via AP.
KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Rebel gunfire hit a U.S. military aircraft trying to evacuate American citizens caught in a remote region of South Sudan that on Saturday became a battle ground between the country's military and renegade troops, officials said. Four U.S. service members were wounded.TRUST ME FRIENDS!
The U.S. military aircraft were heading to Bor, the capital of the state of Jonglei and scene of some of the nation's worst violence over the last week. One American service member was reported to be in critical condition.
The U.S. military's Africa Command said the hit aircraft was "participating in a mission to evacuate American citizens in Bor."
"After receiving fire from the ground while approaching the site, the aircraft diverted to an airfield outside the country and aborted the mission," the statement said. "The injured troops are being treated for their wounds."
Two officials told The Associated Press that after the aircraft took incoming fire, they turned around and flew to Kampala, Uganda. From there the service members were flown on to Nairobi, Kenya for medical treatment. The two officials are in East Africa and demanded anonymity to share information not made public.
The military statement did not identify the aircraft taking part in the mission. One official told AP it appeared the aircraft were Ospreys, the type of aircraft that can fly like a helicopter and a plane.
South Sudan's military spokesman, Col. Philip Aguer, said that government troops are not in control of Bor, so the attack on the U.S. aircraft has to be blamed on renegade soldiers, he said.
We do not want to become involved in a war in Africa. It will make what has gone on in the Middle East look like the good ole days.
UPDATE:
I've been screaming that the V-22 is vulnerable in the approach and departure from landing zones. I've been yelling that the terrorist have read our playbook and that they would setup to kill us the same way the old timers talk about the Viet Cong laying helo traps in Vietnam. Early reports indicate that military leadership wasn't listening.
UPDATE 1:
Its been confirmed that these were CV-22s. I wonder what secret squirrel stuff they're doing. You can bet that there is alot more to it than evacuating civilians. Additionally I would love to know (but never will) if they have different landing profiles from the USMC version of the plane...or more precisely if they can maneuver more aggressively in the landing phase of things.
