The Southern Iraqi Countryside

Last week, we (meaning 2 Blackhawks) flew down to Tallil to drop off one of the helicopters for maintenance. It was a one hour flight each way, and of course, we always travel in pairs in case one of us needs to make a landing out in the middle of the desert. Since I flew the first leg, the other pilot flew the return leg and let me take pictures. Here’s what Iraq looks like southwest of FOB Delta.

The land is open, arid, lacking any substantial vegetation, and sparsely occupied by Iraqis living in small compounds next to water wells. Some attempts at irrigation canals appear to be made. They raise sheep and grow some crops that are irrigated by the water from the wells. White residue remains where irrigation and rain water have evaporated leaving salt-stained earth behind.

The further north we flew, isolated homes were replaced by small villages and larger tracts of irrigated land with small canals feeding the fields.

Occasionally, we flew by even larger villages adjacent to medium-sized canals flowing from the Euphrates River located to the east. Trees began to appear, though date palm groves weren’t anywhere near as prevalent as the land further north.

Some Iraqi towns were pretty well developed with a substantial road system and large unidentified compounds.

On our way in to land, we requested to do a “FOB Sweep” where we would descend to terrain flight and fly the perimeter looking for unusual activity. So we descended down to 50 feet and went in to get a good look at our neighbors. To the north of our FOB flowed the Euphrates River.

What was this? Definitely unusual activity. If you look closely you can see 2 white drums at the far end where the children were congregating around trying to kick a black and white ball through… Wait a minute, yep, soccer! If anyone wants to mail me a soccer ball or two, I’ll airmail it onto the field the next time we do a FOB sweep! And no, I won’t aim at anyone.

As we made our turn to downwind, out in the distance we could see the larger buildings of Al Kut, the city to our southeast.

Apartments, offices, and a grain silo complex could be seen.

Between us and them, sentinel Ugandan guards manned outposts on large, bunkered “termite mounds.”






The FOB has a expansive hangar at the east end for incoming and outgoing passengers and cargo. A large contingent of infantry and MP’s patrol the area in their Up-armored HMWVVs and MRAMPs, or whatever those armored trucks are called.

From the cockpit, this is what I should pay attention to once in a while… Umm, let’s see, from left to right, top to bottom on the gauges, we’re going about 120 knots, level attitude (that’s good), 740 feet above the ground on the Radar Altimeter, 700-some feet on the altimeter, not climbing, and headed about 350 degrees. Oh, and all those little chicklet lights are green. That’s real good…


And this is what I look like when I try to take a picture of myself. Note the nice black armor side panels next to the window. Extended and in place.

For the return trip since we always fly in pairs, we had a different wingman. An AH-64D Longbow came along. Kind of like MAJ Pat O’Toole and I used to fly, eh Pat? No one likes to bother us when they’re around for some reason.

Well, that’s the area to our south. The countryside to the north is much more interesting. I’ll try and get some pictures of that area later.



Love everyone and miss you,

C-M/P/3