Twenty-six years ago today, U.S. Forces from Task Force Ranger set out for the Somali city of Mogadishu to capture the Somali warlord Mohammed Farah Aideed. The day would be remembered years later for the downing of two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and the intense urban fighting that followed, coined “Battle of Mogadishu,” which inspired the events of the film “Black Hawk Down.”
In remembrance of the battle’s 26th anniversary, the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) released footage of the downing of two U.S. helicopters on its Facebook page.
This real world footage of the gunning down of two MH-60 Blackhawks in Mogadishu, Somalia happened on this day in 1993. The harrowing events to follow would inspire the movie "Black Hawk Down."Task Force RANGER was sent to capture warlord Mohammed Farah Aideed. Six missions into the capital were a tactical success, the seventh resulted in the two downed helicopters forcing a rescue operation.Facing an overwhelming Somali mob overrunning the crashed helicopter sites, the task force more than held their own against a vastly superior enemy battle-hardened from years of civil war and urban fighting. Task Force RANGER would experience a total of 17 killed in action and 106 wounded. The Somali death toll is estimated in the hundreds. Master Sgt. Gary Gordon and Sgt. 1st Class Randall Shughart were posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions in trying to save the downed helicopter crew.We commemorate the lives lost on that historic day in 1993. We will never forget.
Posted by United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) on Monday, September 30, 2019
Today we remember the anniversary and encourage you to watch the Valorous TV Original, Black Hawk Down: The Untold Story to hear the real story behind this moment in history.
