HMM-261 aids ‘sting’ operation in Iraq

14 Aug 2004 | Sgt. Nathan K. LaForte 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing

Under cover of darkness, an armada of fixed and rotary wing aircraft lifted into the night recently. The aircraft included nearly every type and model the Marine Corps has working in the Al Anbar province of western Iraq.

The mission was a huge multi-service, combined arms assault to capture high value targets, known to be residing or hiding in the city of Rawah, Iraq.

Considered a successful mission, coalition forces nabbed four of the high value targets from an extensive list of anti-coalition corroborators, smugglers and arms dealers.

Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 261, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, was charged with setting up an airborne vehicle checkpoint, which would launch their personnel cargo to the ground to stop any vehicles from trying to side step the checkpoints already set up.