Operation Wing Fury, Force Extraction [Part 2 of 5] Aircrewman Perspective.

Operation Wing Fury, Force Extraction [Part 2 of 5] Aircrewman Perspective. A mission involving three UH60 Blackhawks, two US/AUS Chinooks, and two AH64 Apache Helicopters. Mission Duration 2.7 Hours. Crew: Pilots Major Jason Duggan (RHS) and Captain Jason Otter (LHS); Aircrewman Technician Corporal Garth Pregnell (RHS); Aircrewman LHS Unknown and Aircrewman Technician Sergeant Lee Maloney (RAMP). Pen Camera footage filmed from the helmet of Corporal (Cpl) Garth Pregnell, C Squadron, 5th Aviation Regiment (5 Avn Regt), aboard Australian Army CH-45D Chinook A15-202.

Captain Otter later noted: “The vision was captured utilising a pen camera attached to Cpl Pregnell’s helmet as he mans the right hand M134 Minigun of Chinook A15-202. Crew communications are heard over the aircraft communications system (ICS). This footage continues on from AWM2020.895.1 where Cpl Pregnell has just passed a six minute signal to the insertion forces seated in the rear cabin. At 00:56 one of the two escort Apache comes into view pushing forward to secure the LZ [Landing Zone]. At 3:37 a three minute signal is passed. At 5:50, 202 is on final approach to land on the first dummy LZ. (troops do not offload) Dust appears at the ramp and is coming forward at 5:57 and the ramp lowering at 6:03. The dummy insertion takes place and the aircraft quickly becomes airborne. From 8:35 through to 11:50 the lead aircraft is in view. At 17:18 the formation moves through a turn point with a second CH47D and UH60 in view. At 18:32 the 1 min call is passed to the insertion force indication their impending arrival at the objective. The landing sequence commences at 19:17 with the target village of the operation coming into view. Dust appears at the ramp at 19:54and the landing occurs. The escort apache can be seen overhead at 20:08 before the assault force leave the aircraft. At 29:30 our ground track takes us back to Kandahar Air Base for refuelling along the main runway to the eastern FARP. The footage is continued at AWM2019.311.8.280".