Mutley's Hangar Forums

A British Chinook helicopter pilot was shot between the eyes by a Taliban bullet - but flew on and saved all 20 aboard, The Sun reported.

The Sun reports that Flight Lieutenant Ian Fortune, 28, had flown in to pick up casualties as a firefight raged between American and Afghan forces and heavily-armed rebels near Garmsir in Helmand Province.

Flt-Lt Fortune - who had TV presenter Mike Brewer on the aircraft filming a documentary - was advised to hold off on approach to the battle as it was "too hot" on the ground. He circled until troops reported incoming fire had calmed down.

But as he flew in the helicopter came under attack - which continued as casualties were being loaded.

Then, as he lifted off, Flt-Lt Fortune was shot. A bullet hit a metal rail on the front of his helmet which is used to attach night vision goggles.The round then penetrated his helmet hitting him between the eyes. It knocked his head back and caused severe bleeding.

More bullets followed, hitting the Chinook's controls and shutting down the stabilisation system.

But with blood pouring into his eyes, Flt-Lt Fortune battled with the controls to stop the chopper from spiraling out of control

Then with the aircraft lurching from side to side he continued flying for eight minutes before landing at Camp Bastion.

He was taken to the field hospital and treated for his wound.

It is the first time in the nine-year war in Afghanistan a pilot has been shot while in the air.

One senior RAF source said: "This could have become one of the worst incidents of the conflict.

"If the bullet had hit the pilot a millimetre lower, those on board wouldn't have stood a chance.

"And had it not been for the skill of the pilot the result would have been the same."

Brewer, 41, who was with a crew from the Discovery Channel, said: "The courage and heroism of the pilot was beyond belief."


http://www.news.com.au/world/british-helicopter-pilot-shot-between-the-eyes-but-keeps-flying-to-save-20-soldiers/story-e6frfkyr-1225837442852

Brilliant act of heroism.

Thanks for posting that.

I'm frequently amazed at the professionalism, courage and heroism of the military forces of our two countries. They do what they do every day, notwithstanding a sometimes ungrateful and often unknowing public back in their home countries. They're a constant force for good despite what some would have us believe, even when the politicians get it wrong.

I don't know where we find them or what we do to make them behave as they do, but thank God we somehow keep producing them when they're most needed and that they never let us down.

I wonder, with tongue in cheek, why we don't see more of this kind of story in the main stream news media's offerings.

John

A true Hero! I hope, at the very least, he gets a medal pinned on him

I wondered too John, I just happened across this, I haven't seen it in our TV news which I watch at least twice a day and I generally don't buy newspapers.
Professionalism at its finest.

Joe

He did a great job!

The media and politicians are all too quick to pick up on the negative stories coming out of Afghanistan, yet we never hear of these stories of courage and bravery-the very attributes that our country and empire were built on!

British Soldier Saves Comrades by Throwing Live Grenade Back at Taliban

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,588553,00.html

Another hero...

This is not specifically aviation related, but seemed to tie in well with the event that started this thread.

Wow what reactions and presence of mind, he and his colleagues would have been dead for sure.