'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQI/8QAFQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAgP/2gAMAwEAAhADEAAAAM9xk3//xAAdEAACAQQDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAgMEERIhABNR/9oACAEBAAE/AGFQKaeHsTphp82GHpuQvl9ceZy5KnFb6Fzrn//EABURAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAx/9oACAECAQE/AK//xAAWEQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARADH/2gAIAQMBAT8ATL//2Q=='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Surviving Black Hawk Down, a three-part docuseries on Netflix, revisits the events of the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu through the voices of those who lived it. Unlike Ridley Scott’s 2001 war film Black Hawk Down, which dramatized the mission using accounts from US soldiers, this series presents firsthand testimonies from both American military personnel and Somali civilians.
Produced by Ridley Scott Associates and directed by Jack MacInnes, the documentary uses interviews, archival footage, and reenactments to provide a comprehensive view of a mission that escalated into one of the most intense urban battles in modern military history.
The conflict traces back to Somalia’s civil war, which had been ongoing since the 1980s. By 1992, widespread famine and unrest led to the deployment of United Nations peacekeepers, including US forces. However, their presence grew increasingly contentious, particularly as they targeted warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid.
Trending
On October 3, 1993, US troops launched an operation to capture two of Aidid’s top commanders. The mission quickly turned chaotic when Somali militias shot down two US Black Hawk helicopters, transforming an organized strike into an urgent rescue effort. This resulted in prolonged combat in Mogadishu’s streets.
Surviving Black Hawk Down features accounts from Army Rangers and Delta Force operators, along with Somali militiamen and civilians caught in the crossfire. By presenting multiple perspectives, the series offers an unfiltered look at a battle that shaped US military policy and left lasting scars on those who survived. The docuseries premieres exclusively on Netflix on February 10, 2025.
Surviving Black Hawk Down explores the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu and the fight to recover downed soldiers
Surviving Black Hawk Down provides firsthand accounts of the Battle of Mogadishu, where U.S. soldiers found themselves embroiled in an intense urban battlefield after Somali militias shot down two Black Hawk helicopters.
Army Ranger Larry Perino, who led a platoon during the mission, recalled the moment he saw the first helicopter fall from the sky. Despite facing heavy enemy fire, his immediate response was to move toward the crash site.
"As soon as we made that left turn, it was like turning in to a wall of lead" he recalled, describing the relentless gunfire and rocket-propelled grenades that blocked their advance (DAV.org, September 11, 2023).
Surviving Black Hawk Down explores the events of October 3, 1993, which unfolded during a U.S. military operation to capture two top aides of Somali warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid. What began as a planned swift raid quickly turned into an extended rescue operation after Somali militias downed a Black Hawk helicopter with a rocket-propelled grenade.
As US forces attempted to reach the downed crew, a second Black Hawk was hit, escalating the crisis. According to DAV.org (September 11, 2023), elite U.S. soldiers, including Delta Force members and Army Rangers, were forced to fight through heavily armed opposition in a chaotic urban environment. Among those who fought to defend the crash site were two Delta Force operatives, Sgt. 1st Class Randy Shughart and Master Sgt. Gary Gordon.
They voluntarily inserted themselves at the location to protect the surviving pilot, Chief Warrant Officer Mike Durant. Despite being outnumbered, they held off enemy fighters before being killed in combat. Both men were posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions (as per DAV.org, September 11, 2023).
The 15-hour battle resulted in the deaths of 18 American soldiers and left 73 wounded. Hundreds of Somali militiamen and civilians also lost their lives. For the U.S. military, the mission marked one of the most intense engagements since Vietnam. Surviving Black Hawk Down examines how this battle reshaped military strategies and policies while also exploring its long-term impact on both U.S. forces and Somalia.
Through interviews with survivors, Surviving Black Hawk Down presents an unfiltered look at the mission, reinforcing its place in modern warfare history.
Stay tuned for more updates.
