The Rescue of Two Downed Airmen in Mali | July 2021

In July 2021, a French Dassault Mirage 2000 Fighter Jet crashed into the Sahara Desert in Northern Mali. Although the aircrafts two crewmen safely ejected, there was the possibility that both would be captured by enemy forces and so an immediate rescue operation involving British and French forces was initiated.
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Reflection by Oliver Michael
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[@-TheLynx-]

Simply outstanding work by the British and French forces for achieving such interoperability between their units, despite language and cultural differences. Glad to have such well coordinated allies not far away from home! Vive la Francè and long live the U.K! 🇨🇵🇬🇧 Cheers from Norway 🇳🇴

[@GeneralThargor]

Love that the RAF crew put that beautiful big flag in the chinook so the French could admire it throughout their flight.

[@quercus_robur42]

We love our good old rivalry don't we? It's actually tough love 🇨🇵🇬🇧

[@hotrocks888]

I thought the French could afford x2/3 chinhooks for that area? I can't see the British asking for any help of any nation unless during a world war.

[@olivierb9716]

@@hotrocks888 never,in the past, they called for help....

[@quercus_robur42]

@@hotrocks888 our army doesn’t use chinhooks as most of our equipment is made and produced in France, and chinhooks aren’t best suited for Mali-like environment, but still pretty useful. The other thing is that buying chinhooks is good, but then you need to train pilots who’ve been using other choppers for years, training them to use another helo is annoying (I guess that’s one of the reasons)

[@thierrymilan2039]

@@hotrocks888 it seems you're not really aware to what's going on in UK. Do you know the Royal Navy embarked French sailors because she lacks of British ones ? Just one example...

[@brianfoley4328]

Great Ops...good to know there is such close working relations between the French and the British.

[@magnacarta9364]

Why, they are dumping a 1k a day illegal immigrants on our shores whilst escorting to the pick up area. £10.5 million a day to house these in hotels, yeah viva France.

[@gurnish9741]

@@magnacarta9364 , it's up to England to control its borders France is already doing what it can to prevent them from coming to you

[@jacques-henryblaques7879]

The government or Non Governmental Organization?

[@brianfoley4328]

@@jacques-henryblaques7879 the respective Armed Forces

[@brianfoley4328]

@@magnacarta9364 I thought it would have been clear...I was referring to their respective Armed Forces.

[@suxcawks]

I think the relationship between the British and French militaries is basically the relationship between Legolas and Gimli.

[@mathieu722]

It still only counts as 1 !

[@zcomme]

brits are Gimli ^^)))

[@Nettempereur]

Thanks to the RAF pilots and personnels who accomplished this mission gallantly and saved the two pilots' lives. Good job !

[@woodybenjam]

I think its amazing that we never hear about this small type operations that stop an attack before its began. Can you imagine the Chaos if them pilots had been captured.

[@americathefree3708]

Thanks!

[@alexanderleach3365]

Terrific work. No one gets left behind. Especially down fighter pilots.

[@arlingtonhynes]

The RIO, however, can find his own way home.

[@b.elzebub9252]

@@arlingtonhynes Yeah, just buy a new RIO.

[@mike6252]

A job very well done! It's great to see the ol' empires working side by side to accomplish their mission!

[@arliesam948]

We appreciate all you do LFE

[@michaelamos4651]

Thanks again for bringing us these stories

[@ieu1043]

I don't understand how you are not getting more subscribers and views on your videos. They are so well made and narated , keep it up! love your videos,

[@kingcrab6425]

i love your vids keep them coming

[@kingcrab6425]

could you pls do some more vids about the jw grom pls

[@brianingarfill1773]

WOW, thanks for publishing this amazing integrated behind the scenes work!!! You would never read of this positive and successful work in the news, only the failed attempts.

[@reliablethreat23]

I love this channel! Keep up the excellent work!

[@alfredahrens3564]

British gallantry at it`s best. Excellent job done by French commandos. May we all see more of such brilliant action. God bless all, - of the good one`s....

[@strawdawgs78]

Please cover the hostage rescue in Mali for which Marine Raider Jarad Stout earned a Silver Star and an unknown Delta operator earned a Distinguished Service Cross.

[@jimramsey8887]

Absolutely well said Lynx .

[@tattyheid7279]

Great vid, as always.

