Black Hawk Down /

Black Hawk Down is a 2001 American war-drama film depicting the Battle of Mogadishu, a raid integral to the United States' effort to capture Somali warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid. Black Hawk Down is based on the book of the same name by Mark Bowden, which chronicles the events of the battle. The film is co-produced and directed by Ridley Scott, director of Gladiator. The film stars a largely ensemble cast, starring Josh Hartnett, Ewan McGregor, Tom Sizemore, Jason Isaacs, Eric Bana, William Fichtner and Sam Shepard. The film won Academy Awards for Best Film Editing and Best Sound at the 74th Academy Awards. In Somalia, 1993, famine and civil war has gripped the country, resulting in over 300,000 civilian deaths and a huge UN peacekeeping operation. With the bulk of the peacekeepers withdrawn, the Somali militia have declared war on the remaining UN personnel. In response, America's elite soldiers, the Army Rangers, Delta Force and the 160th SOAR (Night Stalkers) are deployed to Somalia to capture Mohammed Farrah Aidid, self-proclaimed president of the country. Outside Mogadishu, United States Army Rangers and Delta Force operatives capture Osman Ali Atto, a Somali warlord selling arms to the militia of Mohammed Farrah Aidid, the most powerful of warlords in Mogadishu. Shortly thereafter, a mission is planned to capture Omar Salad Elmi and Abdi Hassan Awale Qeybdiid, two of Aidid's top political advisers while attending a meeting. Sgt. Matthew Eversmann is placed in command of Ranger Chalk Four, after Lt. Beales suffers an epileptic fit shortly before the mission - Eversmann's first command. The operation is launched in mid-afternoon, October 3 1993. Delta Force successfully captures the delegates, however Pfc. Todd Blackburn falls from one of the Black Hawk helicopters, severely injuring his back. Three Humvees led by Sgt. Jeff Struecker are detached from the main column to return Blackburn to the UN-held Mogadishu Airport, however en route, Sgt. Dominick Pilla is shot and killed. Shortly thereafter, Black Hawk Super-Six One (61), piloted by CWO Clifton "Elvis" Wolcott is shot down by an RPG and crashes deep within the city. The ground forces begin to converge on the crash site, however the Somali militia throw up roadblocks, resulting in Lt. Col Danny McKnight's Humvee column becoming lost, and sustains heavy casualties. Meanwhile, two Ranger Chalks, including Eversmann's unit reach Super-Six One's crash site, setting up a defensive perimeter. In the interim, Super-Six Four (64), piloted by CWO Michael Durant is also shot down by an RPG, crashing within the city. With Cpt. Mike Steele's Rangers pinned down and sustaining heavy casualties, no ground forces can reach Super Six Four's crash site, nor reinforce the Rangers defending Super Six One. Two Delta snipers, Sgt. Randy Shughart and Master Sgt. Gary Gordon are voluntarily inserted by helicopter to Super Six Four's crash site, where they find Durant still alive. Super Six Four's crash site is eventually overrun, with Gordon and Shughart killed, and Durant captured. Meanwhile, McKnight's column, having taken heavy casualties gives up attempting to reach Six-One's crash site, and returns to base. In response, Gen. Garrison orders the 10th Mountain Division, including Pakistani and Malaysian forces to be mobilised, to provide a relief column. The Somali militia launch a sustained assault on Super Six One's crash site throughout the night and into the morning, until the troops are extracted by the 10th Mountain Division. A handful of remaining Army Rangers and Delta Force operatives run the "Mogadishu Mile" from the crash site back to the Pakistani Stadium, in the UN Safe Zone. The movie ends detailing the results of the raid - 19 US Special Operations soldiers were killed, with over 1,000 Somalis dead. Michael Durant was released after 11 days of captivity. Delta Snipers Gary Gordon and Randy Shughart were the first soldiers to be posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor since the Vietnam War. On August 2 1996, Mohammed Farrah Aidid was killed in a battle with a rival Somali clan. General Garrison retired the following day.