The Kopp-Etchells Effect (Mind-blowing helicopters in Afghanistan photos)

MichaelYon-online.com ^ | August 17, 2009 | Michael Yon

[Travis McGee]

17 August 2009 Sangin, Afghanistan

The roads are so littered with enemy bombs that nearly all transport and resupply to this base occurs by helicopter. The pilots roar through the darkness, swoop into small bases nestled in the saddle of enemy territory, and quickly rumble off into the night.

A witness must spend only a short time in the darkness to know we are at war. Flares arc into the night, or mortar illumination rounds drift and swing under parachutes, orange and eerily in the distance, casting long, flickering but sharply defined shadows. The worst that can happen is that you will be caught in an open field, covered by nothing and concealed only by darkness, when the illumination suddenly bathes you in light. Best is to stay low and freeze and prepare to fire, or in the case of a writer, to stay low and freeze and prepare to watch the firing.

Explosions from unknown causes rumble through the cool nights while above drifts the Milky Way, punctuated by more shooting stars than one can remember. The Afghanistan nights will grant a wish to wish upon a shooting star. And while waiting for the next meteor, the eyes are likely to catch tracer bullets.

[Travis McGee]

Please go to the link to see the mind-blowing photos and read Michael Yon's usual outstanding war commentary.

[Travis McGee]

This posting has nothing to do with the CW2 list, I just wanted to share it with as many freepers as possible.

The photos are simply amazing. Please go to the link.

[Lx]

Man, do those engines have a serious infrared signature? Isn’t that a problem with missiles?

[stephenjohnbanker]

The photos and narrative of Michael Yon are outstanding!

Thanks for the ping.

[CodeToad]

Way cool!

[Old Sarge]

IRON BIRD

You fill the skies with noise, and your presence means so much
To those of us, here on the ground, doing things and stuff and such,
So I was thinking of some lines to tell the folks back home
just what it’s like to see you, in the twilight where you roam.

Iron Bird, you bring my friends to join me in the fight,
With mighty noise and clamor as you swoop down in the night,
The thumping of your blades drowned by the hissing of the sands
That you kick up to cloak you in so many distant lands.

Sometimes I see at twilight, when I gaze up from the chair
That I drag outside to try and enjoy the briefly cooling air,
Your shadow crossing over, seen against the tower and light,
before you’re hidden, deeply, in the fast enfolding night.

Iron Bird, you take us in the safety of the dark,
You touch the ground and hover as we jump to disembark.
Our hunt is on, and then when done, you meet us once again,
To bring us back to roost, behind the guns of fellow men.

Iron Bird, you bring us tools and gadgets for our ease,
To make easier our lot in this place of blazing breeze.
You speed across the rivers, ‘cross the fields and the farms,
A land so full of promise, and not without its charms.

When some men look with envy, at the fortress walls we’ve made,
They cringe at your approach, and into shadows back they fade
For well they know, that in your arms, are carried men of war,
And they can only stand and watch as you fly to bring some more.

So fly on, Iron Bird, and bring me all my fighting friends,
For my own time to climb aboard is not until this ends,
My hunt’s begun, but only just, and it’s here I make my stand,
Because I’ve a job to do in this dry and thirsty land.

But time enough will come, for the hopes and dreams of home;
For now, my life’s whole purpose underneath this starlit dome,
Is man my post, but still I watch as Iron Bird arrives,
In this nesting place for Iron Bird, the chariot of our lives.

© 08 AUG 2005 by SSG JSR

[Travis McGee]

You have simply got to see these pictures. Then imagine the rest of the sensory inputs. Salutes to our heroic British allies!

Michael Yon is an American treasure. Why he's not the most famous war correspondent since Ernie Pyle is a continuing mystery.

"The British medical staff treats many wounded Afghans who often show up at the gate. In the photo above, Dr. Rhiannon Dart (right) observes as an Afghan patient is medically evacuated to the trauma center at Camp Bastion. The medics and Dr. Dart are especially respected for the risks they equally share here. The medical staff walks into combat just like the other soldiers—frequently side by side in close combat. Numerous times per week, their battlefield work, often under intense pressure in hot and filthy conditions, is the deciding factor on whether soldiers or civilians survive or die. I asked Dr. Dart if Afghan men have any reservations when being treated by a woman. She answered that when men are seriously wounded—which is about the only time she sees Afghans as patients—they don’t care if she is a man or a woman. During a mission last week, I saw an Afghan soldier walk by with a bandage on his hand. Dr. Dart stopped the soldier, asking him to remove the bandage. Contrary to harboring reservations, the soldier appeared relieved that she wanted—actually sort of politely demanded—to examine his injury.