[@okobongdinko]

One thing I have noticed after watching many of his videos is that any video covering the French has less respect. A video about two commandos who died saving hostages had comments which where wildly unrespectful and if posted on a video about British or American soldiers who died they would've been booed with 50 + comments. Seriosuly, most of you are very respectful and polite but a couple need to loose your double standards and learn respect

[@rj12341]

i'd say most people watching this channel are british or american, people will be bias to their own nation.

[@okobongdinko]

@@rj12341 yes of course thier is a bias but a bias doesn't mean people have to be disrespectful. It is just unpleasant and can ruin whole comment sections

[@ahab9712]

@@okobongdinko I'm so confused? Where the difference in respect? Perhaps you mean in the comments. I think perhaps people feel less emotion when its not their countrymen. Still wrong though however thats youtube comments for you

[@okobongdinko]

@@ahab9712 an American would say Rip if two of his country men died but if two french men died he would say Americans wouldn't have died. That's a difference in respect. Of course there is less feeling towards not your countrymen but they are still your allies

[@ahab9712]

@@okobongdinko Yeah some people maybe. Its just random people on the Internet though, dont worry too much about it. Any soldier who died to give others life deserves all our respect. Dont worry about what stupid Americans say, especially on the internet

[@TacticalMetalhead]

Fantastic shit, thank you for exposing this for people to view. War is hell, and the men who fight them are honorable.

[@blueboats7530]

Legend has it the Boeing sales staff still come into the office early in case there's a phone call from Paris

[@titaniummechanism3214]

I'm glad my government has decided to purchase Chinooks as the new heavy transport helicopter for the Bundeswehr, I wasn't happy when the choice was announced, but in hindsight it was a great choice. The Chinook is just baller.

[@DDougz]

Good job, can we get the raf regiment engagements too

[@williamromine5715]

Just a comment about the pronunciation of the Chinook. In America, at least, it is pronounced as if it were spelled Shinook. It refers to a warm winter wind that will raise the temperature enough to thaw the ice and snow. It will usually come from Canada here in Montana. Don't know why the helicopter was named after that warm winter wind. Thanks for the video. That part of Mali looks a lot like the American Southwest.

[@nuthai4951]

It is named after a native American tribe by the same name.

[@williamromine5715]

@@nuthai4951 Thanks

[@abunchofiguanaswithinterne2186]

@@nuthai4951 correct. Just like the uh-60 blackhawk, ah-64 apache, OH-58 kiowa, and many more.

[@speedracer2336]

Many years ago the US Army began naming their helicopters after famous Native American tribes. Hence Apache, Comanche, and Chinook!

[@williamromine5715]

@@speedracer2336 I knew Chinook was an Indian tribe, but I didn't associate with a warlike nation, such as Apache. Thanks.

[@ashpadgett]

Could you do operation barras next that is such a cool story that i feel dosent get told enough

[@PSBSander]

Does anyone know what specific French SF Unit was deployed?

[@rogerkay8603]

We hear nothing of this sort of operation in the msm, well done fellas!

[@richardford7322]

Squadron leader "Charlie Brown" cannot be his real name! Is Snoopy his wing man?🤣😂🙃😊

[@cdrm1183]

Can u do a vid on Operation Barrus???

[@richcook2007]

Are you sure that's not Barras? The SAS operation?

[@cdrm1183]

@@richcook2007 it was like the rescue of Irish Rangers in Sierra Leora in like 2000

[@domeverett7964]

@@cdrm1183 yeah that’s Op Barras, and I think he’s already done a video on it?

[@cdrm1183]

@@domeverett7964 I haven’t seen it, what is it called?

[@seanjoseph8637]

A single jet fighter falling out of the sky is generally because the single engine has failed, because of technical problems, bad maintenance or birdstrike.

[@thejoker1178]

Respect

[@lairdsteele2817]

Squad leader Charlie Brown 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@1982rrose]

Bad parents.

[@PersonalityMalfunction]

Almost uncomfortable watching French troops carrying anything other than Le Clarion. It is a massive rebranding and completely changes the 40 year silhouette of fantassine.

[@kevinyanezmartinez6121]

Hey brother. Could you do a video on the 2017 Tongo Tongo ambush involving U.S Greem Berets

[@MasterDolby]

LRRG are out there too in Geo

[@willnewton9364]

Fairly sure 1310 flight has been based in Mali for years as part of Op Newcombe?

[@Hesco2-4]

Charlie Brown approves

[@cujimmy1366]

That's disgusting the losses of Mirage 2000 jets.

[@alandesouzacruz5124]

The battle of goose Green 🇬🇧vs 🇦🇷 in Falklands war my sugestion of next episode

[@SimonAmazingClarke]

I'd be interested to kbow how they got them there. I'm guessing that they didn't fly them down.

