View source for Operation Red Wings

{{Short description|2005 U.S. military operation during the War in Afghanistan}}
{{For|the 1956 series of U.S. nuclear tests|Operation Redwing}}
{{Pp-protected|small=yes}}
{{Page numbers needed|date=June 2022}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict          = Operation Red Wings
| partof            = [[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)|War in Afghanistan]]
| image             = 
| caption           = 
| date              = June 27{{spaced ndash}}mid-July 2005<ref name="macmannis">{{Cite news |last1=MacMannis |first1=Andrew |title=Operation Red Wings: A Joint Failure in Unity of Command |url=http://www.marinecorpsgazette-digital.com/marinecorpsgazette/200612/?pg=16#pg16 |pages=14–20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071028212916/http://www.marinecorpsgazette-digital.com/marinecorpsgazette/200612/?pg=16#pg16 |work=[[Marine Corps Gazette]] |access-date=2012-02-05 |archive-date=2007-10-28 |last2=Scott |first2=Robert |url-status=dead}}</ref>{{sfn|Darack|2010}}
| place             = Sawtalo Sar Mountain, [[Korangal Valley]], [[Pech District]], [[Kunar Province]], [[Afghanistan]]<ref name="macmannis" />{{sfn|Darack|2010}}<ref name="Ed_Darack_Marine_Corps_Gazette">{{Cite news |last=Darack |first=Ed |title=Operation Red Wings: What Really Happened? |date=January 2011 |url=http://www.marinecorpsgazette-digital.com/marinecorpsgazette/201101/?pg=65#pg65 |work=[[Marine Corps Gazette]] |pages=62–65 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110119111355/http://www.marinecorpsgazette-digital.com/marinecorpsgazette/201101/?pg=65#pg65 |access-date=2011-06-13 |archive-date=January 19, 2011 |author-link=Ed Darack |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Ed_Darack_Victory_Point_NAI_Map" />
| result            = Taliban victory
* Insurgent forces temporarily withdraw before returning three weeks later
* Subsequent commencement of [[Operation Whalers]]
| combatant1        = {{flag|United States}}
| combatant2        = {{flag|Taliban}}
| commander1        = Lt. Col. [[Andrew MacMannis]] ([[United States Marine Corps|USMC]]){{sfn|Darack|2010}}<br/> Lt. Cmdr. [[Erik S. Kristensen]]{{KIA}}{{sfn|Luttrell|Robinson|2007}}<br/>Lt. [[Michael P. Murphy]]{{KIA}}
| commander2        = [[Ahmad Shah (Taliban)|Ahmad Shah]]
| strength1         = {{Plain list|
* 12 [[United States Navy SEALs|Navy SEALs]]
* 8 [[160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne)|Night Stalkers]] (additional helicopter crews)
* 2 [[Boeing CH-47 Chinook|MH-47 Chinooks]]
* 2 [[Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk|UH-60 Black Hawks]]
* 2 [[Boeing AH-64 Apache|AH-64 Apaches]]
}}
| strength2         = {{Plain list|
* '''U.S. and Afghan Intelligence reports:''' 8–10 insurgents<ref name="Ed_Darack_Marine_Corps_Gazette" />
* '''U.S. Navy:''' 50+ insurgents<ref name = navy1>{{Cite web |title=Summary of Action |date=June 28, 2005 |url=http://www.navy.mil/moh/mpmurphy/soa.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140114090628/http://www.navy.mil/moh/mpmurphy/soa.html |website=Navy.mil |access-date=2011-06-13 |archive-date=January 14, 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
* '''Luttrell's claim:''' 80–200 insurgents{{sfn|Darack|2010}}<ref name="victory_point_web">{{Cite web |last=Darack |first=Ed |author-link=Ed Darack |title=Operation Red Wings, Operation Whalers, and the book ''VICTORY POINT'' in which they are comprehensively documented |url=http://www.darack.com/sawtalosar |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211031135050/http://www.darack.com/sawtalosar/ |archive-date=31 October 2021 |access-date=2011-06-13 |website=Darack.com}}</ref><ref name=McMuphy-SOA>{{Cite web |title=Operation Red Wings June 28, 2005 (Medal of Honor Summary of Action) |url=http://www.navy.mil/moh/mpmurphy/soa.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140114090628/http://www.navy.mil/moh/mpmurphy/soa.html |archive-date=14 January 2014 |publisher=[[United States Navy|US Navy]]}}</ref>
}}
| casualties1       = {{Plain list|
* 19 killed
* 1 wounded
* 1 Chinook helicopter shot down<ref name="Ed_Darack_Marine_Corps_Gazette" /><ref name="cnn_asiapcf" />
}}
| casualties2       =  {{Plain list|
* Unknown
* '''U.S Navy claim:''' 35 killed<ref name = navy1/><ref name=McMuphy-SOA/>
}}
}}
{{Campaignbox US war in Afghanistan}}

'''Operation Red Wings''' (often incorrectly referred to as ''Operation Redwing'' or ''Operation Red Wing''),{{refn|{{sfn|Darack|2010}}<ref name="Ed_Darack_Marine_Corps_Gazette" /><ref name="victory_point_web" /><ref name="onv">{{Cite web |last=C |first=Eric |title=On Violence: He Got the Title Wrong? And 6 More Mistakes from Luttrell's "Lone Survivor" |url=http://onviolence.com/?e=234 |website=OnViolence.com |access-date=2012-02-06 |archive-date=March 23, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323145748/http://onviolence.com/?e=234 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="ricks">{{Cite web |last=Ricks |first=Tom |title='Lone Survivor' smackdown |url=http://ricks.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2011/01/13/lone_survivor_smackdown |work=The Best Defense |access-date=2011-06-13}}</ref>}} informally referred to as the '''Battle of Abbas Ghar''', was a [[Joint warfare|joint military operation]] conducted by the [[United States]] in the [[Dara-I-Pech District|Pech District]] of [[Kunar Province, Afghanistan]]. It was carried out from late-June to mid-July 2005 on the slopes of a mountain named ''Sawtalo Sar'',{{refn|{{sfn|Darack|2010}}<ref name="Ed_Darack_Victory_Point_NAI_Map">{{Cite web |last=Darack |first=Ed |author-link=Ed Darack |title=Topographic Map by Ed Darack used in Victory Point of Named Areas of Interest on Sawtalo Sar for Operation Red Wings |url=http://www.darack.com/sawtalosar/nai-map.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220711190127/http://www.darack.com/sawtalosar/nai-map.php |archive-date=11 July 2022 |access-date=2012-02-06 |publisher=Darack.com}}</ref><ref name="victory_point_web" />}} situated approximately {{convert|20|mi|km}} west of the provincial capital of [[Asadabad, Afghanistan|Asadabad]].{{refn|<ref name="macmannis" />{{sfn|Darack|2010}}<ref name="Ed_Darack_Marine_Corps_Gazette" />}} The operation was intended to disrupt the activities of local [[Taliban]]-aligned anti-[[Participants in Operation Enduring Freedom|coalition]] militias (ACM), thus contributing to regional stability and thereby facilitating the [[2005 Afghan parliamentary election|September 2005 parliamentary election]] for the [[National Assembly (Afghanistan)|National Assembly of Afghanistan]].{{refn|<ref name="macmannis" />{{sfn|Darack|2010}}<ref name="Ed_Darack_Marine_Corps_Gazette" />}} At the time, Taliban ACM activity in the region was carried out predominantly by a small group led by a local man from [[Nangarhar Province]] known as [[Ahmad Shah (Taliban)|Ahmad Shah]], who had aspirations of achieving regional prominence among [[Islamic fundamentalism|Muslim fundamentalists]]. Consequently, Shah and his group were one of the primary targets of the American military operation.