"The ramp lifts in preparation for takeoff and the halo begins to rematerialize before the helicopter lifts into the darkness and disappears. Soldiers call the medevac flights to Camp Bastion, “Nightingales” or “Nightingale flights.” Shortly after sunrise on the morning of 13 August, an element from this unit was ambushed nearby, killing three and wounding two others. Despite the immediate danger, the helicopter came straight onto the battlefield. After the initial ambush, and another successful ambush during the evacuation, the British soldiers did not return to base but continued with the mission. Later that evening they were twice ambushed again, sustaining more fatalities as two interpreters were killed. Soldiers asked me to go on that mission but I was busy assembling this dispatch. One of the killed soldiers, shortly before the mission, had looked over my shoulder as I selected the photos. Captain Mark Hale was killed while aiding a wounded soldier. Mark had particularly liked the next three images..."

[the invisib1e hand]

Marvelous.

They give all for liberty.

Can we give any less?

[NonValueAdded]

Two days after most people would have died, Benjamin Kopp’s heart was transplanted into Judy Meikle. According to the Washington Post, Meikle said, "How can you have a better heart?" said a grateful Judy Meikle, 57, of Winnetka, Ill., who is still recovering from the surgery. "I have the heart of a 21-year-old Army Ranger war hero beating in me."

Hear, hear! Make the most of that gift, Judy.

[thesearethetimes...]

Amazing. Incredibly beautiful pictures, and article was the perfect compliment. Thank you so much for the post.

Tatt

[Texas Fossil]

“Pixie Dust”

[Las Vegas Ron]

Wow, amazing photos!!

Thank you for the ping!

[silverleaf]

His blogs are astounding
One of the best war correspondents now reporting

[Texas Fossil]

I never became comfortable on a Chinook.

The rear gear box noise and the froth on the oil in the box and the open rear ramp always left me unsure.

But they are work horses.

[EternalVigilance]

Two very important points.

At the link, in addition to the great pictures, is the most recent list of our heroes who have given it all for our country and for their comrades in Afganistan.

Also, it sounds like Yon needs some financial help in order to continue his freelance reporting from the field.

[FreedomPoster]

I’ve been saying the same about Yon and Pyle for some time.

The answer to “why not” is, of course, the enemedia.

I need to donate to Yon again. I have been for the last few years.

[EternalVigilance]

For freedom’s way the patriots bled
The crosses mark our honored dead

More clearly than mere words e’er may
That field lays out their final say

No greater love, they gave it all
In answer to man’s highest call

But don’t forget that most returned
To them we owe esteem they earned

And last of all, remember this:
Our LORD betrayed by one mere kiss

For from within, true danger lies
Though carefully as friend disguised

So fight, my friend, from where you stand
For freedom rides on every man

Tom Hoefling

[KeyLargo]

Kudos to Michael Yon!

[PjhCPA]

Michael Yon is an American treasure. Why he's not the most famous war correspondent since Ernie Pyle is a continuing mystery.

Amen to that.

[Voter62vb]

I am somewhat sceptical. All the sources for this phenomenom lead back to the same site/person. And all from the same time frame.

As I have never seen this phenomenom nor have I heard of it, forgive my ignorance. The photos looked shopped a bit.

[Robe]

For I dipt into the future, far as human eye could see, Saw the Vision of the world, and all the wonder that would be; Saw the heavens fill with commerce, argosies of magic sails, Pilots of the purple twilight dropping down with costly bales;

Alfred, Lord Tennyson
"Locksley Hall"

[Carlucci]

Michael Yon himself is giving the effect that name:

“And so a fitting name had arrived to describe the halo glow we sometimes see in Helmand Province: Kopp-Etchells Effect, for two veteran warriors who died here in Helmand, Ben on the 18th, Joe on the 19th of July in the year 2009.”

[Voter62vb]

It’s always amazing to see something so fascinating and unknown in one’s experience. In all the footage over the years I have never seen the phenom.

Although cool in pictures seems like not such a good thing in hostile territory.

