The Hind Heist - The Secret US Operation to Steal the Soviet's Top Helicopter

The top secret US mission to steal the latest Mi-24 Hind gunship in 1988, known as Operation Mount Hope III.
Many thanks to subscriber Cameron Beach for suggesting this great topic.
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Disclaimer: All opinions and comments expressed in the 'Comments' section do not reflect the opinions of Mark Felton Productions. All opinions and comments should contribute to the dialogue. Mark Felton Productions does not condone written attacks, insults, racism, sexism, extremism, violence or otherwise questionable comments or material in the 'Comments' section, and reserves the right to delete any comment violating this rule or to block any poster from the channel.
Thanks: Steve Ouellette

[@andypotanin]

"stole a Soviet helicopter" would be an awesome thing to have on your resume

[@gamerguy1816]

Imagine being a Soviet soldier and just seeing your helicopter getting flown away by another helicopter

[@TheOfficialCzex]

The Cold War was like a bunch of highschoolers pulling pranks on each other.

[@Ericlee-ne7du]

After all this some private was like "can't we just fly it out"? and his sergeant says "you need to stop using common sense and just follow orders".

[@hanzup4117]

One can only imagine how furious the Soviets were with the Libyans.

[@bigblue6917]

Bet they did not send the Libyans a Christmas card that year.

[@gohibniugoh1668]

@@bigblue6917 they sent sour borscht

[@Jermster_91]

@@bigblue6917 I think you mean Allah card?

[@asmith7094]

To the GULAGS

[@borisboka9911]

@@bigblue6917 I bet they never send Libyans a Christmas card since Libyans are mainly Muslims :'D

[@sshep86]

No Hind left behind.

[@thundercookie738]

Favorite comment here

[@tecyhead]

A Hind too far

[@pentuplove6542]

The Hind is a Soviet/Russia helicoptor. NOT from Federal USA.

[@TheDutchPetGuy]

@@pentuplove6542 this went way over your head

[@mannemarco333]

Pentu Plove Oh wow, I totally didn’t know this!

[@yetidynamics]

little known fact, Hind blades rotate opposite american helicopter blades, making them tricky to fly by american pilots until they get used to it

[@sciencenate]

9:19 a dead bird is just falling through the sky

[@hairydogstail]

Once again you have found another historical event that was completely unknown to me. This channel is the best, period. Well done!

[@haulingheartache2380]

Both countries controlled by the same secret society of shit. Cold war was all an act to fleece both sides for trillions.

[@gamebrain]

No pewdeepie is the best

[@sheykh_united]

Official channel legenda2020 from Russia . This channel fake

[@grhinson]

It is boxed & tucked away between the ark of the covenant and the Roswell UFO wreckage

[@Wildschwein_Jaeger]

It belongs in a museum...

[@avtomat6471]

Lmfao

[@helmut926]

Wildschwein Jäger so do you! 😬

[@diegovenegas5400]

Now is in the Hangar 51.

[@johnjinglehimmerschmitt9802]

Actually, when they were done testing it, they fly it to Ft. Campbell so the whole unit could see it. NSDQ 87-89

[@DC8Combi]

That's what happens when you leave sensitive equipment behind. The Libyan's should have destroyed the Hind on evacuation, that's hind sight now.

[@huntermccoy7641]

I'm just upset it's not called " The hind heist in hindsight."

[@goldeneagle3088]

*Mission Impossible heist theme song plays*

[@Strothy2]

Mr. Phelps, Mr. Phelps Mr. Phelps, Mr. Phelps This tape will self-destruct in 5 seconds This tape will self-destruct in 5 seconds This tape will self-destruct in 5 seconds

[@goldeneagle3088]

@Golden Eagle Nah man, don't be pulling that reverse uno move on me.

[@FoulOwl2112]

Incredible! I was working in maintenance at KDHN airport in 1988. I was in charge of keeping the grass cut between all the runways. I got a radio call one day on my tractor that told me to cease and return to the equipment shed. A C-5a landed shortly after and parked on the furthest inactive apron. A large contingency of HEAVILY armed soldiers poured out and stationed up surrounding the C-5. Although it was not unusual to have C-5s, the intense armed security was incredibly odd. Fuel trucks attended the C-5 and refueled the plane. Soldiers filed back in an off they went. Everyone was like WTF?! Days later the word got around the field that inside the C-5 was a captured Russian helicopter. Till this very moment l never knew for sure if it was true, so l always kind of hesitated to tell the story. Now I'm pretty well certain that that was indeed this chopper. Cool. Thanks for posting.