Operation Red Wings was conceived by the [[2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines]] (2/3) of the [[United States Marine Corps|U.S. Marine Corps]] based on an operational model developed by 2/3's sister battalion, the [[3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines]] (3/3), which had preceded the 2/3 in their combat deployment. It utilized [[special operations|special operations forces]] (SOF) units and assets, including members of the [[United States Navy SEALs|U.S. Navy SEALs]] and the [[United States Army Special Operations Command|U.S. Army Special Operations Command]] (USASOC) [[160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne)|160th Airborne Special Operations Aviation Regiment]] (160th SOAR), for the opening phase of the operation.{{sfn|Darack|2010}} A team of four Navy SEALs, tasked with [[reconnaissance|surveillance and reconnaissance]] of a group of structures known to be used by Shah and his men, were ambushed by Shah and his group just hours after inserting into the area by [[fast-roping]] from an [[Boeing CH-47 Chinook|MH-47 Chinook]] helicopter.{{sfn|Darack|2010}} Three of the four SEALs were killed during the ensuing battle, and one of the two [[quick reaction force]] (QRF) helicopters sent in for their aid was shot down by an [[RPG-7]] fired by Shah's insurgents, killing all eight U.S. Navy SEALs and all eight U.S. Army Special Operations aviators on board.

The operation then became known as '''Red Wings II''' and lasted approximately three more weeks,<ref name="macmannis" />{{sfn|Darack|2010}} during which time the bodies of the fallen SEALs and Army Special Operations aviators were recovered and the only surviving member of the initial SEAL team, [[Marcus Luttrell]], was rescued.{{sfn|Luttrell|Robinson|2007}} While the goal of the operation was partially achieved, Shah regrouped in neighboring [[Pakistan]] and returned with more men and armaments, boosted by the notoriety he gained from his ambush and helicopter shoot-down during Red Wings. In August 2005, Shah was seriously wounded and his group was destroyed during [[Operation Whalers]] in Kunar Province.{{refn|<ref name="macmannis" />{{sfn|Darack|2010}}<ref name="victory_point_web" />}} In April 2008, Shah was killed by [[Pakistan Armed Forces|Pakistani troops]] during a gunfight in Pakistan's [[Khyber Pakhtunkhwa]] province.<ref name="longwarjournal">{{Cite web |last=Dupee |first=Matt |date=April 17, 2008 |title=Bara bin Malek Front commander killed in Pakistani shootout |url=http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2008/04/_commander_ismail_im.php
 |access-date=2008-12-10 |work=[[FDD's Long War Journal]]}}</ref>

==Origin of name==
When the 2/3 took the Operation Stars model and developed the specifics of it, 2/3's [[Operations (military staff)|operations officer]], Major Thomas Wood, instructed an assistant operations officer, 1st Lieutenant Lance Seiffert, to compose a list of [[ice hockey|hockey]] team names.{{sfn|Darack|2010}}<ref name="victory_point_web" /> 2/3 continued the use of hockey team names for large operations.{{sfn|Darack|2010}} Seiffert's list<ref name="Seiffert" /> included ten teams,{{refn|{{sfn|Darack|2010}}<ref name="victory_point_web" /><ref name="Seiffert">{{Citation |last=Seiffert, 1st Lieutenant Lance, (USMC) |title=Operation Red Wings Possible Hockey Team Names List by Lance Seiffert |url=http://www.darack.com/sawtalosar/seiffert-list.php |publisher=Darack.com |access-date=2011-06-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103043101/http://www.darack.com/sawtalosar/seiffert-list.php |archive-date=3 November 2012 }}</ref>}} and the battalion settled on the fourth name on the list, "[[Detroit Red Wings|Red Wings]]", since the first three, [[New York Rangers]], [[Chicago Blackhawks]], and [[New Jersey Devils]], each could be misconstrued as a reference to military units currently in Afghanistan at the time.{{sfn|Darack|2010}}<ref name="victory_point_web" />

The name has been widely misstated as "Operation Redwing" and sometimes "Operation Red Wing".<ref group="n"> [[Operation Redwing]] was a 1956 series of nuclear weapons tests.</ref><ref name="VP_Web_Old">{{Citation |last=Darack, Ed |title=Archived Version of Victory Point Web Site, from 2006, Pointing out Difference between Operation Redwing and Operation Red Wings |url=http://www.darack.com/sawtalosar/index-old-jan15-08.php |publisher=Darack.com |access-date=2012-02-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210206100759/http://www.darack.com/sawtalosar/index-old-jan15-08.php |archive-date=6 February 2021}}</ref> This error began with the publication of the book ''[[Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10]]'', which was written by Patrick Robinson based on interviews with [[Marcus Luttrell]].{{refn|<ref name="Ed_Darack_Marine_Corps_Gazette" /><ref name="onv" /><ref name="ricks" /><ref name="NYT">{{Citation |last=Rich, Motoko |title=Books: Lone Survivor |date=2007-08-09 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/09/books/09seal.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=2012-02-06}}</ref><ref name="Robinson">{{Citation |last=Robinson, Patrick |title=Writing Lone Survivor: The Honor and the Anguish |date=2010-02-02 |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/patrick-robinson/emlone-survivorem-the-sto_b_444843.html |publisher=Huffington Post |access-date=2012-02-06}}</ref>}}

The 2/3 eventually abandoned this naming convention out of sensitivity to the local population, instead opting for using [[Dari language|Dari]] names for animals,{{sfn|Darack|2010}} including "Pil" (elephant)<ref name="Pil">{{Citation |last=Mraz, Steve |title=Operation Pil Targets Taliban in Kunar Province |url=http://www.stripes.com/news/operation-pil-targets-taliban-in-kunar-province-1.39955 |publisher=Stars and Stripes |access-date=2011-06-13}}</ref> and "Sorkh Khar" (red donkey).<ref name="Sorkh_Khar">{{Citation |last=Storm, Sergeant Robert M., (USMC) |title=Operation Sorkh Khar (Red Donkey) |url=http://www.mcbh.usmc.mil/news/Dec2A5.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101222030938/http://www.mcbh.usmc.mil/news/Dec2A5.pdf |publisher=Hawaii Marine / MCBH.USMC.MIL |access-date=2011-06-13 |archive-date=2010-12-22 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Background and development==
[[File:Navy SEALs in Afghanistan prior to Red Wing.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|SEALs prior to Operation Red Wings (L to R): Matthew Axelson, Daniel R. Healy, James Suh, [[Marcus Luttrell]], Eric S. Patton, [[Michael P. Murphy]]]]
[[File:Danny Dietz.jpg|thumb|right|upright|SEAL [[Danny Dietz]]]]
After the initial [[United States invasion of Afghanistan|invasion of Afghanistan]] in 2001, U.S. military and coalition partner operations shifted from [[Kinetic military action|"kinetic" operations]] to those of a [[counterinsurgency]] nature.{{sfn|Darack|2010}} One of the primary goals of the coalition by 2004 in Afghanistan was [[nation-building]], that is, providing a security environment conducive to the establishment and growth of a democratically elected government, as well as infrastructure support.<ref name="macmannis" />{{sfn|Darack|2010}} A key milestone in this campaign was the [[2005 Afghan parliamentary election|September 18, 2005, Afghan national parliamentary elections]].<ref name="macmannis" />{{sfn|Darack|2010}} While many of Afghanistan's provinces at this time had stable security environments, one of the most restive continued to be the Kunar Province, which lies in eastern Afghanistan, on the border with Pakistan. For election results to be seen as legitimate by the citizens of Afghanistan and the world at large, all elections throughout the country would need to proceed "unencumbered" (without external influence, by either American and coalition forces or Taliban and anti-American and coalition forces), including those in Kunar.{{sfn|Darack|2010}}<ref name="victory_point_web" />

