Apache co-pilot Prince Harry launched a missile attack on the Taliban in a devastating airstrike in Afghanistan. The 27-year-old was called in to provide air support to troops and discharged a 100lb Hellfire missile.
The attack happened in late October, shortly after the prince returned to Afghanistan for his second tour of duty as gunship co-pilot. Captain Harry Wales – as he is known in the Army – is a co-pilot gunner in the Apache unit which has the highest ‘kill rate’ in the war.
As the co-pilot gunner, Harry commands missions, fire the weapons, navigates and sometimes take over the controls. The two-crew gunship – nicknamed the ‘flying tank’ – is used by UK forces in Afghanistan to smash the Taliban, gather intelligence and provide support for soldiers on the ground.
Harry learned to fly Apache helicopters during an 18-month training course in February.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said: 'We do not comment on an individual's deployment in Afghanistan.' Harry – who has been dubbed ‘the party prince’ – was keen to return to Afghanistan after his first tour of duty was cut short in 2008.
The prince had been secretly deployed with the Household Cavalry as a forward air controller directing bombing strikes against insurgents for ten weeks.
His time there was cut short when news of his presence was leaked on foreign websites and he was brought back to Britain. However, Harry was so determined to do another tour of duty that he retrained as an Apache pilot in the hope it would increase his chances of being redeployed.
A spokesman added: ‘He [Harry] has approached the deployment with a range of emotions like any other soldier and feels both pride and anticipation as he deploys for a job he’s trained for, for so long.
‘Prince Harry, like any soldier, considers it a great honour to represent his country in Her Majesty’s Armed Forces wherever it chooses to deploy him.’ The Prince will add some royal cheer to festive celebrations at Camp Bastion next week by serving up Christmas lunch.
After his hard work, Prince Harry will be able to sit down at the bright-decorated trestle tables and eat with his comrades. And then after lunch he will spend Christmas Day with the Royle Family - even though he is 4,000 miles away in Afghanistan.
The BBC comedy will air in Camp Bastion via the British Forces Broadcasting Service - and Harry is expected to watch it after his daily duties as an Apache helicopter pilot. The 28-year-old will later have the opportunity to talk to his family on video-calling software Skype.
Recently Prince Charles has admitted being wracked with worry while his officer sons are serving on the frontline, telling families of the armed forces 'I really do understand' during an emotional speech. The Prince of Wales told families at a military awards evening how he had to persuade his youngest son to write to him, but that fortunately 'he calls every now and then.'
Charles, 64, who was speaking at The Sun's Military Awards event, held to honour the bravery of the armed forces, said: 'As you can imagine being a parent of two boys in the armed forces, I do share with you the worry and anxiety of not knowing the exact details of our children's whereabouts.'
Daily Mail
He's a famous individual and he killed a high-ranking Taliban officer.