[@malkbottomtext7589]

Who would win: Virgin Libya Or Chad Chad

[@Hans-hy5jp]

Nobody: The U.S government: *_I use the helicopter to steal the helicopter_*

[@slim1695]

I gave you your 1,000th like! As if you care lol.

[@UnicronTGOC]

Is there anything wrong with that? It's quite *unclear* if you're chastising the American goverment or exalting them.

[@sheevpalpatine4676]

Hans get ze helikopter

[@andromedagalaxynebula5751]

Lol

[@migetspinner6982]

7

[@001desertrat3]

Do you know what they call the Hangar where the Hind is stored . . . . . The Hind Quarters . lol .

[@matthewdonoghue321]

10 out of 10 brother

[@RHEC1776]

Lmao

[@davidthomas9190]

😐

[@HeliRy]

I used to work in a small country on the west coast of Africa, and their army had a handful of Hinds piloted by Ukrainians. Every now and then they’d do mock attack runs on our hangar. I’m telling you, watching two Hinds appear at tree top level, coming full speed in an attack formation... impressive. Rather terrifying too haha. They’re big machines but are surprisingly maneuverable.

[@aronbeast7]

"It's in a secret US govt warehouse, hanger 51 I believe" LOL

[@MaheshWalatara]

The Hind is now in the same hangar as the Ark of the Covenant.

[@diver11b1p2]

Actually, this Hind was used for many years as an OPFOR (enemy) helicopter at the Army JRTC in Ft. Polk, Louisiana. I was "attacked" by it while training there in 1993 - it is a very big, very loud impressive helicopter! The infantry were just told to hide from and don't bother trying to fire on it with anything less than a .50 cal.

[@josephhaddakin7095]

I went thru JRTC at Ft Chaffee around MAR 88. I guess it moved.

[@kvant13]

There's also an ex-Iraqi Hind captured during Desert Storm that the Army used (and might still be using?) for OPFOR for a long time. EDIT: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h53VmpZspamBntk

[@ianwyj1]

0:44 So advanced, it's even got a cockpit fan for the pilot?

[@eldinamita7550]

*U.S.A to Soviet Russia: As you said comrade, its not your helicopter, its our helicopter*

[@Corbin-kq3ho]

I’ll be back in 6 years when this gets recommended to me

[@tmanoutdoors8277]

Today we learned that don’t give your stuff to small rebel groups that are just going to leave it laying around everywhere

[@gunnerr8476]

Yep, both sides did the same mistake.

[@Skribber]

Well it wasn't they gave it to Libya. =)

[@cliveschoonover1367]

I don't think any major power will ever learn that lesson.

[@DarthWraithius]

Tell that to the Russians, after all they left weapons caches all around Afghanistan when they were invading the country.

[@warjunky14]

The Americans have never learned this lesson.

[@DiogenesOfCa]

I remember when a HIND almost wiped out the Wolverines.

[@footbalr074]

In the opening days of world war 3, a small group of partisans, kids mostley...

[@ralphmarkasher]

I was a Captain at Ft Rucker in DCD when it got to Cairns. I was amazed at how big the transmission was.

[@BLACKTHUMB01]

I remember in August of 1990, preparing to deploy to Desert Shield at Fort Hood Texas. A "D" model made some passes over the Barracks at low level to familiarize us with the sound it made and what it looked like.

[@raygiordano1045]

Nothing like engaging in a little R&D: Ripoff & Duplicate.

[@phyrr2]

Lol! New acronym for my vocabulary, ty :)

[@jorgejefferson8251]

You ain't trying if you ain't cheating.

[@realQuiGon]

2 years later the eastern bloc collapsed, Germany reunified and all the Hinds of the former east german army became available to the west.

[@julieinthenorthwest4594]

And then in Desert Storm, we took more. When I was station later at Ft.Irwin, we (OPFOR) had one. It's a hellish site to see one bank and bear down on you. Awesome heli.

[@jamestheotherone742]

Not nearly as much fun as sneaking in and stealing one though.

