CNN Breaking: Marine helicopter shot down in Iraq

[VolcanoJen]

A Marine helicopter was shot down near Najaf, reported by CNN at 5:22 am edt.

No further details at this time... CNN promises an update at 5:30 am edt.

ON EDIT: At 5:30 am edt, CNN reported that a US helicopter transporting a wounded American has been shot down by small arms fire near Najaf, south of Baghdad. Two troops are wounded, according to early reports. The shootdown occurred during a "serious escalation" of fighting in Najaf.

Let's hope that as bad as it gets. :-(

SECOND EDIT: Reuters link:

http://wireservice.wired.com/wired/story.asp?section=Breaking&storyId=903444

Thursday, August 05, 2004 5:26 a.m. ET

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A U.S. marine helicopter was shot down near the southern Iraqi city of Najaf on Thursday in fighting between American forces and militiamen loyal to radical Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, the U.S. Army said.

A U.S. Army spokesman said several members of the crew were wounded. He gave no other details.

[Judi Lynn]

1. First helicopter news tonight in a "long" time

This must be the same helicopter, but it looks as if they're fighting like wildmen to keep us from knowing much about it:

Thursday, August 5, 2004

Helicopter pilot dies in non-combat incident

SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER STAFF

OLYMPIA -- A Marine Corps helicopter pilot from San Diego, whose parents live in Olympia, was killed yesterday in Iraq, the Defense Department said.

Capt. Gregory A. Ratzlaff, 36, died in a non-combat-related incident at Forward Operating Base Duke in Iraq, the Defense Department said. Raztlaff, who was married, was assigned to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 166, the Aviation Combat Element of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit based in Miramar, Calif.

A Marine Corps spokesman at Miramar Air Station had no details of how the pilot died. The incident is under investigation.
(snip/...)

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/184996_pilot05.html

[Aidoneus]

3. there have been others steadily..

they are often brought down and damaged by "small arms fire".. but I guess it has been a while since a loaded Chinook bit it with everybody on board, so the 'news' part is still true.

As for this one, they shouldn't have threatened Muqtada again. When the occupyers learn about lines that shouldn't be crossed, they might just maybe could possibly start nursing a few less wounds.

[Judi Lynn]

2. Here's ongoing OTHER activity in Najaf:

Militants kill five in suicide attack on Baghdad police station; fighting reported in Najaf
By Jamie Tarabay, Associated Press, 8/5/2004 05:01



BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) As militants sprayed guards with gunfire, a suicide bomber in a minibus sped toward a police station south of Baghdad and blew himself up Thursday, an attack that killed five people and wounded 27, the Interior Ministry said.

The attack was part of a spike in violence across the country. Clashes between U.S. troops and loyalists of radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr killed two people and wounded eight in Najaf on Thursday, Health Ministry officials said. To the north, in Mosul, battles between Iraqi forces and insurgents killed at least 14 civilians and eight militants Wednesday, the U.S. military said.

The fighting in Mosul was the fiercest there in months, and local authorities said insurgents appeared to be testing the police. No Iraqi or coalition forces were killed, the U.S. military said. Iraqi authorities said 17 people had been killed and 47 wounded, more than the U.S. tally.
(snip/...)

http://www.boston.com/dailynews/218/world/Militants_kill_five_in_suicide:.shtml

On edit:

Just heard on CBS Radio News that the helicopter crew has survived.
No other information, OF COURSE!

[lebkuchen]

4. I wish I knew somebody working at Landstuhl Hospital

There's been no let-up in casualties. I have a feeling this kind of news is going to reach a boiling point during the GOP convention. Should be interesting to see how the media doesn't cover it.

[saigon68]

5. kick

[Judi Lynn]

6. BBC report, very sparse, as well.....

Last Updated: Thursday, 5 August, 2004, 10:13 GMT 11:13 UK

US helicopter downed over Najaf


US troops and Iraqi forces are fighting militia in Najaf
A US helicopter has been shot down in the Iraqi holy city of Najaf, wounding two crewmen, the US military says.

The incident occurred as US troops and Iraqi security forces fought fierce battles in Najaf with supporters of the radical Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr.

A US military spokesman said the crew had been evacuated from the area where the UH-1 helicopter was shot down.
(snip/...)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3538058.stm

[bemildred]

7. Daily Star story:

One might almost suspect the dimwits running the occupation
decided to pick a fight with al Sadr again.

Two hours later a helicopter attached to the 11th Marine
Expeditionary unit came down in the Najaf region, a US
military spokesman in Baghdad said.

"A UH-1 marine helicopter was shot down at about 11:45
am (0745 GMT)," he said. The crew had been recovered
alive but the extent of their injuries was unknown, the
spokesman added.

The military was unable to confirm how many soldiers
were on board the chopper at the time or exactly where it
came down.

A doctor was killed and four other staff members seriously
wounded when five rockets were fired at the Najaf general
hospital, near the scene of the fighting in the 1920
Revolution Square, said a health ministry official.

Daily Star(Lebanon)

[Beetwasher]

8. How Many Choppers Does That Make?

:shrug:

[saigon68]

10. Too Many

[phasev]

9. War on Terror

The US is definately winning the war on terror in Iraq

[Halliburton]

11. Soldier killed, another helicopter down

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/MAR552899.htm

MSNBC also is reporting that another helicopter has been shot down in Mosul.

[llmart]

12. Well, the idiot-in-chief did say "Bring Em On"

so what do you expect? Tough talk but no cahones - that's Dimwit Bush. You wouldn't see him fighting in a war like Kerry did. He only knows how to hightail it around the country in Air Force One when the terrorists attacked on 9/11.