According to media reports, 129 helicopters and 24 fixed-wing aircraft were lost in Iraq between the 2003 invasion and February 2009. Of these incidents, 46 have been attributed to hostile fire, such as anti-aircraft artillery and surface-to-air missiles. In March 2007, Brig. Gen. Stephen Mundt said that 130 helicopters had been lost in both Iraq and Afghanistan, about a third to hostile fire, and he was concerned that they were not being replaced fast enough.[1] A report published in Aircraft Survivability in Summer 2010 gave a total of 375 U.S. helicopters lost in Iraq and Afghanistan up to 2009. Of these, 70 were downed by hostile fire, while the other 305 losses have been classified as non-hostile or non-combat events.[2][3]
No unmanned aircraft of any type are included in the list below.
At least 283 people have died in helicopter crashes since the invasion, and 19 in fixed-wing crashes.
Since the beginning of the invasion helicopters were the target of attacks with "aerial improvised explosive devices" or home-made bombs.[4] In early 2007, the U.S. Army announced that the Iraqi insurgent groups had developed a strategy for attacking American helicopters.[5] This was confirmed by documents captured from Iraqi insurgents.[6][7] U.S. deputy commanding general Jim Simmons said that the average month in 2006 and 2007 saw about 17 attacks against helicopters.[8] Efforts to reduce losses included more training for helicopter pilots and improvements in tactics and aircraft defenses. In the fall of 2007, the U.S. military deployed the more advanced V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft. According to the U.S. military, this aircraft flies much higher and faster than helicopters and has six to seven times more survivability than the widely used CH-46.[9]
17 April – A UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter, 95–26648, belonging to the 3-158th Assault Helicopter Battalion, 12th Combat Aviation Brigade crashes on infill about 12 miles (19 km) north of Tikrit while executing an 8 ship air assault at night. 1 U.S. service member killed and 3 crew members injured.[11][12][13]
21 February – An OH-58 Kiowa helicopter crashes in northern Iraq killing the two pilots on board.[14][15][16][17]
26 November 2008 – A US Army C-23 Sherpa from 2–641 Aviation Brigade made a wheels up landing at al-Kut, while operating with Task Force 34. None of the four-man crew and seven passengers were injured.[176]
27 June 2008 – A C-130 Hercules is damaged beyond repair in an emergency landing northeast of Baghdad International Airport. All 38 on board were transported to nearby Sather Air Base for medical evaluation. The aircraft was significantly damaged in the landing, and was deemed a write-off and destroyed.[178][179]
