Avengers lose six Harriers to base attack in Afghanistan.

[Joe Copalman]

Just heard about this.  Afghans wearing US Army uniforms destroyed six Harriers on the ground at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan and damaged another two.  

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57513697/attackers-in-afghanistan-wore-u.s-uniforms/

Looking for more info on the attack.  Two Marines killed, a few civilian contractors injured as well.  Apparently it's the base Prince Harry is currently stationed at and he was the intended target of the insurgents.

[Joe Copalman]

Articles with a bit more info:

http://wwww.signonsandiego.com/news/2012/sep/15/yuma-harrier-jets-marine-felled-afghanistan/

http://www.yumasun.com/news/marines-81784-isaf-killed.html

[Ned Harris]

On April 17th 2012 I was at MCAS Yuma photographing the WTI action when 6 of the VMA-211 Avengers took off in quick succession. They were all carrying ferry tanks and I subsequently learned that they were deploying to Afghanistan. I believe these are likely the 6 Harriers that were destroyed.


_92W6224 AV-8B+ Harrier II by Ned Harris, on Flickr

[Joe Copalman]

Ned, I believe the full squadron had deployed, which I believe is sixteen aircraft.  But yeah, there's a chance that some of the birds you caught that day may be the ones that were destroyed or damaged.

[Chris Kennedy]

I read that there were 10 aircraft from this squadron deployed and that the remaining two undamaged ones are on their way back home.

[Scott Youmans]

Long live the Avengers
Wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of what the Marines can dish out right about now.

[Jay Beckman]

Unfortunately Scott, they can only dish out what NCA allows...

More's the pity.

[Scott Youmans]

Yes, That's true.  I chose the word "can" to imply capability rather than suggesting that they will retaliate in some way.  To us this loss is a little closer to home than most in that war but the guys on the ground are taking casualties on a regular basis and certainly their lives are equally precious.