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onehandle

(51,122 posts)
Fri Sep 7, 2012, 12:50 PM Sep 2012

Prince Harry Heads to War in Afghanistan

Source: GMA

Britain's Prince Harry is back on the front lines, returning to military duty for a four-month deployment in Afghanistan.

A newly released video shows the prince, or Capt. Wales, as he is known in the British army, arriving Friday in Afghanistan to take part in a top-secret mission to join coalition forces fighting the Taliban. Prince Harry will report to Camp Bastion in Helmand Province in southeast Afghanistan, military officials said.

In this, the prince's second trip to Afghanistan, Harry's job will entail flying Apache helicopters on various missions, including escorting other helicopters carrying troops and equipment, conducting surveillance missions and targeting Taliban fighters.

Read more: http://gma.yahoo.com/prince-harry-heads-war-afghanistan-094825857--abc-news-celebrities.html

31 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Prince Harry Heads to War in Afghanistan (Original Post) onehandle Sep 2012 OP
This may be why he was partying so hard in Vegas... ms liberty Sep 2012 #1
I'm Thinking This Is Punishment For His Dalliances In Vegas And The Embarrassment He Caused To...... global1 Sep 2012 #2
Or it's a routine deployment that people are reading too much into. (nt) Posteritatis Sep 2012 #6
I agree Love Bug Sep 2012 #7
No, it was already planned then muriel_volestrangler Sep 2012 #12
Harry's flying Apache helicopters lanlady Sep 2012 #31
One thing that's admirable about the royals - Seedersandleechers Sep 2012 #3
or to stay in England during the war Skittles Sep 2012 #4
Lizzie drove ambulances. That took grit. nt msanthrope Sep 2012 #5
I think you meant Lilibeth :) N/T BlueInPhilly Sep 2012 #9
I bow to your better knowledge :) nt msanthrope Sep 2012 #11
Actually, it's "Lilibet" Catlover827 Sep 2012 #14
But only her immediate used that name. dipsydoodle Sep 2012 #17
It was the King and Queen visiting the bombed out City and east end of London dipsydoodle Sep 2012 #8
yes, that's what my mum said Skittles Sep 2012 #15
Found it. I almost got it right. dipsydoodle Sep 2012 #16
Amazing story Crepuscular Sep 2012 #18
The Wiki link is clearer dipsydoodle Sep 2012 #19
you also have philip in the med. andrew in the falklands then all the others and extended family loli phabay Sep 2012 #20
I'll bet the bad guys are scared shirtless. Hubert Flottz Sep 2012 #10
Debauched parties in Vegas; now flying an Apache in the Middle East Blue_Tires Sep 2012 #13
Harry puts his star coverd ass in the fire, gotta give him that... hunter Sep 2012 #21
I'd like to see even one of Mitt's boys doing that. Auntie Bush Sep 2012 #22
Nope glacierbay Sep 2012 #23
As much grief as we give the Royals, they understand sacrifice, and have known hard work. onehandle Sep 2012 #24
A stark contrast indeed Zambero Sep 2012 #27
Romney can't even be bothered to mention the troops. He has much more important things TheDonkey Sep 2012 #30
Harry is Priced Target RonTiger Sep 2012 #25
There's no need to announce these things jberryhill Sep 2012 #26
Well done to him Franker65 Sep 2012 #28
Stay safe Young Prince!!!!!!!!!!!!!! n/t onecent Sep 2012 #29

ms liberty

(8,478 posts)
1. This may be why he was partying so hard in Vegas...
Fri Sep 7, 2012, 01:03 PM
Sep 2012

the public wouldn't know he was going now (for security's sake, of course) but I'm sure he knew.

global1

(25,166 posts)
2. I'm Thinking This Is Punishment For His Dalliances In Vegas And The Embarrassment He Caused To......
Fri Sep 7, 2012, 01:07 PM
Sep 2012

the monarchy - and they actually announced where he is going to be located out in Afghanistan.

Love Bug

(6,036 posts)
7. I agree
Fri Sep 7, 2012, 01:25 PM
Sep 2012

They want to present him to the public as someone who can be serious, and not just a party animal. All of the Windsor men have had to do something as a way of looking like they are giving something back even if they don't ever have a chance to be king.

We don't hear about it much here, but a lot of people in the UK wonder what their tax money is paying for when it comes to the royal family, especially in these tough financial times. They are not all anti-monarchists but are starting to wonder if all of this 'tradition' is worth the price tag.

muriel_volestrangler

(101,148 posts)
12. No, it was already planned then
Fri Sep 7, 2012, 04:08 PM
Sep 2012

For instance, a report from just before the nude photos came out:

Prince Harry is reportedly having one last hurrah before being deployed for a second time. The first time he was deployed, US and Australian news sites revealed the location of Harry and his fellow soldiers, forcing the British military to withdraw him from action so as not to endanger himself and his platoon.

http://www.opposingviews.com/i/entertainment/prince-harry-parties-las-vegas


That also shows the breathless 'top-secret mission' stuff in the report in the OP is hype. This time, he's there as a helicopter pilot, and they don't think he can be specially targeted, so they're being open about the deployment,

lanlady

(7,133 posts)
31. Harry's flying Apache helicopters
Sat Sep 15, 2012, 10:46 AM
Sep 2012

And even then, I doubt he's allowed to fly them in any sort of dangerous conditions.

dipsydoodle

(42,239 posts)
8. It was the King and Queen visiting the bombed out City and east end of London
Fri Sep 7, 2012, 01:55 PM
Sep 2012

and talking to those affected which largely helped change the views of the public towards the Royal Family. That's aside from actually staying here.