Insurgent activity in Kunar Province during this time came from 22 identified groups,{{sfn|Darack|2010}}<ref name="victory_point_web" /> some of which had tenuous ties to the [[Taliban]] and [[al-Qaeda]] while the majority were little more than local criminals.{{sfn|Darack|2010}} These groups were collectively known as anti-coalition militia (ACM),<ref name="macmannis" />{{sfn|Darack|2010}} and the common thread among all was a strong resistance to the unification of the country and subsequent increasing presence of national government entities in the Kunar. This would pose a threat to their activities, some of which included attempting to aid a resurgent neo-Taliban and lumber smuggling.<ref name="macmannis" />{{sfn|Darack|2010}} With the goal of successful elections in Kunar, military operations in the area focused primarily on the disruption of ACM activity, and these military operations utilized a number of different units and operational constructs to achieve this goal.

===Preceding operations and model===
The 3/3, which deployed to [[Train Advise Assist Command – East|Regional Command East]] (which included Kunar Province) in late 2004 to conduct stability and counterinsurgency operations in support of [[Operation Enduring Freedom]], identified a number of operational barriers because of [[United States Special Operations Command|Special Operations Command]] doctrine for the battalion's counterinsurgency work in the area.{{sfn|Darack|2010}} These barriers included non-sharing of intelligence with the battalion and non-disclosure of impending raids by special operations units in the area.<ref name="Cooling">{{Citation |last=Cooling, Colonel Norman L. (USMC) |title=To Integrate or To Deconflict, That is the Question: An Examination of Contemporary Challenges in Conventional and Special Operations Forces Command and Control |url=http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA476417 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130408130956/http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA476417 |publisher=Joint Military Operations Department, Naval War College |access-date=2012-02-06 |archive-date=April 8, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> To mitigate these problems, 3/3's staff developed an operational model which integrated special operations forces units into their operations, allowing the sharing of intelligence between the battalion and special operations forces as well as maintaining solid operational control of operations with integrated special operations assets and units by the battalion.{{sfn|Darack|2010}}<ref name="Cooling" /> Operations that 3/3 conducted based on this model proved successful in disrupting ACM activity. The first of these, Operation Spurs (named after the [[San Antonio Spurs]] basketball team), conducted in February 2005, took place in the [[Korangal Valley]], in Kunar Province's Pech District.<ref name="Spurs">{{Citation |last=Mattingly, Rich Corporal (USMC) |title=Operation Spurs |url=http://www.defendamerica.mil/articles/feb2005/a020705wm1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140105102929/http://www.defendamerica.mil/articles/feb2005/a020705wm1.html |publisher=DefendAmerica.com |access-date=2012-02-06 |archive-date=2014-01-05 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Spurs utilized Navy SEALs for the opening two phases of the five-phase operation.{{sfn|Darack|2010}} Similar operations that followed included Operation Mavericks (named after the [[Dallas Mavericks]] basketball team) in April 2005,<ref name="Mavericks">{{Citation |last=Mattingly, Rich Corporal (USMC) |title=Operation Mavericks |url=http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,usmc1_040405.00.html |publisher=Military.com |access-date=2012-02-06}}</ref> and Operation Celtics (named after the [[Boston Celtics]] basketball team) in May 2005.<ref name="Celtics">{{Citation |last=Scavetta, Rick |title=Operation Celtics |url=https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/id/31529/ |publisher=Defense.gov |access-date=2012-02-06}}</ref> These operations, all of which included Navy SEALs, were conceived and planned by the battalion, with the specifics of those phases involving Navy SEALs being planned by the SEALs.{{sfn|Darack|2010}}<ref name="Cooling" /> Each operation lasted between three and four weeks.<ref name="33CC" /> 3/3 planned and executed approximately one of these operations per month, maintaining a consistent operational tempo.{{sfn|Darack|2010}}<ref name="33CC" /> The culmination of 3/3's efforts was the April 2005 forced surrender of a regional (and national) [[High-value target|high value target]], an ACM commander known as Najmudeen, who based his operations out of the Korangal Valley.{{sfn|Darack|2010}}<ref name="33CC" /> With the surrender of Najmudeen, ACM activity in the region dropped significantly. Najmudeen's surrender, however, left a power vacuum in the region.{{sfn|Darack|2010}}<ref name="victory_point_web" /><ref name="33CC">{{Citation |last=3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines Staff |title=Command Chronology for 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines, January through June, 2005 |url=http://www.darack.com/sawtalosar/3-3-final.pdf |publisher=Darack.com |access-date=2012-02-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226232222/http://www.darack.com/sawtalosar/3-3-final.pdf |archive-date=26 February 2021}}</ref>

3/3 tracked a number of known ACM groups they determined to be possibly seeking to fill the power void in the region. The battalion began planning a new operation, tentatively called Operation Stars, which was named after the [[Dallas Stars]] professional hockey team (3/3's battalion commander, Lieutenant Colonel Norman Cooling, hailed from Texas,<ref name="Cooling_Texas">{{Citation |last=Nerl, Lance Corporal Michael (USMC) |title=Mountain Marines and Bridgeport Celebrate 233 Years |url=http://www.dvidshub.net/news/36233/mountain-marines-and-bridgeport-celebrate-233-years |publisher=DVIDSHUB.net |access-date=2012-02-06}}</ref> hence most operations were named after Texas sports teams){{refn|{{sfn|Darack|2010}}<ref name="victory_point_web" /><ref name="Spurs" /><ref name="Mavericks" /><ref name="Celtics" /><ref name="33CC" />}} Stars, like the other operations before it, focused on disrupting ACM activity, although Najmudeen's surrender caused activity to drop, and specific groups proved difficult to pinpoint.{{sfn|Darack|2010}}

In May 2005, the advance party of 3/3's sister battalion, the 2/3, arrived in Regional Command East. Even before deploying to Afghanistan 2/3's, intelligence officer Captain Scott Westerfield and his assistants had been tracking a small cell led by a man named [[Ahmad Shah (Taliban)|Ahmad Shah]], based on intelligence sent back by 3/3's intelligence officer. Shah was from a remote region in Nangarhar Province, which borders the south side of Kunar Province. Shah, they determined, was responsible for approximately 11 incidents against coalition forces and government of Afghanistan entities, including small arms [[ambush]]es and [[improvised explosive device]] (IED) attacks. By June 2005, 2/3 had [[Relief in place|relieved-in-place]] 3/3 and, using the Stars concept, had developed a comprehensive operation which they called Operation Red Wings. Red Wings' goal was disrupting ACM activity, with an emphasis on disrupting Ahmad Shah's activities, which were based near the summit of Sawtalo Sar.{{refn|<ref name="macmannis" />{{sfn|Darack|2010}}<ref name="Ed_Darack_Victory_Point_NAI_Map" /><ref name="victory_point_web" /><ref name="33CC" />}}

