Aircraft Crashes during Operation Iraqi Freedom

Wednesday March 19^th, 2003

A Sikorsky MH-53J Pave Low III helicopter carrying U.S. special forces crashed inside southern Iraq hours before the missile strikes Wednesday night, a senior defense official said. There were no casualties and the troops on board were all taken out safely, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The official said the military was taking steps to destroy the helicopter rather than let it fall into Iraqi hands.

Thursday March 20^th, 2003

A US Army AH-64 Apache attack helicopter in Kuwait has had a "hard landing", but there were no casualties, US officials said.
The mishap came a day after an air force special forces MH-53 Pave Low helicopter suffered a hard landing inside Iraq while conducting an operation.

Friday March 21^st , 2003

An U.S. Marine Boeing CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter crashed early Friday nine miles from the Iraqi border, killing all 12 people aboard -- eight British military personnel and four American crew members. The CH-46E was from HMM-268 ‘YQ’ of the 3^rd Marine Aircraft Wing.

Saturday March 22^nd , 2003

At approximately 0130 GMT, 2 Royal Navy Sea King ASAC.7 helicopters were involved in a mid air collision over international waters. There were no survivors. The incident was not the result of enemy action.

The helicopters were both Airborne Early Warning Mk 7 Sea Kings from 849 Squadron used for airborne surveillance and control. 849 Squadron are based at RNAS Culdrose, Cornwall and a detachment is currently embarked on the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal.

Sunday March 23^rd , 2003

A RAF Tornado GR.4 is crashed and its crew are killed after being downed by a US Patriot missile close to the Kuwaiti border.

The wreckage of the RAF Tornado crashed near the Kuwaiti border. Photo cbs news.

Monday March 24^th , 2003

U.S. AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopters fought a fierce battle with units of Iraq's Republican Guard units                    

early Monday about 96 kilometres (60 miles) south of Baghdad.

Iraqi TV showed video of what appeared to be a downed Apache helicopter 99-5135 from C Company, 1-227^th Aviation Regiment, Fort Hood in Texas, The  Apache was intact and upright, reporting that it went down near Karbala. Iraqi Information Minister Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf said Iraqi villagers shot down two Apaches.  Chief Warrant Officer David Williams, 30, from Florida, and Chief Warrant Officer Ronald Young , 26, of Georgia - are now officially listed as prisoners of war. On Tuesday March 25^th the Apache Longbow was destroyed by US fighter planes.

Tuesday March 25^th , 2003

An AH-64D Apache of 1-3Avn and an UH-60 Blackhawk of 2-3Avn are missing in sandstorm.

A US patriot site was destroyed by an USAF F-16.

Thursday March 27^th , 2003

The al-Jazeera Arab satellite television channel is showing pictures what it says is a US AH-64D Apache helicopter was shot down today. The US military has not commented and the fate of the pilots are unclear. The Qatar-based channel said the Apache had been shot down over the mid-Euphrates area, where US troops are fighting to secure a bridge. The footage of the helicopter with US military markings surrounded by Iraqi men waving rifles. It also showed pictures of what Jazeera said was a downed US unmanned drone.

Photo, al-Jazeera

Friday March 28^th , 2003

Two 2-101^st AVN AH-64D Apache Longbows were written-off on landing.

A UH-60A or L Black Hawk( probably from 6-101^st AVN) was also damaged by one of the Apaches.

In separate incidents, but on the same date, two OH-58D (I or R) Kiowa Warriors were also seriously damaged. These are most likely 2/17^th CAV as they were operating with the 101^st Apaches.

Monday March 30^th , 2003

A Marine UH-1 Huey helicopter from HMLA-169 crashed at a forward supply and refuelling point in southern Iraq, killing three people aboard. One person was wounded. It was not clear if all four casualties were Marines. Only four people were believed to be aboard the helicopter, which had been taking off on a support mission.

The cause of the 20:30 crash was unclear.

Tuesday April 1^st, 2003

A Lockheed S-3B Viking tanker of VS-38 was lost after a successful arrested landing at the aircraft carrier USS Constellation. The Viking rolled to the left and dropped off the side of the ship, catching briefly in the safety netting along the edge of the deck. The delay gave the crew (2) enough time to eject before the aircraft hit the water.  Both were rescued by swimmers dropped from a helicopter.

This is the first fixed-wing  US aircraft to be lost during Operation Iraqi Freedom, although helicopters have been lost.

Wednesday April 2^nd, 2003

A Grumman F-14A Tomcat of VF-154 Black Knights from the USS Kitty Hawk crashed with mechanical problems in Iraq, no injuries.

An AV-8B Harrier II , HMM-263 from the US Marine Corps is written-off by a landing incident.

Thursday April 3^rd , 2003

The Iraqi’s shot down with SAM missiles a McDonnell Douglas F-18C Hornet. Also that day a UH-60 Blackhawk was shot down by small arms fire.

Saturday April 5^th , 2003

A Marines AH-1W Cobra from HMLA-267 crashed in Iraq, there were no survivors.

Monday April 8^th , 2003

An A-10A  from the USAF was downed by SAM, pilot OK.

Research by: Rob Vogelaar