Boeing's CH-47 Chinook helicopter - Waging the War against Terrorism [Page 19].

A Fight in Afghanistan

U.S. soldiers shelter from the dust kicked up by a Chinook helicopter as it lands to pick them up from Bagh village, in Khakeran Valley, Zabul province, Afghanistan, June 26, 2005. From U.S. and U.N. officials down to Afghan villagers, there is growing fear that this country may be at a seminal moment with three years of state-building in danger of succumbing to the barrage of violence.

Above and below: U.S. soldiers shelter from the dust kicked up by a Chinook helicopter as it lands to pick them up from Bagh village, in Khakeran Valley, Zabul province, Afghanistan, June 26, 2005. From U.S. and U.N. officials down to Afghan villagers, there is growing fear that this country may be at a seminal moment with three years of state-building in danger of succumbing to the barrage of violence.

U.S. soldiers, with a Chinook helicopter in the background, return to their base after attending a local tribal council in Zabul province, south of Afghanistan June 30, 2005. The U.S. military was using "all available assets" on Friday to search for a U.S. reconnaissance team that went missing just before a helicopter coming to help them was shot down in eastern Afghanistan, killing all aboard.

US Chinook helicopter Destroyed

Thursday, 28 July 2005: An American MH-47D Chinook helicopter, 89-00146, has been destroyed by fire in southeast Afghanistan, US military say.

The incident, which happened late Wednesday, was not caused by hostile fire, the US says.

Coalition forces believe the aircraft caught fire after landing in difficult conditions in Spin Boldak, near the border with Pakistan.

Thirty one people, including six US troops and 25 Afghans, were said to be on board but no one was injured.

The Chinook was one of two conducting an operation in response to reports of insurgent activity in the area.

The aircraft was scheduled to move forces taking part in the operation, US Sergeant Marina Evans said.

Spin Boldak, linking Kandahar with Pakistan's Balochistan province, is near the conflict zone. A team of investigators was due to arrive at the site later on Thursday.

Chinook Lost in Afghanistan

25 September 2005: A U.S. military CH-47D helicopter, 90-00200, has crashed during an anti-militant operation in southern Afghanistan, killing its five-member American crew.

The U.S. military says the Chinook aircraft went down early Sunday in Zabul province shortly after dropping off troops involved in the mission.

The helicopter came down southwest of Dey Chopan, a mountainous district in the southern Zabul province and one of the most turbulent areas of the country, where groups of Taliban militants have continued their insurgency. The Chinook was flying with two Black Hawk helicopters and another Chinook, ferrying soldiers and supplies into the mountains where an operation is underway. The crash occurred on the way back to base, in a remote area, far away from the area of operations.

A U.S. military spokesman, Colonel Jim Yonts, said the cause of the crash is under investigation, and that troops are at the scene providing security for recovery operation.

None of the accompanying helicopters reported seeing any flash or trail of a missile, nor did they take any small arms fire, Colonel Yonts said.

A Taliban spokesman, Abdul Latif Hakimi, claimed responsibility for shooting down the aircraft, but the U.S. military says there is no indication hostile fire was involved.

Two other U.S. Chinooks crashed in Afghanistan earlier this year. One of the large, twin-rotor aircraft was shot down in June, killing all 16 Americans aboard. Another Chinook crashed in a sandstorm in April, killing 15 American troops and three civilians.

The Department of Defense announced the death of five soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Chief Warrant Officer John M. Flynn, 36, of Sparks, Nevada. CWO Flynn was assigned to the Army National Guard's 113th Aviation Regiment, Stead, Nevada.

Warrant Officer Adrian B. Stump, 22, of Pendleton, Oregon. WO Stump was assigned to the Army National Guard's 113th Aviation Regiment, Pendleton, Oregon.

Sergeant Tane T. Baum, 30, of Pendleton, Oregon. SGT Baum was assigned to the Army National Guard's 113th Aviation Regiment, Pendleton, Oregon.

Sergeant Kenneth G. Ross, 24, of Peoria, Arizona. SGT Ross was assigned to the Army's 7th Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment, Giebelstadt, Germany.

Sergeant Patrick D. Stewart, 35, of Fernley, Nevada. SGT Stewart was assigned to the Army National Guard's 113th Aviation Regiment, Stead, Nevada.

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