06AUG2011: Late on the evening of 05AUG2011, two US CH-47 Chinook helicopters transported members from the US Army's 75th Ranger Regiment to a target location in Wardak Province, Afghanistan. After a successful insertion, both aircraft returned to base. As Rangers approached the compound, several possible enemy fighters fled, potentially including the main target of the attack. Helicopters and UAVs moved between supporting the Rangers on the target compound and the group of fleeing enemy fighters. Considering the target of the raid may have been in the group fleeing, the call was made to interdict with a second group of US forces. A group comprising members of the Naval Special Warfare Developmental Group and their supporting attachments, on standby at a nearby base, were selected to reinforce. Loaded up with 30 US service members, 7 Afghan commados, and a service Dog the CH-47, call sign Extortion 17 took off at 0223 on the 6th of August to reinforce the Rangers. Approaching the landing zone from the northwest, Extortion 17 descended to 100-150 ft off the ground and slowed to 50 mph. As they were doing so, a group of Taliban fighters stepped out from the cover of a compound and fired 2-3 RPGs at the approaching aircraft. One of the shots found its target and tore off the aft rotor assembly causing the helicopter to crash, killing all aboard. The event marks the United States' greatest single-incident loss of life in Operation Enduring Freedom.

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