Steve, in the book they were flying at around 60 Kts when shot down, not in the hover as you say the film suggests (I have not seen the film yet). My recollection was that the troops rappelled in OK, then the Black Hawk's went to their holding points at 60 Kts and 300 ft at which point they started getting shot down. IF this is true (it almost beyond belief that you would expose your helicopter to a small arms threat by flying at 300 ft and 60 Kts) then you should not be at all suprised to lose a few.
. .Also see the thread by the same name in Military Aircrew for some perspective on the military aspects (ie total goat screw puts poor soldiers in a fight for their lives).
Edited to add bit about Military thread.
[ 16 February 2002: Message edited by: helmet fire ]</p>