===Planning stages and intelligence gathering===
[[File:Operation Red Wing planning map.jpg|thumb|upright=1.35|A map of the area and plan relating to Operation Red Wings]]
2/3's battalion staff began planning Operation Red Wings when they arrived in Afghanistan. Lieutenant Colonel Andrew MacMannis, 2/3's battalion commander, and his staff wanted to maintain the operational tempo set by 3/3. 2/3's operations officer, Major Thomas Wood, began planning the five-phase Red Wings operation off the Operation Stars model. During this time, 2/3's intelligence officer, Captain Scott Westerfield, focused further on learning about Ahmad Shah. His overall intelligence picture of Shah took a substantial leap when 2nd Lieutenant Regan Turner, a platoon commander with 2/3's "Whiskey Company" – a weapons company augmented to function like an infantry line company, gathered a wealth of human intelligence about Shah during a patrol including his full name: Ahmad Shah Dara-I-nur (Ahmad Shah of the Valley of the Enlightened ones); his birthplace, the [[Kuz Kunar District]] of [[Nangarhar Province]]; his primary alias: Ismael; his chief allegiance: [[Gulbuddin Hekmatyar]], who was based out of the [[Shamshato Refugee Camp]] near [[Peshawar]], Pakistan; his group's size: fifty to one hundred fighters; and his goals: to impede the upcoming elections and attempt to aid a resurgent Taliban in the region. Although Shah was a relatively unknown entity in the region, he apparently held regional aspirations and possibly had the assistance of Gulbuddin Hekmatyar. 2nd Lieutenant Turner also gathered a number of photographs of Shah.{{refn|{{sfn|Darack|2010}}<ref name="Shah1">{{Citation |last=Unknown Photographer |title=Photograph of Ahmad Shah |url=http://www.darack.com/sawtalosar/shah-1.php |publisher=Darack.com |access-date=2012-02-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103043137/http://www.darack.com/sawtalosar/shah-1.php |archive-date=3 November 2012}}</ref><ref name="Shah2">{{Citation |last=Unknown Photographer |title=Photograph of Ahmad Shah |url=http://www.darack.com/sawtalosar/shah-2.php |publisher=Darack.com |access-date=2012-02-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103043223/http://www.darack.com/sawtalosar/shah-2.php |archive-date=3 November 2012}}</ref><ref name="Shah3">{{Citation |last=Unknown Photographer |title=Photograph of Ahmad Shah |url=http://www.darack.com/sawtalosar/shah-3.php |publisher=Darack.com |access-date=2012-02-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108123725/http://www.darack.com/sawtalosar/shah-3.php |archive-date=8 November 2021 }}</ref><ref name="Shah4">{{Citation |last=Unknown Photographer |title=Photograph of Ahmad Shah |url=http://www.darack.com/sawtalosar/shah-4.php |publisher=Darack.com |access-date=2012-02-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108123719/http://www.darack.com/sawtalosar/shah-4.php |archive-date=8 November 2021}}</ref>}}{{failed verification|date=June 2022}}

Further intelligence, including [[Human intelligence (intelligence gathering)|human intelligence]] and [[signals intelligence]], indicated that Shah based his operations out of some small structures outside of the village of Chichal, high on the slopes of Sawtalo Sar mountain in the upper Korangal Valley, approximately {{convert|20|mi}} to the west of Kunar's provincial capital [[Asadabad, Afghanistan|Asadabad]]. Using [[imagery intelligence]] taken from an [[unmanned aerial vehicle]] on June 17, 2005, Westerfield identified likely structures used for housing his team, IED making, and [[Overwatch (military tactic)|overwatch]] of the area below for IED strikes. The intelligence staff identified four named areas of interest containing specific structures which Shah might be using.{{sfn|Darack|2010}}<ref name="Ed_Darack_Victory_Point_NAI_Map" /> Westerfield and his staff determined that Shah and his men had been responsible for approximately 11 incidents against American, Coalition, and Afghan government entities, including IED strikes and small arms ambushes. They determined that Shah and his men would be occupying the area of Chichal in late June, a time of low lunar illumination. The operation would require a helicopter insertion of forces to cordon the area and search for Shah and his men. They sought to conduct this operation at night, after positive identification of Shah by a Marine Corps [[United States Marine Corps Scout Sniper|scout sniper]] team, which would walk into the area under cover of darkness some nights before.{{sfn|Darack|2010}}

As with 3/3 before them, 2/3 sought to use Special Operations Forces assets for Red Wings but, unlike 3/3, they sought only the use of Special Operations Aviation assets, specifically, MH-47 Special Operations Aircraft of the [[160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne)|160th SOAR]], not any ground forces. [[Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force – Afghanistan]] refused this request, stating that in order for Red Wings to be supported with Special Operations aviation the battalion would have to task the opening phases of the operation to Special Operations ground forces. During the opening phases, the Marines of 2/3 would act in a supporting role. After the initial phases were completed, 2/3 could become the lead element. The battalion agreed to this, believing, however, that this unconventional command structure defied a fundamental tenet of successful military operations – "[[unity of command]]".<ref name="macmannis" /><ref name="Cooling" /> The operation was presented to a number of Special Operations units working in the area for possible "buy in". U.S. Navy SEALs from SEAL Team 10 and [[SEAL Delivery Vehicle]] Team 1 expressed interest.<ref name="macmannis" />{{sfn|Darack|2010}}

==Execution of the operation==
Red Wings was planned as a five-phase operation:

* Phase 1 - Shaping: A U.S. Navy SEAL reconnaissance and surveillance team is tasked to insert in the region of the suspected safe buildings of Ahmad Shah, observe and identify Shah and his men and specific locations, and guide a direct action team of phase two to structures in which Shah and his men are observed to be staying.
* Phase 2 - Action on the Objective: A SEAL [[Direct action (military)|direct action]] team is to insert by MH-47, followed shortly by Marines, to capture or kill Shah and his men.
* Phase 3 - Outer Cordon: Marines, along with [[Afghan army|Afghan National Army]] soldiers, are to sweep surrounding valleys for other suspected insurgents.
* Phase 4 - Security and Stabilization: In the days after the first three phases, U.S. Marines, Afghan National Army soldiers, and U.S. Navy [[Hospital corpsman|corpsmen]] will provide medical care to the local population and determine local needs, such as improved roads, wells, and schools.
* Phase 5 - Exfiltration: Depending on enemy activity, the Marines will remain in the area for up to one month, then depart the area.

