AP-U.S. Army Helicopter Goes Down in Mosul

By NICK WADHAMS, Associated Press Writer

MOSUL, Iraq - A U.S. Army reconnaissance helicopter went down near Mosul in northern
Iraq on Friday while aiding Iraqi police who came under hostile fire, and its two pilots were seriously injured, military officials said.

Both pilots of the OH-58 Kiowa, which is armed, were alive but unconscious when they were evacuated, U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Joel Burger, of the 172nd Stryker Brigade's 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, said at the scene of the crash. It was unclear why the helicopter went down at about 2:15 p.m.

"They were not conscious. It's not looking good. I've spent a lot of time in Iraq and these guys were pretty beat up," Burger said.

Update:

US says helicopter was shot down near Mosul

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. military helicopter was shot down on Friday by insurgents near the city of Mosul, 240 miles north of Baghdad, a senior U.S. command official said.

Army Lt. Gen. John Vines, the No. 2 U.S. commander in Iraq, told reporters at the
Pentagon from Baghdad: "The indicators are that it was due to hostile fire." A defense official said it was an OH-58 Kiowa Warrior, a two-seat, single-engine helicopter. Officials did not offer details on any casualties.

2nd Update:

US helicopter downed in Iraq, two dead

By Nabeel Nooredeen

MOSUL, Iraq (Reuters) - Rebels in northern
Iraq apparently shot down an armed U.S. reconnaissance helicopter on Friday, killing its two pilots, in a rare instance of American air power being challenged by guerrillas on the ground.

"The indicators are that it was due to hostile fire," said Lieutenant General John Vines, the deputy U.S. commander in Iraq. Witnesses at the scene in the city of Mosul said they saw fighters fire on the two-seater aircraft with heavy machineguns.

Semper Fi