Blackhawk Brotherhood

This flow traces the bond among the men of Super 64 and the commandos who risked themselves to protect them.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

A Crew in the Air

Trust in the Aircraft Practiced Crew Work Michael Durant and his crew operated within a culture of repeated training and disciplined coordination. The pilots relied on their aircraft and on the experience of fellow Night Stalkers. A Sudden Emergency The RPG strike initially left the helicopter flying. Durant's crew believed they could reach base, but the damage continued to worsen beyond the cockpit's immediate view.

Help from Gordon and Shughart

Comrades Reach the Wreck A Moment of Relief Durant saw Gary Gordon and Randy Shughart arrive and believed rescue was at hand. They lifted him from the aircraft and helped the injured crew members. Relief Becomes Responsibility The men were not a full extraction team. As armed Somalis closed in, the commandos shifted from rescuers to defenders, binding their fates to the crew they had come to save.

Only One Returns

Survival with Absence Durant Comes Home Durant was released after captivity and returned to the American force on a litter. His return brought relief to the men who had feared he was dead. The Cost of Rescue He was the only member of his crew and the two defenders to come back alive. The bond forged in the crisis endured as grief, uncertainty, and the knowledge that others had stayed behind.

October 3, 1993, before the second crash

October 3, 1993, late afternoon

October 14, 1993