While the Marines planned the overall operation, the SEALs planned the specifics of their roles of Red Wings.{{sfn|Darack|2010}}<ref name="victory_point_web" />

===Insertion of SEAL team, compromise and attack===
[[File:US Navy 050628-N-0000X-005 Navy file photo of SEAL Lt. Michael P. Murphy, from Patchogue, N.Y., and Sonar Technician (Surface) 2nd Class Matthew G. Axelson, of Cupertino, Calif., taken in Afghanistan.jpg|thumb|Michael Murphy (left) with Matthew Axelson, in Afghanistan]]
Late in the night of June 27, 2005, two [[Boeing CH-47 Chinook|MH-47 helicopters]] approached Sawtalo Sar. While one of the aircraft performed a number of "decoy drops" to mislead any enemy observers, the other inserted a four-man Navy SEAL reconnaissance and surveillance team via [[Fast-roping|fast rope]] in a saddle between Sawtalo Sar and Gatigal Sar, a peak just to the south of Sawtalo Sar. The insert point was roughly one and one half miles from the nearest Named Area of Interest.<ref name="Ed_Darack_Victory_Point_NAI_Map" /> The team members were team leader Lieutenant [[Michael P. Murphy]] of SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 1, based out of [[Pearl Harbor|Pearl Harbor, Hawaii]]; Petty Officer Second Class [[Danny Dietz]] from SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 2, based out of [[Virginia Beach, Virginia]]; Petty Officer Second Class [[Matthew G. Axelson]] from SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 1; and Navy Hospital [[Corpsman]] Second Class Marcus Luttrell, of SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 1.{{sfn|Darack|2010}}<ref name="Ed_Darack_Victory_Point_NAI_Map" /> After moving to a pre-determined covered overwatch position, from which the SEALs could observe the Named Areas of Interest, the team was discovered by local goat herders. Determining that they were civilians, not combatants, Murphy released them, according to [[rules of engagement]].{{sfn|Darack|2010}}<ref name="CJTF76_ROE_Card">{{Citation |title=Scan of the CJTF-76 (Combined Joint Task Force 76) ROE (Rules of Engagement) Card, With Majority of Rules Blanked Out, And Relevant Rule on Civilians Left for Viewing |url=http://www.darack.com/sawtalosar/roe.php |publisher=Darack.com |access-date=2012-02-06}}</ref>

The team, surmising that they would likely be compromised, retreated to a fallback position. Within an hour, the SEAL Reconnaissance and Surveillance team was attacked by Shah and his men who were armed with [[RPK]] machine guns, [[AK-47]]s, [[RPG-7]] rocket-propelled grenades, and an [[82-BM-37|82mm mortar]].{{sfn|Darack|2010}}<ref name=Ed_Darack_Marine_Corps_Gazette/> The intensity of the incoming fire, combined with the type of attack, forced the SEAL team into the northeast gulch of Sawtalo Sar, on the Shuryek Valley side of Sawtalo Sar.{{refn|{{sfn|Darack|2010}}<ref name=Ed_Darack_Marine_Corps_Gazette/><ref name="Ed_Darack_Victory_Point_NAI_Map" />}} The SEALs made a number of attempts to contact their [[Tactical operations center|combat operations center]] with an [[AN/PRC-148|AN/PRC-148 multi-band radio]] and then with a [[Iridium Communications|satellite phone]].{{sfn|Darack|2010}} The team could not establish consistent communication other than for a period long enough to indicate that they were under attack.<ref name=Ed_Darack_Marine_Corps_Gazette/> Three of the four team members were killed and the only survivor, Luttrell, was left unconscious with a number of fractures and other serious wounds. He regained consciousness and was rescued by local Pashtun, who ultimately saved his life. In his condition, without assistance, he would probably have been killed or captured by the Taliban.{{refn|{{sfn|Luttrell|Robinson|2007}}<ref name="Defence Media Network">{{Cite web |last=Zimmerman, Dwight |date=December 29, 2011 |title=Lt. Michael P. Murphy, SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team ONE |url=http://www.defensemedianetwork.com/stories/navy-seals-50th-anniversary-five-navy-seals-and-the-medal-of-honor |access-date=2012-01-22 |publisher=defensemedianetwork.com}}</ref><ref name="Biography">{{Cite web |date=October 2007 |title=Lt. Michael P. Murphy USN |url=http://www.navy.mil/moh/mpmurphy/bio.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915181648/http://www.navy.mil/moh/mpmurphy/bio.html |archive-date=2012-09-15 |access-date=2012-01-22 |publisher=[[United States Navy]]}}</ref><ref name="armytimes_070618w">{{Cite web |last=Naylor, Sean D. |date=June 18, 2007 |title=Surviving SEAL tells story of deadly mission |url=http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/06/navy_sealbook_070618w |access-date=2008-07-21 |publisher=[[Army Times]]}}</ref>}}

===Red Wings II: search, rescue, recovery, and presence operations===
Since the SEAL reconnaissance and surveillance team had been ambushed, the focus of the operation immediately shifted from disrupting ACM activity to finding, aiding, and extracting the team members. The operation became known as Operation Red Wings II.<ref name="macmannis" />

After the broken transmission from the SEAL team, their position and situation were unknown. Members of SEAL Team 10, U.S. Marines, and aviators of the 160th SOAR were prepared to dispatch a [[quick reaction force]], but approval for launch from higher special operations headquarters was delayed for several hours. A quick reaction force finally launched, consisting of two [[Boeing CH-47 Chinook#MH-47D|MH-47 Special Operations Aircraft]] of the 160th, two conventional Army [[Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk|UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters]], and two [[Boeing AH-64 Apache|AH-64 Apache attack helicopters]]. The two MH-47s took the lead. Upon reaching Sawtalo Sar, the two MH-47s received small arms fire. During an attempt to insert SEALs riding in one of the MH-47 helicopters, one of Ahmad Shah's men fired an RPG-7 <!-- according to [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lone_Survivor&oldid=1287985592#Historical_accuracy] the helicopter was hit by an "SA-7 surface to air missile" --> rocket-propelled grenade which struck the transmission below the rear rotor assembly, causing the aircraft to immediately plummet to the ground.  All eight 160th SOAR aviators and crew and all eight Navy SEALs on board were killed, including commander of the 160th, Major [[Stephen C. Reich]], and ground commander LCDR [[Erik S. Kristensen]], of SEAL Team 10.{{cn|date=June 2022}} 

[[Command and control]] was lost and neither visual nor radio contact could be established with the SEAL team. At this point, late in the afternoon, storm clouds were moving in over the region and the aircraft returned to their respective bases. A massive search began, at first from the ground, and then with aviation assets which were able to retrieve the bodies of the 16 killed in the MH-47 shootdown. Meanwhile, Luttrell had been taken in by a local Afghan, Gulab, from the  village of Salar Ban, roughly {{convert|0.7|mi}} down the northeast gulch of Sawtalo Sar<ref name="Ed_Darack_Victory_Point_NAI_Map" /> from the location of the ambush.<ref name="macmannis" />{{sfn|Darack|2010|p=154}} After word was received of his survival, Luttrell and Gulab were recovered by [[United States Air Force]] [[United States Air Force Pararescue|Pararescuemen]] (PJs) from the 59th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron ([[305th Rescue Squadron]] deployed) Josh Appel and Chris Piercecchi.<ref name="usafreserve">[https://www.afrc.af.mil/About-Us/History/Combat-Art-Gallery/Combat-Art-Article-Display/Article/3096895/that-others-may-live/ "That Others May Live"]. United States Air Force. July 18, 2022. Retrieved on August 28, 2023.</ref><ref name="tucsonweekly">Banks, Leo W. [https://www.tucsonweekly.com/tucson/navy-seal-down/Content?oid=1539548 "Navy SEAL Down - A Tucson helicopter crew looks back on an unforgettable rescue in the mountains of Afghanistan"]. ''[[Tucson Weekly]]''. November 12, 2009. Retrieved on August 28, 2023.</ref> Based on Luttrell's descriptions of the area, Appel and Piercecchi returned to the site of the battle two days later and retrieved the remains of Dietz, Murphy and Axelson.<ref name="redwings pjs, body recovery">{{Cite web |last=Barnidge |first=Tom |date=15 January 2014 |title=Barnidge: To Concord native, 'Lone Survivor' is far more than a movie |url=https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2014/01/15/barnidge-to-concord-native-lone-survivor-is-far-more-than-a-movie/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180701182515/https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2014/01/15/barnidge-to-concord-native-lone-survivor-is-far-more-than-a-movie/ |archive-date=1 July 2018 |access-date=4 July 2022 |website=East Bay Times}}</ref><ref name="appel/piercecchi docs">{{Cite web |date=10 January 2014 |title=UA Emergency Medicine Doc Rescued "Lone Survivor" |url=https://uahs.arizona.edu/news/ua-emergency-medicine-doc-rescued-lone-survivor |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171112072113/https://uahs.arizona.edu/news/ua-emergency-medicine-doc-rescued-lone-survivor |archive-date=12 November 2017 |access-date=4 July 2022 |website=The University of Arizona Health Sciences}}</ref>

