R. Workman, 32, of Blanding, Utah.
Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Jason R. Workman, 32, of Blanding, Utah.

 

 

         
Cryptologist Technician (Collection) Petty Officer 1st Class (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist) Michael J. Strange, 25, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Cryptologist Technician (Collection) Petty Officer 1st Class (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist) Michael J. Strange, 25, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

 

 

         
Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician Senior Chief Petty Officer (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist/Freefall Parachutist) Kraig M. Vickers 36, of Kokomo, Hawaii.
Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician Senior Chief Petty Officer (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist/Freefall Parachutist) Kraig M. Vickers 36, of Kokomo, Hawaii.

 

 

          K-9, USN Seal Team 6 Canine.

 

 

          United States Navy

 

          Sailors assigned to a West Coast based Naval Special Warfare unit

 

 

         
Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Jesse D. Pittman, 27, of Ukiah, California.
Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Jesse D. Pittman, 27, of Ukiah, California.

 

 

         
Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 2nd Class (SEAL) Nicholas P. Spehar, 24, of Saint Paul, Minnesota.
Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 2nd Class (SEAL) Nicholas P. Spehar, 24, of Saint Paul, Minnesota.

 

 

          United States Air Force

 

          Members of the 24th Special Tactics Squadron, Pope Field, North Carolina

 

 

         
TSGT John W. Brown, 33, of Tallahassee, Florida.
TSGT John W. Brown, Parajumper (PJ), United States Air Force (USAF), 33, of Tallahassee, Florida.

 

 

         
SSGT Andrew W. Harvell, Combat Control Team (CCT), United states Air Force (USAF), 26, of Long Beach, California.
SSGT Andrew W. Harvell, Combat Control Team (CCT), United States Air Force (USAF), 26, of Long Beach, California.

 

 

         
TSGT Daniel L. Zerbe, Parajumper (PJ), United States Air Force (USAF), 28, of York, Pennsylvania.
TSGT Daniel L. Zerbe, Parajumper (PJ), United States Air Force (USAF), 28, of York, Pennsylvania.

 

 

          Seven Afghanistan National Army Special Forces, names unknown.

 

          One Afghanistan Interpreter, name unknown.

 

 

          Crash Site Photograph

 

 

         
Wreckage of CH-47D Chinook helicopter 84-24175 shot down on 5 Aug 2011 is seen at the site of crash at Tangi Valley in Wardak province some 60 miles (97 kilometers) southwest of Kabul, Afghanistan. The Chinook helicopter that insurgents shot down burst into flames before hitting the ground, leaving wreckage scattered on both sides of a river in eastern Afghanistan. This photograph was taken on 11 August 2011 after the U.S. Military destroyed the remains of the aircraft with explosives and hauled away most of the debris left over by ground vehicles.

             Wreckage of CH-47D Chinook helicopter 84-24175 shot down on 5 Aug 2011 is seen at the site of crash at Tangi Valley in Wardak province some 60 miles (97 kilometers) southwest of Kabul, Afghanistan. The Chinook helicopter that insurgents shot down burst into flames before hitting the ground, leaving wreckage scattered on both sides of a river in eastern Afghanistan. This photograph was taken on 11 August 2011 after the U.S. Military destroyed the remains of the aircraft with explosives and hauled away most of the debris left over by ground vehicles.

 

 

          This aircraft was piloted by:

 

          CW4 David R. Carter, Instructor Pilot, 2011, KIA.

 

          CW2 Bryan Nichols, Pilot in Command, 2011, KIA.

 

          Your Name Here.

 

 

          This aircraft was crewed by:

 

          SGT Alexander Bennett, Flight Engineer, 2011, KIA.

 

          SGT Patrick Hamburger, Flight Engineer, 2011, KIA.

 

          SPC Spencer C. Duncan, Door Gunner, 2011, KIA.

 

          Your Name Here.

 

 

          Related Information

 

          Declassified Report on the Loss of 84-24175

 

 

          The CH-47 - 40 years old and still circling the world.

         

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