USMC Photo of the Day: Message from a KC-130 "Hercules" to the challengers: Retire the SAMs--now!

United States Navy - Eye on the Fleet ^ | September 4, 2003 | LCpl Andrew Williams, USMC

[EnjoyingLife]

Central Command Area of Responsibility, 4 September 2003: Aerial shot over Iraq of a
KC-130 "Hercules" assigned to Marine Aerial Refueler-Transport Squadron Two Thirty Four (VMGR-234)
firing flares used to counter attack surface to air missiles.

The Photographer
LCpl. Andrew Williams, United States Marine Corps, http://www.usmc.mil

The Big Photo
http://www.news.navy.mil/management/photodb/photos/030904-M-7837W-001.jpg

The Courtesies
Above medium-sized image: http://chamorrobible.org/gpw/gpw-20051111.htm
Caption: http://www.news.navy.mil/view_single.asp?id=9370, United States Navy - Eye on the Fleet

[EnjoyingLife]

Is the KC-130 "Hercules" firing flares because its under attack? Or is this just a training mission?

[The_Media_never_lie]

Does anyone else beside me see the Eagle behind the KC-130. It's unmistakable. Some kind of a sign. What does it mean???

[Kimmers]

This is an awesome picture and yes, I noted the Eagle.....

[Bubba]

IT'S AN ANGEL.

[The_Media_never_lie]

Do you think the Eagle is a photoshop artwork or is this an untouched picture?

[Kimmers]

Yes, it is.....God revealing his protection

[Lokibob]

Photos of an Air Force C-130 releasing flares to repel heat seeking missiles. The pattern formed by these "decoys" is how they got their name... 'angel decoy,'  It's truly awesome!

Because maneuvers are usually in remote areas and over water, the general public does not get to see these exercises.

[The_Media_never_lie]

Yes, certainly this must be a sign.

[mosquewatch.com]

It's smoke, and the picture wreaks of editing.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

Several years ago someone sent me a video file "Angel Flares". it was this film and you can see why it was called Angel flares.

If anyone has this please send a link.

[Lokibob]

Very wrong. The vortices from the motors form the angel wings.

[Doe Eyes]

Notice the near identical smoke formation in post 7.

[DogBarkTree]

I see dead people. Make that dead "bad" people.

[lancer]

The "eagle" results from the smoke of the flares and flight path turbulence.

They could be under attack, the caption info is not clear; but more likely they are taking a preventive action, in case someone does fire a heat-seeker at them.

[mosquewatch.com]

I was texting of the "green globs" and also the color inconsistancy (dang I learned a new word lol) of the smoke on the left hand side and the right of the "wings". But you do have a valid point. :) Either way , it's smoke lol.

Jeff

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

***It's smoke, and the picture wreaks of editing.***

If you see the video clip "Angel Flares" you will see it has not been edited.

In this photo, the leading aircraft fired off it's flares, then flew on. When past the flare residue the second aircraft fired it's flares.

[Doe Eyes]

This is a flare "jettison". It is not a response to a missile threat. Makes a good photo.

[mosquewatch.com]

Yes, I see smoke, not an act of God. :)

Jeff

[TexasTransplant]

>>>"It's smoke, and the picture wreaks of editing"<<<

No it doesn't, that is what it looks like almost every time.

I have some awesome photos of F-14s going ballistic that look surreal as well, they aren't edited either. I know because I took them and I developed them)

TT

[mosquewatch.com]

Thanks for that, I stand corrected, but it's still smoke lol.

Jeff