===Afghans who aided Luttrell===
In the years following Operation Red Wings, more details emerged about the circumstances surrounding Luttrell's survival, including that he was given sanctuary by local villagers. Many of the details regarding the Afghans who aided Luttrell were reported incorrectly in the American press during the days after the events occurred.{{sfn|Darack|2010|p=XV-XVI, 167-168}}<ref>NOTE: Many of the details regarding the Afghans who aided Luttrell were reported incorrectly in the American press during the days after the events occurred. Darack lists these on p. 167-168</ref>

The SEALs' firefight with Ahmad Shah's Taliban forces began along a high-elevation ridgeline called Sawtalo Sar<ref name="planimetric map">{{cite web |url=http://www.darack.com/sawtalosar/sawtalo-planimetric.php |title=Aerial Map of Sawtalo Sar region |website=Darack.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225042806/http://www.darack.com/sawtalosar/sawtalo-planimetric.php |archive-date=25 February 2021 }}</ref> (whose highest peak is {{Convert|2830|m|ft|abbr=on}}).<ref name="Ed_Darack_Victory_Point_NAI_Map" /> A descent down the east side of the ridgeline leads into the Shuryek Valley. The northeastern gulch in which the SEALs became trapped was in this direction, above the village of Salar Ban. To the west of the Sawtalo Sar ridgeline is the Korangal Valley. As the wounded Luttrell descended the gulch, he encountered a Pashtun named Mohammad Gulab Khan from the mountain village of Salar Ban.{{sfn|Darack|2010|p=154}} Known simply as Gulab, he took Luttrell into his home that first day in accordance with the [[Pashtunwali]] custom of ''[[Nanawatai]]'', whereby asylum is given to a person to protect them from their enemies. Gulab then invoked the assistance of fellow villagers to help protect Luttrell until American forces could be contacted.{{sfn|Darack|2010|p=155}}

Not long before Operation Red Wings, relations with the Americans had improved in the Shuryek Valley and the greater Pech River region because of humanitarian work that had taken place. Medical services had been provided and a girls' school was built at [[Nangalam]].{{sfn|Darack|2010|p=148-150}} Gulab was aware of these developments and had introduced himself to the Marine commander at Nangalam, Matt Bartels, when he was visiting Matin.{{sfn|Darack|2010|p=154}} It was partly because of this goodwill that Gulab gave Luttrell sanctuary.{{sfn|Darack|2010|p=154}} The Taliban leader, Ahmad Shah, knew that the wounded man he was tracking had to have passed through the village of Salar Ban as he made his way downhill. Through intimidation, Shah was able to ascertain which house sheltered the wounded man and demanded that he be turned over. However, Gulab had invoked the assistance of fellow villagers in protecting Luttrell until American forces could be contacted. Shah could not risk a fight at that stage as he was outnumbered. It is likely Luttrell would have been turned over to the Taliban had he descended into the Korangal instead of Shuryek.{{sfn|Darack|2010|p=160}} Luttrell was subsequently moved to different places until forces could arrive to extract him.{{cn|date=June 2022}}

Luttrell wrote a note and asked that it be taken to the American base at Asadabad. Because Gulab had previously met the Marine commander based at Nangalam, he asked an older man, Shina, from another part of the village of Salar Ban to make the trek with the note to the base in his stead and gave him 1,000 Afghanis (about twenty U.S. dollars) for the trip.{{sfn|Darack|2010|p=155}} This required a longer journey down the trails of the Shuryek valley to Matin, where he then hired a cab to drive the Pech road to Nangalam.<ref>[https://archive.today/20120714223257/http://g.co/maps/uwqk3 Satellite image via Google Maps of location of Nangalam in Afghanistan]. – GoogleMaps.com.</ref> When Shina reached the base in Nangalam in the middle of the night, he met with the commander and related the story about a wounded American soldier in their village. He then gave him the note Luttrell had written.{{sfn|Darack|2010|p=155}}

In the weeks following Marcus Luttrell's rescue, Gulab and his family received threats from the Taliban, and they were relocated to Asadabad.{{sfn|Darack|2010|p=168}}

===American casualties===
{| class=wikitable style="font-size:95%;"
|-
! style="width:200px;"|Name
! style="width:11px;"|Age
! Action
! style="width:190px;"|Hometown
|-
! colspan=4|[[United States Navy SEALs|Navy SEALs]]
|-
|[[Lieutenant (navy)|LT]] [[Michael P. Murphy]]|| 29 || rowspan=3 | Part of 4-Man SEAL team, killed in an ambush|| [[Patchogue, New York]]
|-
| [[United States Navy SEALs#Special warfare ratings|SO2]] [[Matthew Axelson]] || 29 || [[Cupertino, California]]<ref name="cnn_afghan.ids">{{Cite news |date=July 7, 2005 |title=U.S. military searches for missing SEAL |publisher=[[CNN News]] |url=http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/07/06/afghan.ids/index.html |access-date=2008-12-14}}</ref>
|-
| SO2 [[Danny Dietz]] || 25 || [[Littleton, Colorado]]<ref name="cnn_afghan.ids" />
|-
| [[United States Navy SEALs#Special warfare ratings|SOC]] Jacques J. Fontan || 36 || rowspan=8 | Killed aboard the helicopter when it was shot down|| [[New Orleans, Louisiana]]
|-
| [[United States Navy SEALs#Special warfare ratings|SOCS]] Daniel R. Healy || 36 || [[Exeter, New Hampshire]]
|-
| [[Lieutenant commander (United States)|LCDR]] [[Erik S. Kristensen]] || 33 || [[San Diego]], California
|-
| [[United States Navy SEALs#Special warfare ratings|SO1]] Jeffery A. Lucas || 33 || [[Corbett, Oregon]]
|-
| LT Michael M. McGreevy Jr. || 30 || [[Portville, New York]]
|-
| SO2 James E. Suh || 28 || [[Deerfield Beach, Florida]]
|-
| SO1 Jeffrey S. Taylor || 30 || Midway, [[West Virginia]]
|-
| SO2 Shane E. Patton || 22 || [[Boulder City, Nevada]]
|-
! colspan=4|[[160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (United States)|Army 160th SOAR]]<ref name="cnn_asiapcf">{{Cite news |date=July 4, 2005 |title=Helicopter crash victims identified |publisher=[[CNN News]] |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/07/03/afghan.casualties |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050707021126/http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/07/03/afghan.casualties/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 7, 2005 |access-date=2008-12-14}}</ref>
|-
| [[Staff sergeant#U.S. Army|SSG]] Shamus O. Goare || 29 || rowspan=8 | Killed aboard the helicopter when it was shot down || [[Danville, Ohio]]
|-
| [[Warrant Officer (United States)#Ranks|CWO3]] Corey J. Goodnature || 35 || [[Clarks Grove, Minnesota]]
|-
| [[Sergeant#United States|SGT]] Kip A. Jacoby || 21  || [[Pompano Beach, Florida]]
|-
| [[US Sergeant First Class|SFC]] Marcus V. Muralles || 33 || [[Shelbyville, Indiana]]
|-
| [[Master Sergeant#United States|MSG]] James W. Ponder III || 36 || [[Franklin, Tennessee]]
|-
| [[Major (United States)|MAJ]] [[Stephen C. Reich]] || 34 || [[Washington Depot, Connecticut]]
|-
| SFC Michael L. Russell || 31 || [[Stafford, Virginia]]
|-
| [[Warrant Officer (United States)#Ranks|CWO4]] Chris J. Scherkenbach || 40 || [[Jacksonville, Florida]]
|}