[@rokker333]

Oh Charlie Brown was also there? :)

[@Fuhrious]

Did the Chinooks fly from UK to Africa?

[@thierrymilan2039]

No, C17 flights.

[@Fuhrious]

@@thierrymilan2039 thank you sir

[@mark12strang58]

Make a clip about the GSG 9 and their operation in Mogadischou in 1977, in which they stormed a hijacked plane

[@waynebarnes9788]

Pity about the English channel 👀

[@tomperkins5657]

I swear, first read I thought it said, "The rescue of two downed Airmen in the Mall!"

[@maxmoore9955]

See the French have caught the American habit of excluding any other Countries involvement in Military operations.

[@genzalarboa3110]

it's a joke ? France has been asking for participation from the countries of the European Union for years, but they are content to send support troops or liaison officers. even the takuba force which was to replace the French barkhane troops was composed of 3000 to 5000 French soldiers, the 10 other countries participating in the operation sending less than 100 soldiers on average.

[@thierrymilan2039]

@@genzalarboa3110 Barkhane task force was to replace Serval force, with around 5000 conventionnal troops. Takuba was another task force with only special forces with around 1000 troops at the end, including French, Estonian, Tcheque, Malian, Swedish troops and a few others at the end of 2021.

[@thediner8929]

Does French military do not have heavy duty helicopters like the UK and US militaries?

[@e.lebrunet6311]

No we don't. As an ex french Marine I don't get it. Like in Afghanistan we were often flew by Americans Chinooks and we were highly dependent of them. We have Puma helicopters which can carry roundabout 10 soldiers so a combat group, compare to a Chinook where more than one platoon (4groups) can fit in. I don't know why the government never invested in bigger helis program

[@chloejenkins1152]

good question that i was also thinking why ask the UK for the heavy lift helos so i checked and no all they have is the Puma which is not adequate

[@thediner8929]

@@e.lebrunet6311 I don’t understand either. French military has enough money and competent pilots that can be trained to fly Chinooks. Are they against buying American made military items?

[@thierrymilan2039]

@@thediner8929You made the answer in your question.

[@thediner8929]

@@thierrymilan2039 Touché.

[@s4mur41RPG]

Now the French have left and we’re (uk) still there which is odd? Unless I’m mistaken. Anyways, Good clean video

[@marcbuisson2463]

Naaah, there are some political shitstorm down there, and a heavy offensive of russian misinformation. That said. Good luck with the malian current authorities. If I remmeber well, the germans and danes already got out, and there are currently 49 ivoirian soldiers more or less hostage of the current malian government. Good luck to the british soldiers in this environment though. Everybody would and probably will forgive you if you decide to leave this airplane crashing down.

[@jude_the_apostle]

The french have moved their operation to Niger after essentially getting kicked out by the Mali gov. The uk has been supporting french operations with the chinooks whilst also conducting a separate operation assisting the UN mission in Mali with personnel on the ground (op Newcombe)

[@okobongdinko]

The UK being there is only really in spirit. Only 250 British troops who aren't going to do as much as the French did with 4,200.

[@shakya00]

@@jude_the_apostle "kicked out" lol no it was a withdrawl planned long before.

[@dogsnads5634]

The Chinooks were discreetly removed in June when the French were packing up. The Seperate UK force doing Long Range patrols is still there with the UN, but you have to wonder if they're doing any ops as the Malian's have restricted air operations including Medevac. Best to pull them out now. Leave the Malian's to deal with it themselves.

[@markyoung13]

The story of the Russian pilot Maj. Roman Filipov and his last stand after being shot down in Syria in 2018 would make a good video.

[@nicholasemerson9852]

The French don't ha e 3 Chinooks? They have to call GB....wow.

[@SideWays8Productions]

RAF pilot Charlie Brown and his co-pilot, Snoopy.

[@karloyu3484]

👍

[@alanaldpal950]

Squadron Leader Charlie Brown you say? Was Snoopy and his dog house involved in these aerial operations? The

[@dude126]

Beyond the political 🐂💩, brothers in arms stick together!

[@redjacc7581]

considering the french had been fighting in mali for a number of years, do they really not have any heavy lift helicopters of their own? seems bizarre.

[@b.elzebub9252]

They do. But my guess is their own units were either engaged elsewhere or the British were just the closest unit available at the time? iirc the French also do not have chinooks themselves. Their utility helicopter is the NH-90 I believe. A capable design, though smaller than the chinook.

