Medevac Blackhawk shot down, 9 dead

Post by **Vympel** » 2004-01-08 10:36pm

Hit by a 'rocket'

I was hoping that the lack of losses in December would continue, but it appears they're less lucky this month- an OH-58D Kiowa Warrior was brought down on Jan 2, killing one crewmember and presumably severely wounding the other. In other news, a mortar attack on a US base left 1 soldier dead and 34 wounded.

Howedar · Post by **Howedar** » 2004-01-08 10:56pm

Fuck.

Stofsk · Post by **Stofsk** » 2004-01-08 11:15pm

Howedar wrote:Fuck.

Yeah. This piece of news was what I woke up to. Having a radio alarm clock set for news-on-the-hour wake-up can be mighty depressing.

Sarevok · Post by **Sarevok** » 2004-01-09 04:12am

A related pieces of news. BBC reported last night that a C-5 was hit by a SAM but managed to safely land.

MKSheppard · Post by **MKSheppard** » 2004-01-09 06:13am

evilcat4000 wrote:A related pieces of news. BBC reported last night that a C-5 was hit by a SAM but managed to safely land.

C-17 actually..

http://www.af.mil/stories/story_ops.asp ... =123006326

1/7/2004 - McCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. (AFPN) - - Teamwork, training and the durability of the C-17 Globemaster III are what got a McChord aircraft safely on the ground after it was attacked by hostile forces over Baghdad International Airport, Iraq, according to the aircrew.

The five crewmembers recently recounted what happened during the 10-minutes from when their No. 2 engine exploded shortly after take-off, to when they safely landed the C-17 back at Baghdad IAP.

An Air Mobility Command investigation team determined hostile action caused the catastrophic explosion and continues to investigate to determine what exactly struck the aircraft. The mission's aircraft commander said he knew right away they were hit by something.

"The impact just shuddered the plane," said Capt. Paul Sonstein, a pilot in the 62nd Airlift Wing here. "I thought we were hit by something. I didn't know what, but I knew something got us."

The crew immediately started going through their checklist, shutting down the engine and planning their return to the airport. With Captain Sonstein flying the plane, co-pilot 1st Lt. Andrew Oiland, also from the 62nd AW, ran the checklist and worked the radio. Behind him sat another 62nd AW pilot, Capt. Anne Lueck, who watched over the cockpit to ensure nothing was missed.

Tech. Sgt. Jim Alexander, a Reserve loadmaster with the 446th AW here, sat in the jumpseat behind the aircraft commander and had the best view of the engine.

"We had a very large flame coming out of the top of the engine," Sergeant Alexander said. "It looked like a flamethrower sticking out of the top."

With Sergeant Alexander scanning the engine and monitoring the fire, the C-17s other on-board loadmaster and fellow 446th Reservist, Staff Sgt. Eric Olson, was downstairs taking care of the passengers and coordinated everyone's escape once they landed.

Everyone doing their assigned job and working together as a team helped get the aircraft safely on the ground, Captain Lueck said.

"The crew resource management training that we (all received) proved to be invaluable," she said. "I think that's what saved all of our lives and the lives of our passengers -- how well we coordinated (and) how well we communicated with each other."

Many of the C-17's systems are backed-up through redundancy. This and the aircrew's simulator training, in which pilots regularly practice landing with an engine out, proved invaluable, Captain Sonstein said.

"It felt and handled no different than a four-engine approach," he said, referring to how the aircraft flew as he circled back to the airport. "It was nothing different because I was so used to the simulator."

Captain Sonstein had to land the C-17 with only his standby instruments. Despite being the first time to ever land the aircraft without the benefit of the heads-up display, he did so safely.

All five crewmembers' performance that day earned them Air Medals, which were presented by Vice President Dick Cheney during a recent visit to McChord.

"It was an honor to be there and to shake his hand, and get (the Air Medal) pinned on by the vice president," Captain Sonstein said.

Despite the accolades, the crew knows there are still many servicemembers overseas fighting the war on terrorism in similarly dangerous situations, Lieutenant Oiland said.

"We have people from all four services putting up with some pretty tough conditions over there, doing some pretty amazing things every day," he said.

Still, Sergeant Alexander said he was incredibly impressed with the response of his fellow aircrew members, who saved their passenger's lives, their cargo, a multi-million dollar airplane and, not the least of which, their own lives.

"I've been flying for 14 years, and I don't think anybody could have handled the situation any better than these guys did," Sergeant Alexander said. "They did a great job." (Courtesy of AMC News Service)

Chardok · Post by **Chardok** » 2004-01-09 07:55am

As far as I know, according to NPR news, only one person, an Iraqi, has said he saw a rocket hit that blackhawk. I'll wait for definitive news on that, being that's the only "eye"witness.

Post by **LadyTevar** » 2004-01-09 05:28pm

Still... if it was an actual attack by hostile forces...

Why Attack A MEDIVAC? Or do they not understand what a RedCross on a WhiteField means?

Darth Raptor · Post by **Darth Raptor** » 2004-01-09 07:39pm

This isn't directly related to the two attacks mentioned, but I don't have a lot of details so I didn't want to start a new thread.

I figured it would happen sooner or later, but it still came as a shock. I have a few friends in the Guard, and last night I learned that a good friend of mine (a specialist in a transportion unit) was injured when his sleeping quarters were shelled by enemy mortars. I guess his injury isn't serious but it still seems to drive the severity of the war home in a way I've not experienced before. I just hope he gets to come home now.

Post by **weemadando** » 2004-01-09 09:30pm

LadyTevar wrote:Still... if it was an actual attack by hostile forces...

Why Attack A MEDIVAC? Or do they not understand what a RedCross on a WhiteField means? :roll:

They attacked a medievac on purpose most likely. Its been standard tactics since the start of the cold war, why do Western bombers hit power-plants, water-treatment and hospitals? To cripple the infrastructure and demoralise. Why hit a medievac flight? To create fear and damage their response capacity, not by much, but a bit. It also dehumanises the enemy- possibly provoking the fear response, and can lead to a degree of demoralisation among the targeted faction.

Sure, its bad press but what have they really got to lose?

Sarevok · Post by **Sarevok** » 2004-01-10 01:20am

LadyTevar wrote:Still... if it was an actual attack by hostile forces...

Why Attack A MEDIVAC? Or do they not understand what a RedCross on a WhiteField means?

Maybe they dont know what a MEDIVAC is. Even if they know they dont care. To them any American helicopter is a target.

Col. Crackpot · Post by **Col. Crackpot** » 2004-01-10 05:20pm

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3920150/

apparantly one of the dead was a survivor of the battle of Mogadishu.

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2004-01-10 05:50pm

LadyTevar wrote:Still... if it was an actual attack by hostile forces...

Why Attack A MEDIVAC? Or do they not understand what a RedCross on a WhiteField means?

Actually its unlikely they ever even saw it. The red cross hasn't proven to be an effective defence in a long time, and since it utterly fucked up camouflage they aren't painted very big on helicopter or ground ambulances.

Sarevok · Post by **Sarevok** » 2004-01-11 12:09am

Col. Crackpot wrote:http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3920150/

apparantly one of the dead was a survivor of the battle of Mogadishu.

That is sad news.

Iceberg · Post by **Iceberg** » 2004-01-11 01:07am

Another child who will grow up without ever having known her daddy.

War sucks.