Mercy’s mission on hold after helo hit by bullet

[unhappycamper]

An MH-60S Seahawk assigned to the "Blackjacks" of Helicopter Combat Squadron 21 returns to the hospital ship Mercy on May 30 off the coast of Cotabato, Philippines. An MH-60 that flew inland June 9 to pick up passengers returned to the ship with holes showing a bullet had hit, then exited, the helo.


Mercy’s mission on hold after helo hit by bullet
By Chris Amos - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Jun 10, 2008 7:47:49 EDT

A Navy helicopter flying from the hospital ship Mercy returned to the ship with two bullet holes in its tail section Monday afternoon, prompting Navy officials to temporarily suspend the ship’s humanitarian operations off the Philippines coast.

The bullet holes — one entry and one exit hole from a single bullet — were found after an MH-60 returned to the Mercy following a mission in which it flew 50 miles inland and brought 11 passengers to the ship.

No injuries were reported. Navy spokesman Cmdr. Jeff Davis said officials were unsure if passengers were on the helicopter when it was fired upon. It was also unclear what size bullet hit the aircraft, he said.

Mercy, which has been near the Philippines for about 10 days, is anchored off the coast of Cotabato, Philippines, conducting Pacific Partnership 2008. The four-month exercise is intended to strengthen American relations with nations in Southeast Asia and Oceania by bringing together military and civilian medical personnel from various nations, along with construction personnel.

Davis said the Mercy mission commander temporarily ceased all Pacific Partnership activities until “a proper assessment can be made.”


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/06/navy_mercy_060908/