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Missile downed Black Hawk
Military sources say they believe a Soviet-built surface-to-air missile brought down a Black Hawk helicopter that crashed near Saddamâs hometown of Tikrit, killing all six aboard. ... Sources with the 4th Infantry Division told CNN they suspect a Soviet-built Kolomna KBM Strela-3 low-altitude surface-to-air missile (SAM) hit the helicopter, using an infrared guidance system. Earlier, U.S. military officials had ruled out the use of SAMs in the crash but had not discounted the Black Hawk went down as a result of hostile fire. "We do believe it was brought down by ground fire," said Lt. Col. Steve Russell, commander 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Division. ... Meanwhile Saturday, U.S. forces attacked targets in the Tikrit area in what they called a "show of force." Two F-16s fighter planes flew low over the marshy region and dropped at least two 500-pound bombs near the crash site north of Baghdad. U.S. forces also used Apache attack helicopters, Bradley fighting vehicles, M1A1 Abrams tanks and close air support, coalition spokesperson Maj. Josslyn Aberle said. Coalition forces were firing dozens of artillery shells, mortars and howitzers into the area, starting late Friday and continuing early Saturday.No MOAB??? Yet... The downing of the Black Hawk came a day after a memorial service for U.S. service members killed when their Chinook helicopter was shot down last Sunday. Fifteen were killed in the crash; one died of injuries later. Posted by: Rafael 2003-11-09 |
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