#259 Mike Durant - 160th SOAR Pilot Who Survived Black Hawk Down and 11 Days as a POW

Summary of #259 Mike Durant - 160th SOAR Pilot Who Survived Black Hawk Down and 11 Days as a POW

by Shawn Ryan

5h 14m•December 4, 2025
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Overview of #259 Mike Durant - 160th SOAR Pilot Who Survived Black Hawk Down and 11 Days as a POW

This episode of The Sean Ryan Show features retired Chief Warrant Officer 4 Mike Durant (author of In Company of Heroes), a former 160th SOAR Black Hawk pilot shot down during the 1993 Mogadishu engagement (“Black Hawk Down”). Durant recounts his path into Army aviation, his role in developing the armed/defensive armed penetrator Black Hawk (DAP), combat deployments (Prime Chance, Just Cause, Desert Storm), the October 3, 1993 shoot‑down and 11 days as a POW in Somalia, his release and aftermath, his views on leadership and policy, and his post‑military activities including nonprofit work and a 2022 Senate campaign in Alabama.

Key sections & main takeaways

  • Early life and path to aviation

    • Grew up in New Hampshire; inspired by a neighbor who flew helicopters.
    • Enlisted, went to Defense Language Institute, then flight school; chose Black Hawk slot (wanted it).
    • Early assignments included Korea medevac where he gained heavy flight hours.

  • 160th SOAR and specialized aviation

    • Joined 160th (Green Platoon), trained with special operators (SEALs, Delta).
    • Helped develop and field the armed/defensive armed penetrator Black Hawk (DAP) — added rockets, miniguns, 30mm, Hellfires, and mission management systems largely designed in‑house.
    • Emphasized high-intensity training, multi‑ship and NVG experience, and close integration with ground special forces.

  • Combat experience before Somalia

    • Operation Prime Chance (Persian Gulf) — complex overwater NVG flying, first NVG engagement, oil platform operations; extreme flying conditions.
    • Operation Just Cause (Panama, 1989) — FARP operations, airfield seizure, close support duties.
    • Desert Storm — escort and interdiction missions, engaged Scud TELs with miniguns; prototype DAP saw early combat use (miniguns, rockets).

  • Somalia — context, timeline and what happened

    • U.S./UN intervention initially humanitarian (1992), mission shifted to securing governance and disarmament; clan leader Mohamed Farrah Aidid (Adid) opposed this.
    • Pakistanis under UN command were ambushed and beheaded in June 1993 — political pressure followed to find culprits.
    • Task Force Ranger deployed to capture Adid’s infrastructure. TF‑160 supported multiple raids and captures (27 people captured over ops).
    • October 3, 1993: Durant’s Black Hawk was shot in the tail rotor during an exfil from Bakara Market after an urban raid. Aircraft entered uncontrollable spin and crashed. Crew chiefs and several Rangers were able to fight; two Delta snipers (Sgt. Randy Shughart and MSG Gary Gordon) voluntarily inserted and were later awarded Medals of Honor posthumously.
    • Durant was captured, beaten, paraded, and held in multiple locations for 11 days; he was interrogated and eventually released after diplomatic pressure (Ambassador Robert Oakley) and political developments.
    • Durant strongly criticizes decisions that limited US force protection/support (carrier, tanks, AC‑130s, counter‑battery) and blames political hesitancy for elevated risk and loss of life.

  • Survival, mindset and faith

    • Durant credits family and faith for endurance; survival strategy: take one manageable step at a time (don’t “eat the elephant in one bite”).
    • He rehearsed resistance and survival training before captivity; kept a secret journal and read the Bible provided by Red Cross volunteer Suzanne.
    • Spiritual experiences and intense trauma noted; recovery framed as a “second life.”

  • Post‑capture, politics, media & legacy

    • Felt the commonly told narratives and some media treatments (recent Netflix doc) misrepresented events and downplayed the sacrifices of teammates.
    • Ran for U.S. Senate (Alabama, 2022). Durant describes dirty campaign tactics, misrepresentations (clips taken out of context) and pressures from political operatives — he did not win.
    • Advocates for accountability in civilian leadership decisions about military missions.
    • Remains active in nonprofits and veteran causes.

  • Nonprofit work & recommendations

    • Serves on boards (notably Special Operations Warrior Foundation — specialops.org): cradle‑to‑career educational support for children of fallen or severely wounded special operators; 2,000+ students supported historically, ~284 current students.
    • Encourages listener support for such organizations.