[@bluefalconssuck5881]

"We do not fear the Soviets... But we fear their helecopters". ~Afgan Fighter, late 70's~

[@hillbillyhobopowders6239]

Oh I love how he referred to Area 51 as hangar 51.

[@CaptainM792]

Mark Hoadley HillBilly Hobo The hanger in Indiana Jones where they hide all of their secrets.

[@dozette1448]

OK boomer

[@w.w.2restorations.vehicles698]

The Hind was in storage in Hangar 18 located within Area 51, Groom Lake Nevada. My Platoon was aboard 4 CH-46 Sea Knight Helo's. We were ordered there for some specific training in Nov. 1988. We were treated very well by the personnel there and were allowed a brief tour of the Hangar and its' aircraft within. Very educational !!

[@wape1]

Soldier of Fortune magazine actually offered $100,000 for an intact Hind and later upped the reward to $1,000,000.

[@decnet100]

$100,000 would have been more than cheeky actually. Unit cost approaches several dozen million dollars today, which I suppose is still close to $10M in 1980s money. Could be that some rogue crew from a third world could would be interested in performing high treason for $50k each, but it sure would have been the bargain of the century...

[@ginbelg1]

Well that hardly seems like sufficient motivation

[@pickeljarsforhillary102]

$100,000 USD in 1980's value was very decent money to a third worlder.

[@vaunfestus9768]

LMAO I remember reading that and telling my dad he should sign up for it he was a pilot flew Chinooks in Vietnam and Cobras in the National Guard. He laughed at the suggestion.

[@sbdreamin]

As a former Chinook pilot, previously hangered right next to the 160th, I approve of this episode. Quite a mission!

[@NicoSuavveee]

Nobody: People that play GTA: THATS A SAVAGE!!!!

[@BigGreen945]

And a Cargobob too.

[@pouyan225]

"hangar 51" ;)

[@Fred_the_1996]

CLAP DEM CHEEKZ

[@masterwilliamstudios]

In Hind sight, the soviets shouldn't have been Russian to sell their gear so easily

[@RAKITHA9]

They had no hindsight on this deal with the Libyans

[@resisthouse]

Interesting video but I thought that the official world speed record for a helicopter is 249 mph achieved by a Westland Lynx

[@wsgeo]

It's being flown around a us airbase in the southwest, just keep looking to the sky. It has a distinct sound compared with US helicopters.

[@TheoneknownasVC]

I love hearing about these more obscure little events of recent history. Especially all these many covert operations and intelligence ops between the russians and americans.

[@LogieT2K]

Never realise how lagre the hind actually is untill in saw it beneath that chinook

[@moshehim1000]

Semantics: If the helicopter was a legitimate spoils-of-war taken by the French and Chad forces, who then gave and sold (respectively) it to the US, then the US did not, as a matter of fact, steal it at all.

[@sammyspaniel6054]

It is rumored that Homer Simpson's famous "Doh!" originated with Gorbachev when he learned of this incident.

[@davidjones9060]

Sammy Spaniel if you look closely at his birthmark it was actually a tattoo of a Hind

[@jimmym9947]

USSR: *builds a higly-advanced helicopter, capable of both attack roles and cargo transport USA: *yoink

[@chrismario6371]

Fun fact Thomas Edison spent more time and money sueing inventors to steal their designs and ideas rather than actually doing work. Pretty much sums up America’s contributions in the world.

[@joeshmoe9978]

Does anyone remember when the media used to call it "the flying tank?" Also, the fake Hind used in the "Rambo" movies. Ahh, the good old days. 😛

[@kenr4531]

I love it when a plan comes together!

[@srujan00]

"The 1980s were the height of the Cold War." Except for when the American and Soviet navies almost fought each other in 1962.

[@CausalityLoop]

I just knew the Nightstalkers would be involved when he started talking about how hard it was going to be to fly out! Those guys rock.

[@catioicat727]

Libya:Leaves highly advanced helicopter Us:Its free reelestate

[@pentuplove6542]

Us it was us it was the Federal USA. We or us did nothing.