You've also reminded me of a real act of heroism. A Spitfire pilot realised a Heinkel was aiming to bomb Buckingham Palace. He flew his plane into it dying as a result.

Skittles

(152,964 posts)
15. yes, that's what my mum said
Fri Sep 7, 2012, 04:34 PM
Sep 2012

she was a child when the bombs were falling and she never forgot the Queen Mum's bravery. I think it has been instilled in the following royal generations, too. William and Harry were born to enormous privilege yet feel a sense of duty to their country. Contrast that with the Romney boys.


I'll look for a link on that pilot

dipsydoodle

(42,239 posts)
16. Found it. I almost got it right.
Fri Sep 7, 2012, 04:49 PM
Sep 2012

It was a Hurricane not a Spitfire, it was a Dornier not a Heinkel but best of all amazingly he didn't die.

Unearthed: story of the WW2 pilot who saved the Palace.

It was an astonishing act of bravery which many believe saved Buckingham Palace from a direct hit by a German bomber. Fighter pilot Ray Holmes, out of ammunition after downing another plane from the skies, took the decision to fly his Hurricane directly into an enemy aircraft over central London at the tail end of the Battle of Britain.

It was an astonishing act of bravery which many believe saved Buckingham Palace from a direct hit by a German bomber. Fighter pilot Ray Holmes, out of ammunition after downing another plane from the skies, took the decision to fly his Hurricane directly into an enemy aircraft over central London at the tail end of the Battle of Britain.

Disabled by the impact, the German Dornier bomber ploughed into Victoria Station while Mr Holmes's plane crashed into a nearby street, burrowing into the ground. Mr Holmes bailed out shortly after impact and is still alive today. Now the shell of the Hurricane, buried beneath the road ever since, may be hauled from its tomb during a live excavation for Channel Five later this month.

Mr Holmes's extraordinary act of courage occurred on 15 September 1940 as Britain was besieged by German aircraft and his 504 Squadron was scrambled from Hendon to intercept 17 Dorniers on a bombing run over London.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/unearthed-story-of-the-ww2-pilot-who-saved-the-palace-6170211.html

See also : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Holmes

He chopped the tail off the Dornier.

I've realised the picture I posted is copyright. To view prefix this with www. aviartnutkins.com/images/specials/Battle-over-London-Nutkins.jpg

RAF Hendon , which is due north of Buckingham Palace , mentioned above , is now an aircraft museum. Dunno how long that flight path is in time - its about a 40 minutes drive by car.





Crepuscular

(1,057 posts)
18. Amazing story
Fri Sep 7, 2012, 05:29 PM
Sep 2012

Amazing story but one would have to assume that Mr. Holmes bailed out shortly before impact, as he lived to tell the tale.

Sorry, the lack of proper editing in news stories is a pet peeve of mine. I realize that the impact referred to was with the other plane but the way it's structured after mentioning that his plane crashed makes it sound like "impact" referred to the ground.

In any event, well done Mr. Holmes.

dipsydoodle

(42,239 posts)
19. The Wiki link is clearer
Fri Sep 7, 2012, 05:41 PM
Sep 2012

He bailed after he'd chopped the tail off the Dornier as his own plane was damaged.

Blue_Tires

(55,445 posts)
13. Debauched parties in Vegas; now flying an Apache in the Middle East
Fri Sep 7, 2012, 04:18 PM
Sep 2012

Where do I sign up? Why does he get to have all the goddamned fun??

Auntie Bush

(17,528 posts)
22. I'd like to see even one of Mitt's boys doing that.
Sat Sep 8, 2012, 07:17 PM
Sep 2012

Has anyone ever asked has anyone in Mitt's family ever enlisted? I'll bet not...they're much too important for such menial jobs.

 

glacierbay

(2,477 posts)
23. Nope
Sat Sep 8, 2012, 10:00 PM
Sep 2012

not a one, while I was slogging in the mud and dodging bullets in Vietnam, Mitt was partying in Paris. None of his boys have enlisted either.
I think VP Biden's son is in the Army and has served in combat.

onehandle

(51,122 posts)
24. As much grief as we give the Royals, they understand sacrifice, and have known hard work.
Sun Sep 9, 2012, 09:00 AM
Sep 2012

The hands of the Romneys are as soft as a baby's behind and sacrifice is for the little people.


Zambero

(8,954 posts)
27. A stark contrast indeed
Mon Sep 10, 2012, 01:19 AM
Sep 2012

And one can't fault Harry too much for having a bit of fun prior to this deployment.

TheDonkey

(8,911 posts)
30. Romney can't even be bothered to mention the troops. He has much more important things
Mon Sep 10, 2012, 01:25 PM
Sep 2012

to be talking about. "You people" need to give him some slack.

 

jberryhill

(62,444 posts)
26. There's no need to announce these things
Mon Sep 10, 2012, 01:12 AM
Sep 2012

Upping the value of an attack on his unit is not the best idea.

Franker65

(299 posts)
28. Well done to him
Mon Sep 10, 2012, 11:53 AM
Sep 2012

Good that the Royals are sending their own into battle. No safer place to be than an Apache. Hope he comes back in one piece.

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