Does the same effect happen on airplane propellers in the dust like the C130s etc?

Show me more.

[Vigilantcitizen]

Thanks for the ping. Awesome pics and commentary.

[Cardhu]

RAF Chinook helicopter shot down in Afghanistan in Taliban election 'spectacular'

A British Chinook helicopter has been shot down in Helmand, Afghanistan, in an attempted Taliban “spectacular” designed to overshadow the country’s make-or-break election.

 

By John Bingham and Thomas Harding
Published: 3:29PM BST 20 Aug 2009

British Chinook helicopters in Helmand province. Photo: PA

Military sources confirmed that the helicopter came under attack from machine gun and rocket propelled grenade fire as it took off after a supply drop near Sangin in northern Helmand.

Despite a fire in the engine, the helicopter's pilots managed to fly it more than half a mile to safety before making an emergency landing.

More here

[Uncle Miltie]

"On August 11, I attended a small ceremony for a British soldier from this base in Helmand who was killed in combat the day after Benjamin passed. His name was Joseph Etchells. I was told how Joseph died in a bomb ambush, and that his last request was to be cremated, loaded into a firework, and launched over the park where he used to play as a kid. When Joseph’s last request was explained, I burst out laughing and the British soldier who told me also was laughing. The absurd humor of Joseph’s request was familiar, and it was as though Joseph were standing there with us, laughing away."

[Uncle Miltie]

"How can you have a better heart?" said a grateful Judy Meikle, 57, of Winnetka, Ill., who is still recovering from the surgery. "I have the heart of a 21-year-old Army Ranger war hero beating in me."

[Lurker]

Just wow. Thanks so much for the ping.

[ConservativeMan55]

BTTT

[MileHi]

Very cool. My son-in-law is there somewhere keeping Apache helos flying. I should get pics from him sometime.

Keep yer nose in the wind!

[Vigilantcitizen]

Yeah, that was awesome.

[Travis McGee]

“I have the heart of a 21-year-old Army Ranger war hero beating in me.”

If that doesn’t bring tears to your eyes, you’re not alive.

[Travis McGee]

It’s the camera. With the naked eye, you would barely see the glimmer of the green chemlites on the ground. Look at the 2nd picture, of the Chinook from the rear with the open cargo ramp, and how amazing the lights look, when captured by that modern digital camera. The light rings created by the rotors are also far amplified. With the naked eye they would be very, very subtle.

[Voter62vb]

You know, I was kind of chewing on that idea during lunch. I’ve been playing with night photography and enhancing the pics with software, etc with my new Nikon.

Well, even NASA enhances pics, etc. Nonetheless, the pictures and the physics of it are fascinating. It must play havoc with and/or effect the night vision that amplifies light, too.

Cool stuff.

Thanks for the explanation.

[Sparko]

Travis, thanks for the link to Michael Yon’s photos. Fabulous.

[Travis McGee]

Another thought pops into my head, based on the speculative origin of the halos, and their lack of appearing everywhere. The rotors have some kind of titanium ally finish. It might only be caused in that area due to some specific minerals in the local dust. Probably we’ll find out. But it does look cool. Yon probably really started to “notice” those subtle rings when looking at the digital images on his camera, taken with time lapse.

[DuncanWaring]

...when captured by that modern digital camera.

I've gotten a similar effect with long exposures at night, some artificial light, with a film camera.

[DuncanWaring]

He did say they come and go, even at the same LZ.

[wizr]

Well done.

[wizr]

Thanks for the ping.

[isom35]

Vaal from Star Trek’s “The Apple” ?:

http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/File:Vaal.jpg

[Uri’el-2012]

It’s the camera. With the naked eye, you would barely see the glimmer of the green chemlites on the ground.

The light rings created by the rotors are also far amplified. With the naked eye they would be very, very subtle.

Modern digital cameras combined with modern post-production software.

PPA

[Travis McGee]

Kewl stuff!

[Uri’el-2012]

Kewl stuff!

Yes Sir !

We can do in minutes what it took Ansel Adams hours and days to achieve.

[TomasUSMC]

Looks like Yon has a problem with the Brit media people. Oh well, whatever the problems he’s having, he will not get treated better by the Taliban, thats for sure.

Yon does great stuff, but he throws a tantrum when somebody tells him “NO”.