[@lee_o_brien8959]

Catioi Cat 😂😂

[@denniswolff7300]

Pentu Plove YOUR A RUSSIAN YOU WOULD TRY TO SAY THAT ..YOUR ENGLISH .RUSSIAN APP SUCKS BORSHT

[@kenny344]

Clever, and original

[@shadowspeed3593]

They could’ve just called Pegasus 🤦‍♂️

[@Overdoseplus]

Kadaffi's worst mistake was picking a fight with Chad.

[@ComradeFarquhar]

Wouldn't "Worlds fastest military helicopter" go to the Westland Lynx helicopter? It set a new world helicopter speed record of 249.1 mph (400.87 kph) over 20 years ago

[@thedarkzibba7059]

I made this heist yesterday on GTA

[@98SE]

actually the game is GAT not GTA its Grand Automobile Theif (I'm joking haha)

[@Fred_the_1996]

THE BIG ONEEEEE

[@pentuplove6542]

#IdiotsEdit how many edits so far?

[@newhorizon1355]

Americans and Russians both screwed up. They shoulda anaylized that diving attack 🐦 bird at 9:18.

[@hooker9453]

To clear up some misconceptions...This was declassified years ago. The maker of the video didn`t expose any secrets. The aircraft sat for months in Chad in the exact spot where it took a round in one engine, rendering it unflyable. It wasn`t able to take off under the power of the remaining good engine and was abandoned by the pilots. It wasn`t stored anywhere, again it remained where it was damaged. The reason for recovering it wasn`t to study the technology (Russian technology in the 1980s wasn`t very advanced), but find out what it`s capabilities were. The photo at the 5:50 mark is not the "lifting test". The actual test was done with an old Sikorsky helicopter airframe weighted down to approximate the correct weight. The Chinook in that photo isn`t even a 160 SOAR aircraft. In 1990, the Hind was flown in broad daylight to several military installations (although its origin remained secret at that time).....no government "secret" storage facility.

[@rogerhinman5427]

I was a Cold War soldier during the 70's/80's and this chopper was something to fear. It's still a beast.

[@relaxkid9497]

Roger Hinman can you explain why ? I’m genuinely curious

[@jasoncarswell7458]

Too big and underpowered; the need to make it a troop carrier in addition to a gunship required it be much bigger than was necessary to carry out either task, which made it a huge target and sapped it's maneuverability. The Hind was particularly so hampered by the "hot and high" conditions in Afghanistan that it literally couldn't hover or it'd fall out of the sky; it could only take-off with a running start and do straight-line weapon runs like a jet, except being much larger and much slower. This eliminated the primary advantage of a chopper, which is unpredictability and concealment. Lastly the thing had not been designed with any kind of regard for IR signature (nor any defensive flares) so a single Mujahadeen with a Stinger missile could (and did) kill them at any time they were in range. All they had to do was hit one engine and the thing would drop like a stone.

[@MykolaSternenkoDroneBoyHoleMan]

Why Mi-24 and not T-72 tank hordes with heavies like T-64 and T-80? Or Mechanised infantry with BMP-2s supported by tracked artillery like Akatsya. Or motorized infantry with BTR-70s and tons of towed and wheeled mortar platforms? Or VDV landing in the unprotected belly of the enemy.. Soviets were very capable enemies, USA were unmatched in air and sea, russians rulled everything on the ground.

[@erichelvie8524]

As a US Tanker serving in the early 90's, we feared and respected the power and capability of the Hind.

[@andybrown4284]

So the mission to steal it was in fact a recovery mission from an airfield under friendly control.

[@JohnDoe-mh8tm]

This helicopter was at Biggs Army Airfield in the early/mid 1990's. It was amazing to see it fly over us during many of our FTX's. Very different sound. Very low pitch thump.

[@slartybartfarst55]

09:19 Did anyone else pick up the bird knocked out of the sky by the C-5? You actually hear it hit the ground in the clip.

[@pluronic123]

Was looking for your comment. Thanks!

[@zacktube100]

I wondered what that was. Thanks.

[@dannyholt105]

Nah, he was diving on a tossed bag of french fries on the ground. Slightly miscalculated his attack trajectory. Poor guy! :)

[@blondeguy08]

Ditto

[@gg5115]

Yes. Is the C-5 exhaust really that bad?

