On October 3, 1993, the United States launched a military operation in Mogadishu, Somalia, that became known as “Black Hawk Down.” The mission, part of Operation Gothic Serpent, was intended to capture lieutenants of Somali warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid, whose forces were destabilizing the country and obstructing U.N. humanitarian efforts. What began as a quick raid escalated into one of the most intense urban battles U.S. forces had faced since Vietnam. Elite U.S. Army Rangers and Delta Force op

This actual footage of two MH-60 Blackhawks being shot down in Mogadishu, Somalia, took place on Oct. 3, 1993. The events that took place in Mogadishu on Oct. 3 and 4, 1993, were later chronicled in the book “Black Hawk Down,” which became the movie of the same name. Task Force RANGER was a joint special operations task force sent to capture Somali warlord Mohammed Farah Aideed. By the beginning of October 1993, the task force had successfully conducted six missions in the capital. During the se