any thoughts on Shelby’s description of first seeing a shell and then a flare?
if it was a real “rocket” (i.e. large and perhaps fuel still burning) he might easily have seen it.....for a split-second or so. But if it was an RPG, not very likely unless at low altitude such as right after leaving the ground at Baghdad airport if that is where they took off from. I don’t think the bad guys have much in the way of “smart” shoulder-launched rockets/missiles, so it was likely a shot taken at low altitude soon after takeoff in a well-used flight path.
Just my thoughts, not a hard and fast opinion - someone who has served on the ground over there recently would be way more up to speed about current enemy hardware and tactics.....