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Event chronology : Blackhawk down

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An account of Operation Blackhawk down written by one of the pilots who participated in the mission
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http://inquirer.philly.com/packages/somalia/ -- some excellent content

www.novalogic.com/games/DFBHD/ -- Delta Force Black Hawk Down game official site
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Chronological listing of events in Operation Restored Hope
Blackhawk Down

Setting the Stage

Clan leaders didn’t dare confront the UN while 20,000 Marines patrolled the streets
UN resumes command of operations in May; Marines depart
June 5th ambush of Pakistanis
Aideed is now the target

The Storm Brews

Meeting of tribal elders held in July 93
Elders included clan leaders, religious ministers, judges and professors
Considered the most respected and best educated members of the Habr Gidr
US/UN forces surround Abdi House with 17 helicopters

The Storm Brews

More than 15 rockets launched into the building
Most of the inhabitants were killed
The Somalia conflict escalates
UN intervention, backed by US Marines, ended the famine, but now the situation spiraled out of control

The Hunt Continues

Rangers involved in six previous attempts to find Aideed
Oct 3, 1993

The Assault Begins

Ranger’s mission: capture local warlord Mohammed Farah Aidid
Main strike force departs airfield at 1530
Arrive at target building and immediately fall under heavy enemy fire
Rangers form perimeter around building

The Assault Begins

Special Forces operatives (Delta Force) storm the building
More than 20 prisoners captured by Special Forces units (but no Aidid)
Prisoners are loaded on convoy vehicles for return drive to base.

First “Bird” Down

Blackhawk Super 61 hit in the tail by RPG and crashes in an alley five blocks from the hotel
A few Rangers sprint to the crash site and form a defensive perimeter around the helicopter
Injured soldiers are extracted by helicopter

“We’re Trapped!”

Convoy attempts to move to crash site but receives fierce enemy fire
Convoy ordered to return to base
Somali gunmen surround Rangers converging around crash site
Rangers remain pinned down throughout the afternoon
Time: 1620

2nd Blackhawk Crashes

A second helicopter crashes a half mile away from the first
Two Delta Force operators die trying to protect the surviving copilot—Michael Durrant
Durrant taken prisoner by Somalis

Surrounded

Bullet-riddled ground convoy limps back to airfield with casualties and prisoners
Rangers at first site cut off and surrounded in the most hostile district of Mogadishu
Medics set up a casualty collection point
Additional helos provide strafing fires and supplies to Rangers

Rescue Operation Planned

A quick reaction force (QRF) is organized to rescue trapped Rangers
QRF will transport Rangers to a sports stadium from where they will be flown to the airfield
QRF encounters heavy enemy fire and is forced to return to base
Another attempt is made after 2300

Rescue and Run-out

First rescue convoy arrives the morning of 4 Oct at the CCP
QRF forces finally extract bodies from downed helicopter
Due to limited space on vehicles, many Rangers forced to run-out of the combat zone
10th Mountain
Div rescue route;
4 Oct 93

Aftermath

18 KIA, 75 WIA, 1 POW
2 CH-60 helicopters destroyed
Somalis filmed mutilating Ranger bodies

2 Medals of Honor awarded
President Clinton orders the withdrawal of US forces

Final assessment: Good intentions poorly executed

-signing off
hemanth