taskandpurpose.com Open in urlscan Pro
151.101.65.91  Public Scan

Form analysis
1 forms found in the DOM

GET https://taskandpurpose.com

<form class="navbar-form form-inline" action="https://taskandpurpose.com" method="GET">
  <div class="bgr-mobile">
    <input class="search__form-input search-form__text-input js-search-input" type="text" placeholder="Search by keyword…" name="s" value="">
    <button class="search__form-input-icon fas fa-search" type="submit"></button>
  </div>
  <button type="button" class="search-form__open fas fa-search js-toggle float-right"></button>
</form>

Text Content

Got A Tip?


 * CHANNELS
   
    * News
       * Analysis
       * Opinion
   
    * Culture
       * Entertainment
       * Humor
       * Mandatory Fun
   
    * Military Life
       * Veterans
   
    * Gear
       * Gear Reviews
   
    * Tech & Tactics
       * Aircraft
       * Ships
       * Tactics
       * Vehicles
       * Weapons
   
    * History
       * War

 * MORE
   
    * Write For Us
    * Newsletters

SOCIAL

Got A Tip?
 * News
   * Analysis
   * Opinion
 * Culture
   * Entertainment
   * Humor
   * Mandatory Fun
 * Military Life
   * Veterans
 * Gear
   * Gear Reviews
 * Tech & Tactics
   * Aircraft
   * Ships
   * Tactics
   * Vehicles
   * Weapons
 * History
   * War
 * Write For Us


THIS VIDEO CAPTURES THE ‘CATASTROPHIC IMPACT’ THAT KICKED OFF THE FIERCE ‘BLACK
HAWK DOWN’ MISSION 28 YEARS AGO

On Oct. 3, 1993, a contingent of U.S. special operations forces launched what
was supposed to be a relatively simple mission. It ended up being a total
disaster.

By Jared Keller | Updated Oct 3, 2021 11:31 AM

 * History


SHARE
 * 
 * 
 * 
 * 

Editor’s note: A version of this post was first published in 2019.

PLAY Top Articles by Task & Purpose Video Settings Full Screen About Connatix
V156852 Read More Read More Read More Read More Read More Read More Former US
Marine accused of rapein Ukraine 1/1 Skip Ad Continue watching after the ad
Visit Advertiser websiteGO TO PAGE



On Oct. 3, 1993, a contingent of U.S. special operations forces deployed
consisting of soldiers from the Army’s 1st Special Forces Operational
Detachment-Delta and 75th Ranger Regiment, launched what was supposed to be a
relatively simple mission: enter the Somali capital of Mogadishu and capture a
handful of warlord Mohammed Farrah Aidid’s top stooges.



The resulting raid, known as the Battle of Mogadishu, was a complete disaster —
and everything went sideways with the downing of an MH-60 A/L Black Hawk
helicopter that would forever immortalize the mission in American culture as
“Black Hawk Down.”



On the 20th anniversary of the Battle of Mogadishu in 2013, CBS News broadcast
never-before-seen satellite footage of the crash of the first Black Hawk
helicopter, piloted by CW3 Cliff “Elvis” Wolcott and CW3 Donovan “Bull” Briley
under the call sign Super 61, after a Somali fighter managed to nail the helo
with a rocket-propelled grenade.

“It took a direct hit to the tail boom and started a slow rotation,” Delta Force
operator Norm Hooten told CBS News in his first public comments on the incident.
“It was a catastrophic impact. That’s the only way I can describe it.”




While Delta Force snipers Staff Sgt. Daniel Busch and Sgt. Jim Smith defended
the downed helo, a combat search and rescue team fast-roped from a second Black
Hawk (Super 68) to secure two wounded survivors and await retrieval at a nearby
collection point.



But during the rescue, a third Black Hawk (Super 64) piloted by CW3 Michael
Durant was downed by another RPG; the initial Delta and Ranger assault team and
ground convoy, which had been waiting amid heavy fire for 20 minutes to receive
new orders, traveled to the first crash site.

Meanwhile, a fourth Black Hawk (Super 62) inserted another pair of Delta
snipers, Master Sgt. Gary Gordon and Sfc. Randy Shughart, at the second crash
site to protect the Durant before the helo was struck by yet another RPG. Both
were killed and posthumously awarded the first Medals of Honor since the Vietnam
War.



The mission was supposed to take half an hour. When the U.S. forces finally
returned to their staging point at a nearby United Nations base, 19 U.S. service
members had been killed and another 73 wounded.



Related: ‘What to remember in a firefight’ according to ‘Hoot’ the legendary
Delta Force operator of ‘Black Hawk Down’ fame

Jared Keller

Jared Keller is the managing editor of Task & Purpose. His writing has appeared
in Aeon, the Los Angeles Review of Books, the New Republic, Pacific Standard,
Smithsonian, and The Washington Post, among other publications. Contact the
author here.



75th Ranger Regiment
battle of mogadishu
black hawk down
Delta Force
History

MORE TO READ

 * RELATED
   
   
   THE FASCINATING STORY OF HOW THE JEEP BECAME AMERICA’S FAVORITE MILITARY
   VEHICLE
   
   Soldiers may enjoy their time in a Humvee or Huey nowadays, but there is no
   military vehicle more beloved than the World War II Jeep.
   
   READ NOW

 * RELATED
   
   
   BIRD WARFARE: WHY THE NAVY’S FIRST AIRCRAFT CARRIER HAD A DEDICATED
   ‘PIGEONEER’
   
   Aircraft carrier, meet carrier pigeon

 * RELATED
   
   
   MEET THE ALLIES’ MOST DANGEROUS SPY IN FRANCE DURING WORLD WAR II
   
   For almost three years, she operated in France, evading detection and
   organizing resistance against Nazi occupiers






Subscribe to Task & Purpose Today

Get the latest in military news, entertainment and gear in your inbox daily.

JOIN NOW


LINKS

 * About Task & Purpose
 * Terms and Conditions of Use
 * Privacy Policy
 * Your California Privacy Rights
 * Sitemap

Cookies Settings


FOLLOW US

 * 
 * 
 * 
 * 

Got A Tip?


DISCLAIMER(S)

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate
advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking
to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of
Service.

© 2022 Recurrent. All rights reserved.


PRIVACY PREFERENCE CENTER

When you visit any website, it may store or retrieve information on your
browser, mostly in the form of cookies. This information might be about you,
your preferences or your device and is mostly used to make the site work as you
expect it to. The information does not usually directly identify you, but it can
give you a more personalized web experience. Because we respect your right to
privacy, you can choose not to allow some types of cookies. Click on the
different category headings to find out more and change our default settings.
However, blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience of the site
and the services we are able to offer.
More information
Allow All


MANAGE CONSENT PREFERENCES

PERFORMANCE COOKIES

Performance Cookies

These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and
improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the
most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All
information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you
do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site, and
will not be able to monitor its performance.

TARGETING COOKIES

Targeting Cookies

These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may
be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you
relevant adverts on other sites. They do not store directly personal
information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet
device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted
advertising.

FUNCTIONAL COOKIES

Functional Cookies

These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and
personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose
services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some
or all of these services may not function properly.

STRICTLY NECESSARY COOKIES

Always Active

These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched
off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you
which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy
preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block
or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work.
These cookies do not store any personally identifiable information.

Back Button Performance Cookies



Vendor Search Search Icon
Filter Icon

Clear
checkbox label label
Apply Cancel
Consent Leg.Interest
checkbox label label
checkbox label label
checkbox label label

Confirm My Choices


By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your
device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our
marketing efforts.

Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies




×