U.S. Copter Mission in Honduras Told : Flight Near Salvadoran Border Coincided With Move on Rebels

A U.S. helicopter piloted by Americans flew an unspecified mission recently near the tense border between Honduras and El Salvador, a U.S. military official said Saturday.

The flight coincided with movements of Honduran troops to the frontier to cut off possible cross-border escape routes of Salvadoran guerrillas fleeing a sweep by the Salvadoran army.

Last week, Honduran farmers reported seeing a large, twin-rotor helicopter flying near the border town of Colomoncagua on Jan. 12. The description matched that of a CH-47 Chinook transport helicopter. Neither the Honduran nor Salvadoran air forces own any Chinooks.

The U.S. official, Maj. William Lowe, spokesman for the U.S. Joint Task Force based at Palmerola Air Base in Honduras, confirmed that a CH-47 had flown near Colomoncagua on a “mission.” He insisted that “U.S. forces were not in combat” but declined to say just when the helicopter traveled near the border or what it was doing there.

Later, Lowe said that perhaps a helicopter flying from Palmerola to San Pedro Sula in northern Honduras had strayed near Colomoncagua eight days ago. He denied that U.S. helicopters support Honduran forces during live operations.

Under self-imposed guidelines, U.S. troops are forbidden to travel within five miles of the border on land or within 10 miles by air. The prohibition also applies to Honduras’ frontier with Nicaragua.

“There is not really a five- or 10-mile rule,” Lowe said. “There is a limit on routine travel, but U.S. personnel can go within the limit on approved missions.”

Ferrying Troops

The Chinook is used to ferry either Honduran or U.S. troops within Honduras, Lowe said. In addition, the helicopters are known to carry food and supplies to Honduran ground troops.

Colomoncagua is located in rugged mountains within two miles of the Salvadoran border and abuts Morazan province, a region in El Salvador that is dominated by leftist guerrillas.

On the same day that Honduran residents spotted the big helicopter, the Salvadoran army launched a sweep of Morazan province. Honduran troops took up positions on their side of the frontier at the same time, soldiers in Colomoncagua said.

“They are there to stop guerrillas from invading our national territory,” one said.

Reporters visiting Colomoncagua on Friday saw single-rotor helicopters that appeared to be UH-1H (Huey) aircraft flying along the border. The Salvadoran and Honduran air forces both use UH-1H craft, and the U.S. has 20 of them stationed at Palmerola.

In addition, there are four Chinooks at Palmerola, according to a U.S. Embassy spokesman.

U.S. troops’ role at Palmerola and other bases in Honduras has long been ambiguous. Much of their activity is linked with a series of joint U.S.-Honduran military exercises.

During the last year, reports have circulated that the United States operates reconnaissance flights over El Salvador from the Palmerola base, located in central Honduras. Light planes believed used for such flights have been sighted flying over pitched battles in El Salvador.

Leftist rebels fighting to topple the U.S.-backed government in El Salvador assert that U.S. and Honduran troops have entered El Salvador to cut off guerrilla escapes during Salvadoran army sweeps.

At present, 1,000 U.S. troops are stationed in Honduras, mostly at Palmerola. More troops are expected to arrive for war games, dubbed Big Pine II, scheduled for March.

Two U.S. helicopters have been downed in Honduras while flying near border areas. One, a UH-1H on a visit to Colomoncagua last April, was hit by ground fire, presumably from Salvadoran rebels. No one was hurt.

The other incident involved a light observer helicopter shot down near the border with Nicaragua. It was blown over Nicaraguan territory by strong winds.

When it crash-landed on the Honduran side of the border, Nicaraguan troops opened fire, killing the pilot. Two passengers escaped.