[@Retarmyaviator]

The 80s were a great time to be in US Army Aviation. I was stationed at Ft Campbell, home of TF160, flying CH47s during period this raid took place. The Hind in the story may be one of the ones that ended up at the Test Activity at Ft Rucker, AL.

[@966Mako]

Libyan General: I think we're missing a helicopter, don't tell you know who.

[@BFVK]

As a passionate man about history of war, I acclaim Mark's work. As a french man, I acclaim his way of speaking, a pure pleasure to improve my oral comprehension with Mark's voice ^^

[@jeffreywacker3598]

I, oddly, just read about this three days ago. Thank you for the awesome content!

[@gkcooper]

I've seen, at least one, operating around Huntsville, Alabama on several occasions.

[@konstantinriumin2657]

On warthunder subreddit?

[@shaunbland7410]

Back in 2000 I was in a British infantry company and was flown over to Georgia to take part in a multi-arm-nation exercise (Asciet 2000). I was astonished that a civi contractor loaned a Hip and a Hind as well as several soviet tracked and wheeled vehicles to use as Opfor. Worth the air miles to see!

[@AlphaMachina]

Fantastic telling of this incredible event! I was enthralled the entire time. Thank you.

[@montinaladine3264]

Thank you for making and posting, what a tremendous video! Absolutely no ridiculous dramatic music or sound effects or annoying wanky visual cuts so often seen on other videos of this nature. That's why I enjoyed it; simple and informative, easy to understand narration, with great pictures and no repetitive information making it drag out to 30 minutes. Well done. By the way, Good On Ya USA.

[@juststeve5542]

One of my favourite helicopters... Was lucky enough to be in Budapest this year for their national day celebrations (20th August) where they threw one of these all over the place over the Danube in the middle of the city.

[@TheDeadlyraptor]

Steve Evans threw one of flew one ;)

[@Gorilla_Jones]

I love the old school fan to cool the pilot. LOL As an old man I miss the stability of the US/Soviet Union balance. Yes may sound crazy but M.A.D worked.

[@jasoncarswell7458]

The fan was to keep the sweat out of the pilot's eyes because Soviet choppers had no air conditioning. The sweat would also give him something to remember fondly during the winter months, as Soviet choppers also had no cockpit heater.

[@derblah9006]

Gorilla Jones it sounds like you aren’t old enough to remember the missile crisis in Cuba and the feeling that we all really were about to be extinct as a species. I don’t miss it one bit.

[@lkrnpk]

it still works, even when it comes to Iran or North Korea that may or may not have a capability to deliver the payload to the US

[@Imp5011]

Stability like the Cuban missile crisis?

[@jesuscastillo2346]

CIA: how much money should we offer them CHAD: Yes

[@gabrielcarkhuff2670]

U.S crew as they tie it up and prepare to take off: "yoink"

[@blackbird8632]

“Hit the bell icon” Mark, you do realize we all did just that ages ago do you not?

[@dimitarkondev5522]

I remember seeing the picture from the thumbnail on reddit a few days ago and hoping for a quality video on the topic. Thank you for the video Mr. Felton!

[@soonerdave22]

A friend of mine was the roadmaster on this raid. He spoke of it many years ago while he was showing me pics of training missions. This wasn't the craziest thing he was in on. Just one of many.

[@timsummers870]

Excellent work, Mark Felton. You're very knowledgeable and we always learn a lot from your videos. Thank you.

[@mh53j]

I was an AF reserve Intel officer when this occurred. I remember reading in message traffic that anyone needing information or had questions about the Hind to contact a certain number/agency; that one had been "acquired" from the Libyans in Chad and that it would be evaluated and information on it would be forthcoming.

[@munky123jw]

There's a Hind Helicopter at the Russell Tank Museum in Illinois.

[@Jarod-vg9wq]

This is like oceans 11 but for the military.

[@shadowhunter388]

On a side note, I like the birds in the background that keep falling from the sky, the one that got washed away by the chinook blades, and near the end when the C-5 was flying over, you see the bird drop.

[@Gribbo9999]

Always something new and interesting on Mark's channel. Thanks again for the content and the high quality production. The visual content is always so relevant be it WW2 B&W stills or colour film from later incidents, as here. - what an enormous amount of research you must do.

[@buffdaddy0100]

Warthunder, when is America gonna get their premium hind?