[@allthisrank]

@@b.elzebub9252 no we don't, and that's a shame

[@okobongdinko]

Also any chance to work with allies looks great for news stories and increase relationships with the soldiers

[@chloejenkins1152]

very

[@chloejenkins1152]

@@b.elzebub9252 no they dont the NH-90 is like the Merlin and Black Hawk medium lift

[@tavarix5893]

"Malfunction"

[@ORDEROFTHEKNIGHTSTEMPLAR13]

Why would the FRENCH need BRITANS help?? I'm all for helping eachother but FRANCE has an ARMY bigger or equivalent to the UK'S so I don't really get it??

[@chloejenkins1152]

Because French military have no heavy lift helicopters

[@thierrymilan2039]

French need others NATO partners when they lack some equipment but others nations, including UK or even USA, called French help in some occasions, that's what NATO is made for.

[@mathewjones5520]

1310flt has been around for donkeys years, wasnt a "new unit" for this op....

[@gerardcurtis3911]

Need more intergrationgnwith the French. Especially in Asia, neither of us can afford a full presence but still need to ve seen as active

[@TheFreshman321]

The French still using the Mirage. Now that is a surprise.

[@Platycqb]

Mirage 2000 version D (conventional strike fighter) as pictured and used over Mali were first introduced in 1993. When were the F-15E or Tornado GR4 introduced/retired? :) Not comparing apples with oranges here, just planes with a similar role within their respective users air forces.

[@Dan19870]

Thanks for documenting this SAR mission. That information at the end relating to the Mirage's reliability is a little troubling, hopefully the French will replace the aging Mirage with the Eurofighter Typhoon.

[@romainfr2981]

What do you mean hopefully we dont want your piece of garage which can't do cas and can barely fullfill his airsuperiority task even though il has been disigned for it. The dassault rafale is better in almost every aspects.

[@thomasrevidon693]

I think the mirage is officially not going to see action anymore since this summer, and is now fully replaced by Rafales, but I may be mistaken

[@shugninx295]

@@thomasrevidon693 You’re wrong indeed. Mirage 2000-5s and Ds are still flying, the recently retired is the 2000C variant.

[@АмериканецвРоссии-и4б]

They're replacing it with the Rafale, why would they need the Typhoon?

[@GeoCalifornian]

What’s up with the Mirage Dassault’s terrible reliability problems?? /geo ex machina

[@factsdontcareaboutyourfeel7204]

With the french helping all the criminals cross the channel we should be pulling all support

[@chbl1881]

go back to the dailymail

[@daven2505]

Shut up!

[@don-qb4xb]

It would seem French fighter jets are as about reliable as French cars.

[@kal_bewe1837]

Ntm

[@chestyp0311]

So basically, the Mirage 2000 is a piece of shit. Might as well be flying around in a Chevy Nova

[@daveybaby10]

Becoming a theme is bailing the French out of the shit lok

[@destroyerarmor]

What is France military doing in Africa?

[@chloejenkins1152]

slave trading lol

[@goodshipkaraboudjan]

They're an enormous geopolitical player in Africa.

[@stumpyhobbit2175]

And what thanks do we get, a daily dinghy deluge from "war torn" France.

[@sih1095]

An unnecessary comment. And out of context. You want whine about this go elsewhere.

[@stumpyhobbit2175]

@@sih1095 Dont tell me what to do, mind your own business.

[@asterixky]

@@stumpyhobbit2175 But he is right, there are better places for baby cries

[@stumpyhobbit2175]

You can mind your own biz too. Have a nice day. 👍

[@archstanton6102]

@@stumpyhobbit2175 You do understand how a public forum works? If you comment people can reply and call you a whiney cry baby. If you don't like it, then don't comment.

[@tomjones8715]

The eu is so strong without the British 😂

[@thierrymilan2039]

Because the Brits are so strong without E.U ? Come on !

[@skeletonkey6733]

I still have no idea even today what we are doing in Mali and not within national interests and EU not NATO based .A cluster fuc* of and only as allies should we stand

[@skeletonkey6733]

Macron despises the UK and states vocaly to all and any who will listen

[@goodshipkaraboudjan]

Lots of bad people there willing to go well out of their way tod do bad things to Europeans.

[@skeletonkey6733]

@@goodshipkaraboudjan Back in the day we kicked arse not play ambassador or danced to the fiddle of any as a mug's game with one hand behind your back and the kiss of death. Get on with it and get out

[@skeletonkey6733]

@@goodshipkaraboudjan Sorry that came across rude

[@goodshipkaraboudjan]

@@skeletonkey6733 as an Aussie that knocked around Afghanistan, yep. Now look who they call criminals when you get the job done.

