Prince Harry to train in U.S. as Apache pilot

Prince Harry of Wales, who is an accomplished combat helicopter pilot, will undergo training at two U.S. military bases in California as part of an Apache attack helicopter course. Base spokeswoman Michelle Dee at the Naval Air Facility in El Centro, California, said on Monday that the prince would start training at the base in October and later continue at the Air Force Auxiliary Air Field in Gila Bend, Arizona. Prince Harry, who is a captain with the Blues and Royals squadron attached to Army Air Corps, was awarded his Apache Flying Badge in April but needs to go through a more rigorous training before he could see real action fighting Taliban in Afghanistan. The U.S. training program involves live firing of Apache's formidable weaponry, tactical exercises and survival in combat. The third in succession to the throne, Prince Harry is not new to war. He served for 10 weeks as a forward air controller in Helmand Province in Afghanistan in 2008 but he was pulled out after a leak to press revealed his location making him a desirable target for Taliban. The prince has dreamt about returning to combat action in Afghanistan ever since, and pressed forward to become a skillful Apache pilot, knowing that he would never be allowed to fight Taliban on the ground again.