As the most versatile work-horse of British air operations in theatre, 1310 Flight Chinooks have been responsible for delivering personnel and essential supplies to Forward Operating and Patrol Bases across Helmand Province.
They also provide the Medical Emergency Response Team (MERT) helicopters for ISAF and Afghan casualty extraction, as well as deploying combat troops against narcotic facilities and insurgent strongholds.
For the last three months 1310 Flight, headquartered at Kandahar Air Field in Kandahar Province, has been crewed by RAF Odiham (Hampshire) based A Flight, 27 Squadron and for the last few weeks has been commanded by Chinook pilot Squadron Leader Elliot 'Jellers' Jardine. He said:
"27 Squadron and attached personnel have had a busy and rewarding tour. In ten weeks, we've flown over 1,000 hours in support of ISAF operations and enabled the MERT to save numerous lives utilising our Chinook Medevac aircraft.
"We've mainly been working with our own British forces, and the Afghan National Army, but we've also worked closely with the US Army, Navy and Marines, and Danish, Estonian and Canadian forces."
Recent combat operations against insurgents and narcotic manufacturing facilities have seen 1310 Flight Chinooks in action at night, deploying troops into the fertile 'Green Zone' of the Upper Sangin Valley region bordering the Helmand river.
Click here to see more pictures of the Flight in action.
Sqn Ldr Jardine described the mood of the detachment:
"A recent multi-aircraft, multi-national night air-assault was the highlight of our tour. We successfully evaded a determined enemy, and managed to deliver a formidable fighting force into the insurgent's 'back garden'."
Flight Lieutenant Rich Elford, one of the Chinook commanders who flew into the hostile landing zone, described the troop insertion:
"As we touched down at our designated landing site, a stubble field in the Green Zone, I heard an enemy contact reported over the radio, at the same time a RPG (rocket propelled grenade) flew over the top of the aircraft. The troops disembarked straight into a fire-fight.
"As we lifted off my crewman reported seeing enemy tracer bullets arcing across the back of the aircraft. It was very frightening, but we all got away safely. It seemed like a miracle that none of us were hit."
Sergeant Larry Clark talked about the more routine aspects of flying over Afghanistan:
"Over the tour we get to see a lot of the country. It's very varied, and has dramatic contrasts, from the deep red sands of the desert around Kandahar to the lush green areas of the irrigated river plains. This is my second tour to Afghanistan, and it will be good to get home to my family soon."
18 Squadron A Flight, also based at RAF Odiham, will be taking over from 27 Squadron shortly for a four-month tour of duty.