==Aftermath==
Ahmad Shah and his group recovered a large amount of weapons, ammunition, and other materials, including three [[SOPMOD]] [[M4 Carbine]]s fitted with [[M203 grenade launcher|M203 40mm grenade launchers]], a ruggedized laptop with an intact hard drive containing maps of embassies in [[Kabul]], [[night-vision device]]s, and a sniper [[spotting scope]], among other items from the Navy SEAL reconnaissance and surveillance team,{{sfn|Darack|2010|p=165}} items which they could then use against American, Coalition, and Afghan government entities. Shah had two videographers with him during the ambush and [[As-Sahab|As-Sahab Media]] released their video of the ambush and images of the items recovered from the SEALs.{{sfn|Darack|2010|p=165}}

A large amount of resources were devoted to the search, rescue, and recovery operations of Red Wings II. As a result, Ahmad Shah and his men left the region and regrouped in Pakistan. During the following weeks of Red Wings II, ground units of 2/3 undertook a number of patrols, as did members of the [[Afghan National Army]], Army Special Operations units, and Navy Special Operations units. These "presence operations" achieved the goal of disrupting ACM activity but at great cost, and upon the exfiltration of troops, Ahmad Shah and his reinforced cell were able to return to the area weeks later.{{sfn|Darack|2010}}

Significant international media attention was focused on the ambush and the MH-47 shootdown. The size of Shah's group increased as additional fighters joined his ranks. With the withdrawal of American and Coalition troops at the end of Red Wings II, Shah and his group were able to return to the Kunar Province and begin attacks again. Some survivors from the rescue mission, Operation Red Wings II, have reported suffering from [[PTSD]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jeanette Steele |date=2 February 2013 |title=Heaing a Broken Life |work=San Diego Union Tribune |url=http://m.utsandiego.com/news/2013/feb/03/tp-healing-a-broken-life/ |url-status=dead |access-date=4 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214041321/http://m.utsandiego.com/news/2013/feb/03/tp-healing-a-broken-life/ |archive-date=2013-12-14}}</ref>

The "sequel" to the original mission, Operation Red Wings, was [[Operation Whalers]], which 2/3 planned and executed in August 2005.{{sfn|Darack|2010}}<ref name="Ed_Darack_Marine_Corps_Gazette" /> During Operation Whalers, Shah's group in Kunar Province was neutralized, and Shah was seriously wounded.{{refn|<ref name="macmannis" />{{sfn|Darack|2010}}<ref name="victory_point_web" />}} In April 2008, Shah was killed during a shootout with [[Pakistani police]] in the [[Khyber Pakhtunkhwa|Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa]].<ref name="longwarjournal" />

==Commemoration==
===Honors===
[[File:Michael P. Murphy portrait.jpg|thumb|upright|Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy of the U.S. Navy, posthumous Medal of Honor recipient]]
On September 14, 2006, Dietz and Axelson were posthumously awarded the [[Navy Cross]] for "undaunted courage" and heroism. Luttrell was also awarded the Navy Cross, in a ceremony at the [[White House]]. In 2007, Murphy was posthumously awarded the [[Medal of Honor]] for his actions during the battle.{{citation needed|date=January 2020}}

On June 28, 2008, Luttrell and the family members of soldiers killed overseas were honored at a [[San Diego Padres]] game.<ref name="famonline">{{Cite web |date=June 30, 2008 |title=Operation: Never Forget |url=http://www.famonline.org/component/content/article/17-operation-never-forget/8917-operation-never-forget |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216055126/http://www.famonline.org/component/content/article/17-operation-never-forget/8917-operation-never-forget |archive-date=December 16, 2008 |access-date=2008-12-14 |publisher=Families of American Military, Inc. (FamOnline.org)}}</ref> In addition, the United States Navy Parachute Team, the Leap Frogs, brought in the American flag, the [[National League of Families POW/MIA Flag|POW/MIA]] flag and the San Diego Padres flag. The attendees were given a standing ovation by the more than 25,000 there to watch the game.

===Memorials===
[[File:Nightstalkers in Operation Red Wing.jpg|thumb|upright|Memorial plaque in memory of the U.S. Army Night Stalkers killed in Operation Red Wings]]
[[W. Stanley Proctor]] sculpted a work for the Veteran's Memorial Park in [[Cupertino, California]], called ''The Guardians'', which commemorates the SEALS killed in the operation. It is one of the first sculptured memorials to those who served in the War in Afghanistan.{{refn|<ref name=StanleyProctorBronzes>{{Cite web |last=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=About the artist: W. Stanley "Sandy" Proctor |url=http://www.proctorbronzes.com/about.php |access-date=August 13, 2014 |publisher=W. Stanley Proctor bronzes}}</ref><ref name="Wash&Lee">{{Cite news |date=June 18, 2010 |title=Bronze Gators |work=What’s News |publisher=Washington and Lee University |url=http://wlunews.wordpress.com/2010/06/18/bronze-gators/ |access-date=September 6, 2014}}</ref><ref name="Li">{{Cite news |last1=Li |first1=Anna |last2=Reis |first2=Julia |date=November 12, 2012 |title=Silicon Valley honors veterans |work=[[Peninsula Press]] |url=http://peninsulapress.com/2012/11/12/silicon-valley-honors-veterans-photos/ |url-status=dead |access-date=August 20, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140820110658/http://peninsulapress.com/2012/11/12/silicon-valley-honors-veterans-photos/ |archive-date=August 20, 2014}}</ref><ref name="Johnson">{{Cite news |last=Johnson |first=Emily |date=January 16, 2014 |title=The Movie, Lone Survivor, Has a Local Tie to Tallahassee |publisher=[[WCTV]] |type=Video |url=http://www.wctv.tv/home/headlines/The-Movie-Lone-Survivor-Has-A-Local-Tie-To-Tallahassee--239841101.html |access-date=September 4, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=February 24, 2014 |title=SEALs in bronze: Tallahassee artist memorializes 'Lone Survivor' warriors |publisher=Tallahassee.com |url=http://archive.tallahassee.com/article/20140223/LIVING/302220002/SEALs-bronze-Tallahassee-artist-memorializes-Lone-Survivor-warriors |url-status=dead |access-date=September 5, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140906160825/http://archive.tallahassee.com/article/20140223/LIVING/302220002/SEALs-bronze-Tallahassee-artist-memorializes-Lone-Survivor-warriors |archive-date=September 6, 2014}}</ref><ref name="waymark">{{Cite web |date=October 29, 2011 |title=Afghanistan-Iraq War Memorial - Memorial Park - Cupertino, CA - Afghanistan-Iraq War Memorials |url=http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMCZ93_Afghanistan_Iraq_War_Memorial_Memorial_Park_Cupertino_CA |access-date=September 6, 2014 |publisher=Waymarking.com}}</ref>}} It was dedicated by [[United States Secretary of the Navy|Secretary of the Navy]] [[Donald C. Winter|Donald Winter]] in November 2007.<ref name=StanleyProctorBronzes/> The sculpture depicts Matthew Axelson and James Suh in full combat equipment.<ref name="warriors">{{Cite news |last=Hinson |first=Mark |date=February 22, 2014 |title=SEALs in bronze |work=[[Tallahassee Democrat]] |url=http://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/2014/02/22/seals-in-bronze/5694889/ |access-date=August 13, 2014}}</ref> Proctor offered his opinion to the ''[[Tallahassee Democrat]]'' that it is "my best work yet".<ref name=warriors/> Because of his scrupulous devotion to realistic depictions of humans, Proctor was the personal choice of Axelson's family for the project, and they made that recommendation to the committee.<ref name="military">{{Cite web |date=May 12, 2010 |title=Matt Axelson Family Interview |url=http://www.militarymoviesandnews.com/lone-survivor-interviews/matt-axelson/ |access-date=September 6, 2014 |publisher=Military Movies & News}}</ref>

