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The Final Mission of Extortion 17

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The Final Mission of Extortion 17: Special Ops, Helicopter Support, SEAL Team Six, And The Deadliest Day Of The U.S. War in Afghanistan
First edition
AuthorEd Darack
LanguageEnglish
SubjectExtortion 17
PublisherSmithsonian Books
Publication date
2017 Hardcover, ebook, and audiobook
Publication placeUnited States
Media typePrint (hardcover), ebook, and audiobook
Pages240 pg
ISBN978-1-58834-589-9

The Final Mission of Extortion 17: Special Ops, Helicopter Support, SEAL Team Six, And The Deadliest Day of The U.S. War in Afghanistan is a book by Ed Darack. It was published on September 19, 2017. It describes the downing of Extortion 17, a U.S. Army CH-47D Chinook helicopter, in the Tangi Valley of Afghanistan's Maidan Wardak Province in the early hours of 6 August 2011. The book focuses on the helicopter's two pilots and three crew members.[1][2][3][4]

Synopsis and development

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The book grew out of Darack's work on his 2015 Air & Space/Smithsonian article, "The Final Flight of Extortion 17". The book examines the event, relying on interviews of people close to events and provides the first complete, accurate accounting of the downing.[5][6][7][8]

Darack interviewed approximately 60 people for the book, including experts in specific areas related to the story. The book provides in-depth analysis on all aspects of the helicopter's downing, including technical details, historical background and information on crew and passengers.[9][10][11] Some family members of those killed on Extortion 17 supported Darack's efforts by allowing him to interview them.[12]

According to a May 26, 2017 review in Library Journal, the book effectively rules out conspiracy theories.[13]

Publication

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The hardcover and ebook is published by Smithsonian Books with distribution by Penguin Random House.[14][15][16] The audiobook is published by Blackstone Audio.[17]

Reception

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The book received mostly positive reviews from critics. Publishers Weekly called it "Short, clear, and tersely written [...] a fitting tribute to the Army aviators represented by the crew of Extortion 17."[4] Raymond Leach of The Virginian-Pilot praised the book, saying that it was "written with the perspective of time, exhaustive research and a detailed, respectful homage to the dedicated aircrew who flew that mission."[2]

References

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  1. ^ Putz, Catherine (September 16, 2017), Extortion 17: The Mission and the Tragedy in Afghanistan, The Diplomat, retrieved 2017-08-09
  2. ^ a b Leach, Raymond (October 8, 2017), A sober study of the shootdown of Extortion 17, The Virginian-Pilot, archived from the original on 2017-10-09, retrieved 2017-08-09
  3. ^ Tarrant, David (October 25, 2017), SEAL Team 6 and what really happened on America's deadliest day in Afghanistan, Dallas Morning News, retrieved 2017-11-28
  4. ^ a b "Nonfiction Book Review: The Final Mission of Extortion 17: Special Ops, Helicopter Support, Seal Team Six, and the Deadliest Day of the U.S. War in Afghanistan by Ed Darack. Smithsonian, $24.95 (256p) ISBN 978-1-58834-589-9".
  5. ^ http://www.airspacemag.com/author/ed-darack/ Air & Space/Smithsonian About Author Ed Darack Page
  6. ^ http://www.airspacemag.com/military-aviation/final-flight-extortion-17-180953947/ The Final Flight of Extortion 17 - Article by Ed Darack published in the February / March, 2015 issue of Air & Space/Smithsonian Magazine
  7. ^ https://soundcloud.com/war_college/debunking-two-persistent "War College" Interview with Ed Darack about The Final Mission of Extortion 17
  8. ^ https://www.blubrry.com/hookernation/22855887/episode-9-ed-darack-authorphotographer/ Podcast Interview with Ed Darack about The Final Mission of Extortion 17
  9. ^ Trowbridge, Julia (November 15, 2017), Military Journalist Ed Darack Shares Combat Stories, The Rocky Mountain Collegian, retrieved 2017-11-28
  10. ^ Murphy, Jack (October 4, 2017), Extortion 17 SEALs had been sheep dipped into CIA's Omega Teams, SOFREP, retrieved 2017-11-28
  11. ^ Lafave, Joseph (October 26, 2017), NEW BOOK TELLS STORY OF FALLEN NAVY SEALS FROM SHREVEPORT, Shreveport News, retrieved 2017-11-28
  12. ^ Hummel, Evan (October 9, 2017), Gold Star Mom celebrates new book featuring her son, KLKN-TV ABC Eyewitness News Channel 8, Lincoln, Nebraska, retrieved 2017-11-29
  13. ^ "Nonfiction: Airline Disasters, SEAL Team 6, Weatherford, Van Halen, North Carolina Fire - Xpress Reviews". Archived from the original on 2017-10-09.
  14. ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20171122164915/http://www.extortion17book.com/ Official Book Page for The Final Mission of Extortion 17
  15. ^ https://www.smithsonianbooks.com/store/aviation-military-history/final-mission-extortion-17-special-ops-helicopter-/ Smithsonian Books publisher page for The Final Mission of Extortion 17
  16. ^ http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/547293/the-final-mission-of-extortion-17-by-ed-darack/9781588345899/ Penguin Random House Distributor page for The Final Mission of Extortion 17
  17. ^ https://www.downpour.com/the-final-flight-of-extortion-17?sp=164787 Blackstone Audio / Downpour page for the audiobook format of The Final Mission of Extortion 17
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