27OCT08 UH-60 Afghanistan

[Admin]

U.S. helicopter shot down in Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan (CNN) -- A U.S. helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan on Monday, but none of the 10 soldiers on board were killed, according to a U.S. military spokesman.

The Taliban claimed that its fighters used a rocket-propelled grenade launcher to shoot down a U.S. UH-60 helicopter in the Wardak province, about 30 miles (50km) west of Kabul.

Maj. John Redfield, a U.S. military spokesman, told CNN a coalition helicopter went down in the Wardak province after an exchange of fire with enemy on the ground.

All 10 soldiers on board were picked up and taken to safety, he said. He could not say if any were injured.

[Admin]

KABUL: U.S.-led troops have retrieved a Black Hawk helicopter shot down by Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan, the U.S. military said Tuesday.

There was no casualties on board the UH-60 aircraft which came under small-arms fire from militants and had to land when its tail was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade in Maidan Wardak province to the west of Kabul Monday, it said.

Coalition soldiers sent to the site of the helicopter attack killed 12 insurgents in ensuing gunbattles, the statement said.

Taliban insurgents are rarely able to bring down helicopters in Afghanistan, but have forced aircraft to make a number of emergency landings.

[Rob]

If I recall correctly this bird had the 101st Div CSM on board and was shot down due to this bonehead wanting to shoot at a group of armed Military aged males they saw. Blackhawks are not attack aircraft so leave that to the Apaches and Kiowas please. Thankfully, no one was injured.