[@vaunfestus9768]

No shit if Japan can have B17s in the tech tree why no Hind in American tech tree

[@whitestguyuknow]

These stories of operations that go off essentially completely without a hitch are extremely interesting. The "smoothness" and ease that comes with these stories is pretty cool. Other harrowing stories are interesting as well but it's always interesting to hear of operations that went off completely without a problem *or* any problems were solved expertly and no loss of life or limb occurred. I think generally I have the sense that something is going to go wrong, which is probably from previous stories and movies, so when things go completely right it feels novel

[@metalbent9078]

Mark Felton Productions (IMO) One of your best video's.....well done!

[@claygoodwin8108]

I’ll bet when Gaddafi found out his hair straitened out.

[@ricardomilos990]

Hands down the best history channel on KZbin

[@wesleytownsend8214]

Fantastic no BS account. This creator did a very nice job conveying the information. We need more creators like this on this platform. I look forward to viewing more content here. All the best to you and yours!

[@backachershomestead]

I remember there was a reward offered in Soldier of Fortune magazine for anyone who could produce one. I think Robert K. Brown was the man in the article.

[@ben06031978]

World speed record for a helicopter? Are we forgetting the Westland Lynx?

[@colanitower]

Or the Hind ended up in an episode of "Firefly" 😉

[@KellingtonDorkswafer]

First time I saw that medical transport, I nearly shouted HIND! I only hope it was a junked Hind that was repurposed for the show lol

[@jarink1]

@@KellingtonDorkswafer Looked more like a fibreglass replica to me.

[@unexpectedcaveman6573]

It was an old "dummy" Hind fuselage that the US had used for training.

[@KellingtonDorkswafer]

Ah, gotcha. It still looked great as a space ambulance in Firefly and as an actual gunship/transport

[@danielkoerner7127]

Thanks for your great work on this and all of your other wonderful, well researched presentations. This is the one of the best channels on KZbin! Well done!

[@sandeeolding5915]

Your programs are always so well done. I wish KZbin would let it be found under documentary when you want the best historical program available.

[@Quadrenaro]

This pissed off the Soviets so much, that it's been nearly 30 years since they shared their tech with nations aligning with theirs.

[@jammer3618]

State of the art teck no way. Other stuff yes.

[@jakobc.2558]

Reminds me of the soviets stealing and copying the US AM9 air to air missle. A Sabre fired a AM9 at a MIG-17 and instead of detonateing close to the MiG-17 it maulfunktiond, rammed the MiG-17 and got stuck in the fusulage. The terrified pilot flew home and the missle was flown to the soviet union and reverse engeneerd. And thats how the soviets got their Air-air missles.

[@theabstract100]

This sounds to crazy to be not true. That pilot certainly has two birthdays to celebrate since that day.

[@Sturminfantrist]

@@theabstract100 It is true believe me and crazy too it was a Taiwanese AF F-86 and a Chinese commie MiG-17, the Sidewinder stuck in the exhaust Noozle ;)

[@dragonsword7370]

Since we're Years later I can easily say that pilot EARNED that missile tech.

[@speed3y606]

While it is true that they copied the AIM-9 sidewinder retrieved from the Chinese MiG-17 and it helped them improve their air to air missile technology and engineering, to say "And thats how the soviets got their Air-air missles." is very misleading. They had other missiles that had been in development and use before this incident like the K-5, K-8 etc.

[@CZPO7DUTY]

Stolen in West Germany by KGB and mailed back to Moscow nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/fact-the-kgb-shipped-sidewinder-missile-by-mail-moscow-21673

[@richardgatecliffephotograp7024]

Great video Mark. Informative and interesting as always.

[@rotorheadv8]

I was a Marine Corps CH-53D pilot in ‘88. We never even heard a faint rumor of this. Zero mention in any classified message traffic. Very well kept secret.

[@dingledooley9283]

Woah there, whatever speed record it held, the Westland lynx was the fastest production helicopter for about 2 decades 1980-2000 ish

[@eldergeeks7301]

It was examined by "Top Men." "TOP MEN."

[@bobgreene2892]

Very nicely done, Mark. Your narration is tribute to your careful research.

[@davidlarondelle2326]

Mark Felton. I saw you on the military channel. You are a military historian. That helps to explain your excellent KZbin videos. Thank you.