[@StevenKeery]

Ah! Co-operation, are the French still sending us their illegal immigrants, in boats across the English Channel?

[@factsdontcareaboutyourfeel7204]

Yup, thousands of criminals every day .

[@archstanton6102]

@@factsdontcareaboutyourfeel7204 Can you give your evidence that thousands of them are criminals?

[@User-gx3sr]

@@archstanton6102 they are illegally crossing into another country, therefore committing a crime

[@factsdontcareaboutyourfeel7204]

@@archstanton6102 they’re all entering a country illegally which makes them criminals.. let alone most are coming to scrounge and commit crimes anyway

[@archstanton6102]

@@factsdontcareaboutyourfeel7204 Again give your evidence most are coming to scrounge commit crimes? You must have led a truly virtuous life, never speeding, no under age drinking, not once breaking the law. Seems like you are just trying to justify your fear and hatreds.

[@MrDCrosswell]

Wouldn't have happened if they weren't there. Why are they there?

[@elv7701]

no action? lame.

[@User-gx3sr]

Only an idiot would wish for combat over a successful mission without incident.

[@LibertysetsquareJack]

Exactly. No captives; no casualties; wreckage secured: good job.

[@elv7701]

@@LibertysetsquareJack nah not enough action, lAMEEEEE

[@User-gx3sr]

@@elv7701 nerd

[@elv7701]

@@User-gx3sr nah ur lame no action lameee

[@anti-Russia-sigma]

French media:”The helicopters were French.” Me:”I dunno why the UK & everyone else tolerates the French.”

[@genzalarboa3110]

except that the French media simply said that they had been picked up by Barkhane force helicopters. some journalists then assumed that it was nh90 since it is normally the helicopter used by barkhane for a mission like this when to know who is the most hated between the two countries, I think it is enough to refer to the joy of Europeans during the Italian victory at the football euro tournament

[@zcomme]

@@genzalarboa3110 was not because the french but becaause this specific team who did not represent france

[@simbi8797]

How this gets put up on a channel supposedly recognising exceptional courage and professionalism (that's my interpretation anyway of "their names liveth evermore"), is beyond me. Seems to be a case of eurocentric sensibilities, and an inner capital city of a first world country mentality. Good the choppers were deployed and available. Great that the French air crew were recovered. Wonderful. But you might as well report every rescue of a stranded hiker off the Coast of the UK - where wind and weather are likely far worse for flying than Mali for much if the time. As an African I really get irritated by this "Dark Continent" mentality of Europeans. As if every white man action in sub-Saharan Africa is somehow outstanding and heroic. Pu-leeese!

[@lagarto83]

I think it is time you went to bed.

[@kealanmcateer9690]

This is a military operations themed channel Yes flying rescue ops in UK weather maybe difficult sometimes but when rescuing hikers in the UK RAF heli's are nearly 100% sure they shall not come under fire from insurgents, Not disrespecting your comment in anyway,

[@exploringtheplanetsn]

Military channel

[@MrOrbitzHD]

bosh! the british showing the French how its done once again!

[@allthisrank]

You should wash your ears before listening to a video dude, just saying

[@thierrymilan2039]

Are you drunk so you can't hear what's really happened ?

[@ImDirteDan]

Always gotta save the damn French lol

[@thierrymilan2039]

You don't know what you're talking about.

[@assadasdadfsfdfd1760]

France is intervening in Mali without permission from the Malian government. Since the west has not condemned the attack in moscow, I ask the following question: are attacks in paris justified as the west justifies them in russia?

[@RB87NL]

That solely depends what the target objective is. Civilians should never be targeted.

[@shakya00]

It was the request of the Malian president in 2013 when their country was falling under terrorist rule. Don't spread fake news, thx.

[@robertpatrick3350]

Weird whataboutism

[@assadasdadfsfdfd1760]

@@robertpatrick3350 If the West does not condemn the Moscow attack and refuses to hand over its perpetrators, it becomes a sponsor of terrorism

[@assadasdadfsfdfd1760]

@@shakya00 The Malian government expelled the French forces because they were supporting terrorist forces. To lie you have to be smarter. Why are you so afraid to answer the question? Do you support terrorism depends on who practices it?

[@Sailor92]

Good question is: what they were doing there after all!?? Colony will always stay colony