Black Hawk Down

Black Hawk Down is a 2001 film by Ridley Scott, based on the book ' about the Battle of Mogadishu, which was part of the U.S. military's 1993 campaign to capture Somali warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid. The movie stars Josh Hartnett, Ewan McGregor, Eric Bana and Orlando Bloom. It won two Oscars in 2002 for Film Editing and Sound Editing.

Plot

Based on the best-selling book detailing an ill-fated U.S. Army mission in Somalia on October 3, 1993.

Related Topics:
Somalia - October 3 - 1993

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An assault force of Delta Force commandos backed up by nearly 100 U.S. Army Rangers under the command of CPT Mike Steele were dropped by helicopter deep into the capital city of Mogadishu to capture two top lieutenants of a Somali warlord. The mission is successful and the wanted persons are captured and taken into American custody. However, when Somali militia armed with RPGs down two Black Hawk helicopters, a 45 minute mission becomes a desparate struggle for survival in a city full of thousands of angry gunmen. The movie recounts the heroic efforts by the American soldiers to get to the crash sites and recover their teammates at any cost. Most of the action centers on a few soldiers, such as Sgt. Eversmann and Staff Sgt. Yurek who command Ranger units Chalk Four and Chalk Two, respectively. Other parts of the movie focus on Lt. Col. McKnight and his rescue convoy that gets ambushed throughout the hostile city, Lt. Perino as he leads his Rangers to the first black hawk crash site, and the sole survivor of the second crash, Warrant Officer Durant. Through dedication, perseverance, and teamwork, the soldiers were able to hold off the militia until dawn, when a convoy consisting of the 10th Mountain Division and various international forces including Pakistanis and Malaysians under UN jurisdiction reached them and they were able to successfully exit the city. During the battle, 19 American soldiers lost their lives, while as many as a thousand Somali civilians and militia were killed.

Related Topics:
U.S. Army Rangers - Helicopter - Mogadishu

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