FRIDAY FOTO (June 10, 2011)
June 10, 2011 at 10:26 pm Leave a comment
View from an Osprey
Defense Dept. photo by Cherie Cullen
A Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey, carrying Defense Secretary Robert Gates, flies over a Forward Operating Base in Afghanistan. As the tiltrotor helicopter approaches the base, the crewman mans what appears to be a 240 Gulf heavy machine gun on the back of the Osprey. If you click on the picture to enlarge it, you’ll see how big and well stocked the base is. the watchtowers, reinforced Hesco barriers and rows of cargo shipping containers make the base look like a surreal cross between a Roman legion’s camp and the cargo area of a modern airport.
Gates made several trips to forward bases — this one occupied by Marines — during his farewell tour. The Defense Secretary is slated to step down next month.
To see a slideshow of the visit, click here.
Entry filed under: Afghanistan, National Security and Defense, Photos, Washington, Weaponry and Equipment. Tags: Afghanistan, Counter Insurgency, Defense, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, helicopter, Marine Corps, military aviation, MV-22 Osprey.
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