The Final Mission of Extortion 17
{{short description|2017 book by Ed Darack}}{{Infobox book
| name = The Final Mission of Extortion 17: Special Ops, Helicopter Support, SEAL Team Six, And The Deadliest Day Of The U.S. War in Afghanistan
| image = File:The Final Mission of Extortion 17.jpg
| caption = First edition
| author = Ed Darack
| illustrator =
| cover_artist =
| country = United States
| language = English
| subject = Extortion 17
| publisher = Smithsonian Books
| release_date = 2017 Hardcover, ebook, and audiobook
| media_type = Print (hardcover), ebook, and audiobook
| pages = 240 pg
| isbn = 978-1-58834-589-9
| congress =
| oclc =
| preceded_by =
| followed_by =
}}
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.{{citation|author=Putz, Catherine|url=https://thediplomat.com/2017/09/extortion-17-the-mission-and-the-tragedy-in-afghanistan/|title=Extortion 17: The Mission and the Tragedy in Afghanistan|publisher=The Diplomat|date=September 16, 2017|access-date=2017-08-09}}{{citation|author=Leach, Raymond|url=https://pilotonline.com/a-sober-study-of-the-shootdown-of-extortion/article_79d335e3-4753-587c-a0a3-ba07a029e8ff.html|title=A sober study of the shootdown of Extortion 17|publisher=The Virginian-Pilot|date=October 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171009052828/https://pilotonline.com/a-sober-study-of-the-shootdown-of-extortion/article_79d335e3-4753-587c-a0a3-ba07a029e8ff.html|access-date=2017-08-09|archive-date=2017-10-09}}{{citation|author=Tarrant, David|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/news/2017/10/25/seal-team-6-extortion-17-really-happened-americas-deadliest-day-afghanistan|title=SEAL Team 6 and what really happened on America's deadliest day in Afghanistan|publisher=Dallas Morning News|date=October 25, 2017|access-date=2017-11-28}}{{cite web|url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-58834-589-9|title=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|publisher=}}
Synopsis and development
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.http://www.airspacemag.com/author/ed-darack/ Air & Space/Smithsonian About Author Ed Darack Pagehttp://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 Magazinehttps://soundcloud.com/war_college/debunking-two-persistent "War College" Interview with Ed Darack about The Final Mission of Extortion 17https://www.blubrry.com/hookernation/22855887/episode-9-ed-darack-authorphotographer/ Podcast Interview with Ed Darack about The Final Mission of Extortion 17
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.{{citation|author=Trowbridge, Julia|url=https://collegian.com/2017/11/military-journalist-ed-darack-shares-combat-stories/|title=Military Journalist Ed Darack Shares Combat Stories|publisher=The Rocky Mountain Collegian|date=November 15, 2017|access-date=2017-11-28}}{{citation|author=Murphy, Jack|url=https://sofrep.com/91055/extortion-17-seals-were-had-been-previously-sheep-dipped-into-the-cias-omega-teams/|title=Extortion 17 SEALs had been sheep dipped into CIA's Omega Teams|publisher=SOFREP|date=October 4, 2017|access-date=2017-11-28}}{{citation|author=Lafave, Joseph|url=https://www.shreveportnews.com/news/new-book-tells-story-of-fallen-navy-seals-from-shreveport/|title=NEW BOOK TELLS STORY OF FALLEN NAVY SEALS FROM SHREVEPORT|publisher=Shreveport News|date=October 26, 2017|access-date=2017-11-28}} Some family members of those killed on Extortion 17 supported Darack's efforts by allowing him to interview them.{{citation|author=Hummel, Evan|url=http://www.klkntv.com/story/36440505/gold-star-mom-celebrates-new-book-featuring-her-son|title=Gold Star Mom celebrates new book featuring her son|publisher=KLKN-TV ABC Eyewitness News Channel 8, Lincoln, Nebraska|date=October 9, 2017|access-date=2017-11-29}}
According to a May 26, 2017 review in Library Journal, the book effectively rules out conspiracy theories.{{cite web|url=http://reviews.libraryjournal.com/2017/05/books/nonfic/nonfiction-airline-disasters-seal-team-6-weatherford-van-halen-north-carolina-fire-xpress-reviews/|title=Nonfiction: Airline Disasters, SEAL Team 6, Weatherford, Van Halen, North Carolina Fire - Xpress Reviews|publisher=|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171009195642/http://reviews.libraryjournal.com/2017/05/books/nonfic/nonfiction-airline-disasters-seal-team-6-weatherford-van-halen-north-carolina-fire-xpress-reviews/|archive-date=2017-10-09}}
Publication
The hardcover and ebook is published by Smithsonian Books with distribution by Penguin Random House.https://web.archive.org/web/20171122164915/http://www.extortion17book.com/ Official Book Page for The Final Mission of Extortion 17https://www.smithsonianbooks.com/store/aviation-military-history/final-mission-extortion-17-special-ops-helicopter-/ Smithsonian Books publisher page for The Final Mission of Extortion 17http://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 The audiobook is published by Blackstone Audio.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
Reception
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." 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."
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20171122164915/http://www.extortion17book.com/ Official website for The Final Mission of Extortion 17]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Final Mission of Extortion 17, The}}
Category:2017 non-fiction books
Category:Non-fiction books about war
Category:Books about military history
Category:Books about the War on Terror