Timeline (condensed)

  • 1980s: inspired to fly; enlisted; language school, then flight school; Black Hawk pilot
  • Mid‑/late‑1980s: Korea medevac (lots of flight hours)
  • Early 1990s: joins 160th SOAR Green Platoon; Operation Prime Chance (Persian Gulf); Just Cause (Panama, 1989); Desert Storm
  • Early 1990s: helps develop armed Black Hawk (DAP) capability
  • 1992–93: Somalia intervention; TF Ranger operations escalate
  • Oct 3, 1993: Black Hawk shot down in Mogadishu; Durant captured and held 11 days as POW
  • Nov 1993: Release, medical recovery and public attention
  • Post‑1993: Continued service, later retires (2001), author, philanthropy, and 2022 Senate run

Notable quotes & insights

  • On surviving captivity: “Family and faith are things that gave me the courage to press on… I just need to take one step forward. I don’t have to eat the elephant in one bite.”
  • On leadership & politics: “There’s never, ever any accountability for this shit.” (regarding political decisions that impacted mission resources and safety)
  • On his worldview of “mission first”: “If you don’t want to take losses, don’t send us downrange.”
  • On military innovation and improvisation: the armed Black Hawk (DAP) was largely designed and prototyped organically by unit personnel — “we were handwriting this stuff” and trialing it in training and in combat.

Topics discussed (high‑level)

  • Mike Durant: biography, awards, family, faith
  • Flight training, Black Hawk piloting, NVG and overwater/urban low‑level operations
  • 160th SOAR organization, training culture, and interservice integration (SEALs, Delta)
  • DAP (Defensive Armed Penetrator) development: rockets, miniguns, 30mm, Hellfires, mission interfaces
  • Major operations: Prime Chance, Just Cause, Desert Storm
  • Mogadishu / Black Hawk Down details: infill/exfil tactics, crash sequence, ground fight, Delta snipers’ actions, casualties, and political aftermath
  • Captivity: interrogation, survival training techniques, psychological/spiritual experience
  • Media and memory: reactions to portrayals (books, films, Netflix); Mark Bowden referenced
  • Politics: Durant’s 2022 Senate campaign, campaign tactics, and observations about Washington politics
  • Nonprofit & veterans support: Special Operations Warrior Foundation (specialops.org), Gray Bull Rescue (humanitarian/extraction NGO)

Notable people mentioned

  • Randy Shughart and Gary Gordon — Delta snipers, posthumous Medals of Honor (killed at Crash Site 2)
  • Cliff Walcott & Donovan Briley — 160th pilots; first combat losses in Somalia (mentioned as friends/colleagues)
  • Mark Bowden — author (Black Hawk Down)
  • Robert Oakley — U.S. diplomat who helped secure Durant’s release
  • Les Aspin — Secretary of Defense at time (criticized for decisions, later died)
  • Tom Satterly — friend/producer referenced about documentary work
  • Senator Richard Shelby (and his circle) — political influence in Durant’s Senate race
  • Dr. Peter Attia — (recommended guest) longevity/health expert Durant admires

Lessons & practical takeaways

  • Survival & resilience: break big problems into small, achievable steps; faith and family can be anchors in trauma.
  • Training matters: the ability to improvise and extensive mission rehearsal (multi‑ship NVG time, weapon systems) can save lives and enable innovation.
  • Equipment & resources: tactical success is heavily influenced by appropriate assets (force protection, ISR, AC‑130s, tanks, counter‑battery); political constraints can materially change outcomes.
  • Leadership responsibilities: civilian leaders must understand risks and properly resource forces assigned to sensitive missions.
  • Care for families of the fallen: institutions like Special Operations Warrior Foundation provide long‑term, concrete support and are an effective way to honor sacrifice.

Recommended next steps / resources (for listeners)

  • Read Mike Durant’s book: In Company of Heroes (if you want his detailed account).
  • Learn about and support Special Operations Warrior Foundation: specialops.org — cradle‑to‑career education for children of fallen/severely wounded special operators.
  • If interested in deeper context: Mark Bowden’s Black Hawk Down and operational histories on Just Cause, Prime Chance, and Desert Storm.
  • Reflect on the policy lessons Durant raises: how political decisions, force posture and resourcing affect mission outcomes — consider following veteran advocacy groups and congressional oversight on such issues.

Final notes / tone

This episode is a first‑hand, detailed oral history of elite aviation, battlefield improvisation, trauma and survival, and the political interplay that followed a high‑profile combat loss. Durant is candid, emotional, and at times blunt; the interview blends operational detail with moral and policy critique. For anyone studying modern special operations aviation, leadership in crisis, or the human cost of intervention, Durant’s account is valuable and visceral.