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Iraq
Another Chopper Downed?
2007-02-07
BAGHDAD, Iraq — The U.S. military said it was investigating reports that an aircraft went down Wednesday in Iraq. Witnesses said a helicopter had gone down in a field in the Sheik Amir area northwest of Baghdad, sending smoke rising from the scene, in a Sunni-dominated area between the Taji air base 12 miles north of Baghdad and Garma, 20 miles to the west of the capital.

"We are looking into initial reports of a possible aircraft down," U.S. military spokeswoman Lt. Col. Josslyn Aberle said.
Posted by:Glenmore

#18  I hope your brother is ok, Anon4021.
Posted by: trailing wife   2007-02-07 18:48  

#17  :(

That's the AO my bro is in.

Posted by: Anon4021   2007-02-07 15:46  

#16  More here.
Posted by: trailing wife   2007-02-07 13:21  

#15  Mechanical problem? Maybe. If they are missiles I'm guessing the military isn't going to report it.

Sure Iran is piping this crap in but I'm guessing the Saudis are funding this too. The comment about China had more to do with who is making shoulder fired missiles.

Grunt thanks for the info.
Posted by: Icerigger   2007-02-07 12:49  

#14  How old are those things now? I remember reading someplace that the 46 that took the last Marines out of the embassy in Saigon was stil being used over there.
Posted by: tu3031   2007-02-07 12:22  

#13  On Fox News:

All seven people aboard the CH-46 helicopter were believed killed, and indications were that it was not hit by hostile fire, a senior defense official in Washington said.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation was still under way, said the helicopter went down about 20 miles northwest of Baghdad and that the crash appeared to have been related to mechanical problems.

Posted by: Glenmore   2007-02-07 12:19  

#12  I saw a (single) report of an Oerlikon AA gun being found a couple of weeks ago. Since then, nothing more along those lines.
Posted by: Grunter   2007-02-07 11:29  

#11  I found numerous man portable SAMs in the Fallujah AO. SA-7s & SA-14s. Never saw one used. They were in used to poor shape and most were missing some parts.

Obviously, these incidents show that some sort of brand new portable SAMs have made there way into the area. It will be interesting to know what kind are being used.

Posted by: 0369_Grunt   2007-02-07 10:05  

#10  It might take 6 months, but it will stop

Drastically reduced in 6 days, with the proper application of force. The arrival of new MANPADS was reported some two weeks ago. Interesting to see that we've permitted them the proper time to conduct training, and distribute weapons.
Posted by: Besoeker   2007-02-07 10:00  

#9  C-low...It's really simple. The administration does not value the life of US servicemen as much as it does the life of an Iraqi goat or camel. If we declare the Syrian and Iranian border areas free fire zones from sunset to sunrise this crap will stop. It might take 6 months, but it will stop.

But, they feel something that drastic will alienate the Iraqi people, the Arab street.
Posted by: anymouse   2007-02-07 09:49  

#8  This aint China this is Iran/Syria all day.

What pisses me off is everyone who is paying attention sees and knew from the start at somepoint in the WOT Irans turn would come. Unfortunatley the Partisans/Seditionist have by being unchallenged turned the WOT into a referendum on Bush like or dislike.

Like someone mentioned before we unfortunatley are going to see much more US blood spilled so the Partisan part of the opposition can get thier warm fuzzy to OK US to fight back in the war that we are already in (Seditionist will just blame Bush/US more).

I often wonder what if this was WW2, imagine one of the politcal parties telling Roosevelt he better not push into Germany proper or France becuase the grueling campain in Italy was not the push over the Roosevelt Administration sold US soft underbelly of Europe lies, bring em home now, Germany is killing too many Jews in the consentration camps its a civil war we have no buisness/useing the numbers of Germany's daily furnace count as proof how horrible the war was going. Ect.....
Posted by: C-Low   2007-02-07 09:26  

#7  Grunt I had the shame chilling thought. I remember talking with the Afghans in 1989 about how effective the missiles were in dealing with the Russian helicopters. Their opinion of our Stingers our the Chinese Blue Pipes (they called them that), basically the Afghans thought them equal.

Right now I'm making a sick and sorry prediction that this is only the beginning and China is laughing its ass off.

God Bless our troops.
Posted by: Icerigger   2007-02-07 08:31  

#6  Didn't we do the same thing to the Russians in Afghanistan???

Just a question.

BTW, I'm all for taking care of Iran & Syria.
Posted by: 0369_Grunt   2007-02-07 08:13  

#5  Too fucking many, Besoeker.
Posted by: DarthVader   2007-02-07 08:11  

#4  I must wonder how many of these we will have to endure before Iran and Syria are dealt with.
Posted by: Besoeker   2007-02-07 08:00  

#3  U.S. Military Says Copter Down in Iraq

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- A Sea Knight helicopter went down northwest of Baghdad on Wednesday, the military said.

The CH-46 helicopter went down about 20 miles northwest of the capital, U.S. military spokesman Maj. Gen. William Caldwell said, but he declined to comment on casualties.

"A quick reaction force is on site and the investigation is going on as we speak," he said. "It would probably be inappropriate for me to talk about whether or not there are or are not casualties."

Witnesses said the helicopter had been shot down in a field in the Sheik Amir area northwest of Baghdad, sending smoke rising from the scene, in a Sunni-dominated area between the Taji air base, 12 miles north of Baghdad, and Garma, 20 miles west of the capital. and Garma, 20 miles to the west of the capital.

"The helicopter was flying and passed over us, then we heard the firing of a missile," said Mohammad al-Janabi, a farmer who was speaking less than a half-mile from the wreckage. "The helicopter, then, turned into a ball of fire. It flew in a circle twice, then it went down."
Posted by: RD   2007-02-07 07:52  

#2  Wondering if this is actually ether stingers or the chinese made blue pipe missles. Just a thought. Weren't there reports of missles being brought in?
Posted by: Icerigger   2007-02-07 07:47  

#1  CH 46 according to teh Foxnews teletype
Posted by: Frank G   2007-02-07 07:42  

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