Black Hawk Down

Black Hawk Down was a pivotal event in the Somali Civil War, involving the United States Army, United States Navy, United States Air Force, and the Somali National Alliance led by Mohamed Farrah Aidid. The incident occurred during the Battle of Mogadishu, where Task Force Ranger, composed of Delta Force, US Army Rangers, and 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) personnel, conducted a mission to capture high-ranking officials of Aidid's Habr Gidr clan. The operation involved MH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, MH-6 Little Bird helicopters, and Humvee vehicles, and was supported by United States Navy SEALs and CIA operatives.

Background

The Somali Civil War began in the late 1980s, with the Siad Barre regime facing opposition from various Somali clans, including the Habr Gidr clan led by Mohamed Farrah Aidid. The United Nations intervened in the conflict, establishing the United Nations Operation in Somalia II (UNOSOM II) to provide humanitarian aid and stabilize the country. The United States contributed troops to the UNOSOM II mission, including the US Army Rangers and Delta Force, who were tasked with capturing or killing Aidid and his top lieutenants, such as Abdi Hassan Awale and Mohamed Hassan Awale. The CIA and FBI provided intelligence support to the operation, which was planned and executed by US Joint Special Operations Command and US Central Command.

The Battle

On October 3, 1993, Task Force Ranger launched a mission to capture two of Aidid's top officials, Omar Salad Elmi and Abdi Yusef Herzi, in the Bakara Market area of Mogadishu. The operation involved MH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, including Super 64 and Super 61, which were crewed by pilots from the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), such as Cliff Wolcott and Mike Durant. The mission was supported by US Army Rangers from the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, led by Captain Mike Steele, and Delta Force operatives, including Sergeant First Class Randy Shugart and Master Sergeant Gary I. Gordon. However, the operation quickly went awry, as Aidid's forces, including the SNA militia and Al-Itihaad al-Islamiya fighters, launched a fierce counterattack, downing two MH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and killing several US Army Rangers and Delta Force operatives.

Aftermath

The Battle of Mogadishu resulted in the deaths of 18 US Army Rangers and Delta Force operatives, including Sergeant First Class Randy Shugart, Master Sergeant Gary I. Gordon, and Staff Sergeant Matt Rierson. The battle also resulted in the deaths of over 1,000 Somali National Alliance fighters and civilians, including women and children. The incident led to a significant shift in US foreign policy, with the Clinton administration reevaluating its involvement in the Somali Civil War and the United Nations mission in Somalia. The US Congress also launched an investigation into the incident, which was led by the Senate Armed Services Committee and the House Armed Services Committee.

Investigation and Controversy

The investigation into the Battle of Mogadishu was led by the US Army, with support from the US Congress and the General Accounting Office. The investigation found that the operation was poorly planned and executed, with inadequate intelligence and support from US Central Command and US Joint Special Operations Command. The investigation also found that the US Army Rangers and Delta Force operatives had performed bravely, despite being outnumbered and outgunned by Aidid's forces. However, the investigation was also criticized for its limited scope and failure to address the broader issues surrounding the US involvement in Somalia, including the role of the CIA and the FBI in the operation.

Adaptations

The Battle of Mogadishu has been the subject of several books, films, and documentaries, including Mark Bowden's book Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War, which was adapted into a film directed by Ridley Scott and starring Josh Hartnett, Eric Bana, and Tom Sizemore. The incident has also been the subject of several US Army and US Navy studies, including the US Army Center of Military History's study on the Battle of Mogadishu. The US Army Rangers and Delta Force operatives who participated in the operation have also written several books about their experiences, including Matt Eversmann's book The Battle of Mogadishu and Mike Durant's book In the Company of Heroes. The incident has also been commemorated in several US military ceremonies and events, including the US Army Rangers' annual Mogadishu Mile run. Category: Battles involving the United States