==Disputed information==
There has been some conflict over the number of Taliban forces involved in the engagement. In Luttrell's own official after-action report filed with his superiors after his rescue, he estimated the size of the Taliban force to be around 20–35. Luttrell claims in his book that during the briefing his team was told around 80 to 200 fighters were expected to be in the area.{{sfn|Luttrell|Robinson|2007}} Initial intel estimated approximately 10 to 20.<ref name="Ed_Darack_Marine_Corps_Gazette" /> Official media reports from the military estimated the size of the Taliban force to be around 20 as well, while in the Medal of Honor citation for Murphy, the Navy cited 30–40 enemies.<ref>{{Citation |title=Official Citation |date=June 28, 2005 |url=http://www.navy.mil/moh/mpmurphy/oc.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090113085927/http://www.navy.mil/moh/mpmurphy/oc.html |publisher=Navy.mil |access-date=2011-06-13 |archive-date=January 13, 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In the Summary of Action related to the same citation, the Navy cites an "enemy force of more than 50 anti-coalition militia".<ref>{{Citation |title=Summary of Action |date=June 28, 2005 |url=http://www.navy.mil/moh/mpmurphy/soa.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140114090628/http://www.navy.mil/moh/mpmurphy/soa.html |publisher=Navy.mil |access-date=2011-06-13 |archive-date=January 14, 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In his book, ''Victory Point: Operations Red Wings and Whalers – the Marine Corps' Battle for Freedom in Afghanistan'', military journalist [[Ed Darack]] cites a military intelligence report stating the strength of the Taliban force to be 8–10. The military intelligence estimate cited by Darack is based on research sourced from intelligence reports, including aerial and eye-witness studies of the battlefield after the fact, including the men sent in to rescue Luttrell, as well as reports from Afghan intelligence.<ref name="Ed_Darack_Marine_Corps_Gazette" /><ref name="onv" /><ref name="ricks" />

The claim in Luttrell's book that Murphy considered and put to the vote the possible execution of unarmed civilians who stumbled upon the SEAL team has been criticized and dismissed by many as fiction. In an article by [[Sean Naylor]], ''[[Army Times]]'' senior correspondent, Navy Special Warfare Command spokesman Lieutenant Steve Ruh stated that with respect to making command decisions in the field, "Whether they're officer or enlisted, the senior guy ultimately has the ultimate authority." And with regards to voting whether or not to execute unarmed civilians, he admitted, "This is the first time I've ever heard of anything put to a vote like that. In my 14 years of Navy experience, I've never seen or heard of anything like that."<ref name="armytimes_070618w" />

In the June 12, 2007 article "Survivor's book dishonors son's memory" by [[Michael Rothfeld]] in ''[[Newsday]]'', Murphy's father Dan claims that Murphy would never have considered executing unarmed civilians, let alone putting such a grave decision up for a vote (in reference to the purported vote of execution of unarmed locals). Military protocol, United States and international military doctrine, and rules of engagement strictly forbid harming unarmed non-combatant civilians, with one of the specific rules of engagement in effect at the time stating, "Civilians are not targets!"<ref name="CJTF76_ROE_Card" /><ref name="Dan_Murphy">{{Cite web |last=Rothfeld, Michael |date=June 12, 2007 |title=Survivor's book dishonors son's memory |url=http://www.shadowspear.com/vb/threads/seals-father-survivors-book-dishonors-sons-memory.892/ |access-date=2008-07-21 |website=[[Newsday]]}} NOTE: Original not available, but cached at the site "Shadowspear".</ref><ref name="misinformation">{{Cite web |last=Darack |first=Ed |author-link=Ed Darack |date=January 2011 |title=OPERATION RED WINGS – The (Mis)Information Aftermath |url=http://www.darack.com/sawtalosar/ED-DARACK-RED-WINGS-MISINFORMATION.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407011156/http://www.darack.com/sawtalosar/ED-DARACK-RED-WINGS-MISINFORMATION.pdf |archive-date=7 April 2022 |website=Darack.com}}</ref>

==In popular culture==
===Literature===
*The autobiography of [[Marcus Luttrell]], titled ''[[Lone Survivor (book)|Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Red wings and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10]]'' (2007).

===Film===
*The American film ''[[Lone Survivor (film)|Lone Survivor]]'' (2013), starring [[Mark Wahlberg]], is based on Luttrell's book.

==Footnotes==
{{Reflist|group=n}}

==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==Bibliography==
{{Commons category|Operation Red Wing}}
* {{cite book |last1=Darack |first1=Ed |title=Victory Point: Operations Red Wings and Whalers – The Marine Corps' Battle for Freedom in Afghanistan |title-link=Victory Point (Book) |year=2010 |publisher=[[Penguin Group]] |isbn=978-0-425-23259-0 |author-link1=Ed Darack |id=[https://archive.org/details/victorypointoper0000dara_m5j7 Archived]}}
* {{Citation |last1=Luttrell |first1=Marcus |title=Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10 |title-link=Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10 |year=2007 |publisher=Back Bay Books |isbn=978-0-316-06759-1 |id=[https://archive.org/details/lonesurvivoreyew00lutt Available at Archive.org] |last2=Robinson |first2=Patrick |author-link=Marcus Luttrell |author-link2=Patrick Robinson (author) }}
* {{Cite book |last=Williams |first=Gary |title=Seal of Honor: Operation Redwing and the Life of LT. Michael P. Murphy, USN |publisher=[[Naval Institute Press]] |year=2010 |isbn=978-1-59114-957-6}}

{{Military operations in the war in Afghanistan}}
{{Afghanistan War|state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Coord missing|Afghanistan}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Red Wings 2005}}
[[Category:Military operations of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) involving the United States]]
[[Category:2005 in the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)]]
[[Category:Operations involving American special forces]]
[[Category:Military operations involving the Taliban]]
[[Category:21st century in Kunar Province]]
[[Category:21st-century aircraft shootdown incidents]]
[[Category:June 2005 in Afghanistan]]
[[Category:July 2005 in Afghanistan]]