The Bombs Drop

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A Colombian soldier observes a ceremony commemorating the third anniversary of the deaths of 18 people in Santo Domingo. In back, a boy with his face painted white hangs a sign protesting the attack. (ZOE SELSKY / LAT)

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Demonstrators march through the town of Tame, Colombia in December on the third anniversary of the bombing of Santo Domingo. About 1,500 people from Tame, Santo Domingo and other nearby communities took part in the march. The sign reads, “the impunity.” (ZOE SELSKY / LAT)

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A young woman claps during ceremonies held in Tame to mark the third anniversary of the bombing. The flight crew involved says it targeted a jungle area 1,200 meters north of Santo Domingo. But there is only an open field there now. (ZOE SELSKY / LAT)

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With faces painted white, a group of children and teenagers listen to the playing of Colombia’s national anthem. The head of the Colombian Air Force continued to deny that a cluster bomb was used in the attack, even after subordinates in the field duly reported its use to superiors at Air Force headquarters. The Air Force head today says the bombing was the result of a guerrilla car bombing gone awry. (ZOE SELSKY / LAT)

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Residents of the town of Santo Domingo, Colombia, relax on a Sunday afternoon in December. Three years ago the Colombian military allegedly bombed this small town, killing 18 civilans, including seven children. (ZOE SELSKY / LAT)

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The death toll in the bombing of Santo Domingo three years ago included the brother of these three children visiting a memorial. The Colombian military found that the explosion was caused by a car bomb set up by anti-government guerrillas in the area. After much wrangling, the investigation is back in the hands of the military. (ZOE SELSKY / LAT)

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Children in Santo Domingo have depicted the December 13, 1998 attack on their town in a poster. It includes photos of the seven children killed. Its caption reads “A crime against humanity committed by airplanes donated by the U.S., supposedly to fight drugs.” The head of the Colombian Air Force, Gen. Hector Fabio Velasco, threatened to sue the human rights groups that produced the poster, but never followed up on the threat. (ZOE SELSKY / LAT)

Colombian Air Force drops bomb from helicopter.

March 6, 2003 4:09 PM PT

The Scene:
In this segment, the Huey helicopter drops its cluster bomb as several other aircraft prepare to land on a field north of the town in order to provide relief troops for Dragon Company, a Colombian army unit pinned down near a bridge north of Santo Domingo.

The Players:
Gavilan (Sparrowhawk): Cessna Skymaster piloted by Barbaro Jose Orta with Maj. Cesar Gomez and Charles Denny on board. Gomez is link between Skymaster and other Colombian Air Force planes. Denny is crewmember controlling video camera.
Lechuza (Hunter Owl): UH1H Huey piloted by Capt. Cesar Romero, carrying the cluster bomb
Cazador (Hunter): A H500 Hughes piloted by Lt. German Lamilla, directing the bombing approach.
Pegaso (Pegasus): MI-17 under contract with Occidental Petroleum. Carrying relief troops.

10:02:23
Lechuza: Cazador, we need to launch the cluster, Cazador, Lechuza needs to launch the cluster
Cazador: Okay, Gavilan and Arpia, maintain because here comes a big present. Get out so that Lechuza can come in.
Pegaso: Flying over number 3, behind
Cazador: Okay, Pegaso and Spock, maintain yourselves orbiting where you are and Lechuza can enter.
Pegaso: Okay.
Lechuza: Locate me.
Cazador: Do you see the yellow road? (A dirt road running towards Santo Domingo)
Lechuza: Where do you want it, Cazador. Tell me where you want it.
Cazador: Do you see along the yellow road, there there is a little town?
Lechuza: Affirmative
Cazador: To the right of the little town, there is jungle.
Orta: There are a lot of people a lot of people.
Cazador: We want it on the west edge of the jungle.
Lechuza: Okay
Jumble on the airwaves
Lechuza: The jungle that is more toward the west or the one that is here close by?
Cazador: The one that is close by.
Unknown: Gavilan, there is a truck to the west, why don't you check it out?
Gomez: We are going to the west to check it, please everyone, Pegaso and the Halcon, that will direct the initial, the start from the bridge
Cazador: Stay far away, stay two mile to the east, two miles to the east while Lechuza discharges the cluster
Orta: Okay, Cesar, there are a lot of airplanes, we're going to control this.
Gomez: I sent him to the start of the bridge for them.
Pegaso: Pegaso, maintaining number 3 to enter
?: Okay, Pegaso, I am to your one o'clock, I am going to turn to the right and stick you behind me.
Pegaso: Okay
Gomez: They are going to enter at once.
Pegaso: I have you in view.
Cazador: Gavilan, it's Cazador. Can you see Lechuza?
Gomez: No, I can't see him, he is the only one that I can't see
Orta: Yes
Gomez: Now I see him.
Cazador: Good, then direct him so that he can drop the cluster.
Lechuza: Ahh, it already dropped, it already dropped.
Cazador: I can see the smoke. I think the Black Hawk can enter now, I think Spock can enter now.
10:04:37

The Bombs Drop

Colombian Air Force drops bomb from helicopter.

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