Posted on 11/03/2005 5:55:17 PM PST by prairiebreeze
BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Al-Qaida in Iraq claimed Thursday it shot down a U.S. attack helicopter that crashed, killing two Marines, and a U.S. general said witnesses saw the aircraft take ground fire and break up in the air.
The AH-1W Super Cobra crashed Wednesday near Ramadi during daylong fighting in the insurgent stronghold 70 miles west of Baghdad. In addition to the two crewmen, an American lieutenant died when a bomb exploded as he was rushing to the crash site.
Another U.S. soldier died Thursday in a roadside bombing northeast of Baghdad, the military said.
In its statement, al-Qaida in Iraq, led by Jordanian terror mastermind Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, said that its military wing "downed a Super Cobra attack helicopter in Ramadi with a Strella rocket, thanks be to God."
The authenticity of the statement could not be determined. It appeared on an Islamic Web site and bore the nickname of the group's spokesman, Abu Maysara al-Iraqi. The U.S. military said the cause of the crash had not been determined.
However, Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch told reporters Thursday that witnesses "believe they saw a munition fired at the helicopter and saw the helicopter break in pieces in midair and then crash."
(Excerpt) Read more at wral.com ...
Fox News reported that we air-whomped an "insurgent command center" in the immediate area of where the Cobra took fire -- with a couple of 500 pounders. Hope we "got some"...
BUSH WAS RIGHT !
My best friend and "brother" Maj Gerald Bloomfield USMC was the pilot of this bird........... his services are being planned by the rest of the family - Arlington will be his destination. He "gave em some" repeatedly and with great fervor and frequency since this 4th tour began in Aug.
Our prayers go out to family of "The Beav"s co-pilot as well as to the family of the LT who was KIA enroute to the crash site.......................
It sounds as if there was a rather long line awaiting the "virgins" after all was said and done.
I am very sorry to hear that about your friend. I was informed about Capt. Martino earlier, as his parents were notified by our Reserve unit in Lynchburg.
Bloomfield and Martino - what a team! I received a note from Iraq that the 336 named a baseball diamond after these two. Delivering the "message" is tough duty. i have done it frequently myself - especially during deployment in New Orleans the last couple months.
The Arlington ceremony was truly beyond words! A few corks were tossed with the Corps Aviators and wives who atended the after wake social. We did have Jerry shipped home to Elkhart for a local service after he was released from Dover. Now this was a whole different story........the Westboro Baptist Church protest group showed up! Thank God I was notified by local law enforcement 24 hrs before the service....we scrambled between 200-300 Korea and Nam Vets, Freedom Riders and an assortment of the "old guard" as well - they provided a slient vigil in honor of Jerry......occupying the sidewalks as intended - and preventing the lunatics from KS access to Jerry's widow and the rest of the family. Mission accomplished!
Thank you for doing that.
Yes, thank you, indeed!
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