Posted on 03/20/2003 11:30:11 AM PST by green team 1999
US Military Special Ops Helicopter Crashes in Iraq
Thu Mar 20, 8:40 AM ET WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. military Special Operations helicopter made a crash landing in southern Iraq (news - web sites) early on Thursday but the crew and elite troops aboard were rescued, U.S. officials said.
The crash of the MH-53 "Pave Low" special operations helicopter was the first known loss of an American aircraft in the war against Iraq. It occurred before U.S. bombing and cruise missile raids were launched against targets on the outskirts of Baghdad before dawn, officials told Reuters.
The U.S. officials refused to say exactly where the "hard landing" occurred or how many troops were aboard in addition to six crewmembers. They said the twin-engine helicopter would be destroyed to keep its high-tech equipment from falling into Iraqi hands.
The heavily-armed helicopter, designed for clandestine, low-level movement deep into enemy territory, was part of a wide thrust to get elite U.S. forces into areas of Iraq ahead of a major ground invasion "at the appropriate time," according to one of the officials, who asked not to be identified.
The Pentagon (news - web sites) refused comment. "We do not discuss any operational incidents," said Bryan Whitman, a Defense Department spokesman, in response to questions.
The MH-53J, most advanced version of the big chopper, is equipped with armor plating and a combination of three 7.62mm miniguns or 50 caliber machine guns. It can transport 38 troops, but the number aboard at the time of the crash was not known.
for information and discusion only,not for profit,etc,etc.
Iraqi Military Says U.S. Helicopter Shot Down BAGHDAD (Reuters) - An Iraqi military spokesman said on Thursday that a U.S. helicopter had been shot down as U.S. and British forces mounted a major offensive against the country, Iraqi state television said. "An American aircraft of the Sikorsky type used in carrying troops and equipment was downed as it was trying to infiltrate Iraqi airspace to carry out aggressive operations. Long live Iraq (news - web sites)," the spokesman said in a statement read on television. The Iraqi statement gave no further details. U.S. military officials were not immediately available for comment. Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. manufactures the Black Hawk helicopter, which is used by U.S. forces to fly troops into combat. U.S. officials confirmed on Thursday that units of the U.S Marine 1st Expeditionary Force had crossed from Kuwait into southern Iraq to begin securing positions for a thrust northward by U.S. and British troops massed in Kuwait near the border.
iraquis said was shot down,i hope was not full of troops,
From BBC news 1350 hrs.The Pentagon says a US special forces helicopter crash-landed in southern Iraq before the attacks began. Its crew and troops on board were rescued.
Reporting what I heard - assuming we are speaking of the same helicopter.
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