Battle of Rio Hato Airfield facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Rio Hato Airfield
Part of the United States invasion of Panama
Date 20 December 1989 Location Rio Hato, Panama Result American victory
Belligerents
United States	Panama
Commanders and leaders
William F. "Buck" Kernan	Maj. Gonzalo Gonzalez
Units involved
75th Ranger Regiment 2nd Ranger Battalion 3rd Ranger Battalion	Panama Defense Force 7th Macho de Monte Infantry Company 6th Rifle Company 7th Rifle Company
Strength
837 rangers 13 C-130 transport planes 2 AC-130 gunships 2 F-117 bombers 2 AH-64 helicopters 2 AH-6 helicopters	520 soldiers 150 automatic rifles 42 machine guns 9 bazookas 4 recoilless rifles 23 mortars 19 armoured vehicles 6 ZPU AA guns
Casualties and losses
4 killed 44 wounded	34 killed 362 captured 200+ escaped
Low civilian casualties

The Battle of Rio Hato Airfield was an important fight during the United States invasion of Panama. It happened between the U.S. military and the Panamanian Defense Force (PDF). On December 20, 1989, U.S. paratroopers launched a surprise attack. They targeted the Panamanian Army at Rio Hato, which was the PDF's largest military base. This base was about seventy miles south of Panama City.

The main goals of this attack were to take control of the PDF base. They also wanted to secure the airfield runway. Another goal was to capture the nearby beachside house of Panama's leader, Manuel Noriega.

The Battle Begins

Rio Hato army air base

The battle started with two F-117 stealth fighter-bombers. These planes dropped two large bombs. The bombs were meant to surprise and confuse the PDF soldiers. These soldiers were from two heavily armed infantry companies. They were defending the airfield.

However, the bombs did not land exactly where planned. They exploded nearby instead. This woke up the PDF soldiers. The PDF's 6th and 7th Rifle companies had 520 troops in total. The 7th company was known to be among Noriega's most loyal forces.

Paratroopers Arrive

Thirteen C-130 Hercules transport planes flew nonstop from the United States. They dropped a large group of U.S. Army Rangers by parachute. This included an entire battalion and a company from the 75th Ranger Regiment. The jump was done from a very low height of 490 feet. This was because intelligence suggested Panamanian anti-aircraft weapons could not hit targets below 500 feet.

Even so, 11 of the 13 aircraft were hit by enemy fire. The planes flew faster than usual, at 170 knots. This, along with the low altitude, caused many injuries during landing. Several Rangers were also wounded by ground fire while still inside the planes. More were wounded while parachuting down. At least one Ranger was killed and one paralyzed when their parachute lines were cut by enemy fire.

Fighting on the Ground

The Rangers quickly gathered in the dark. Two companies spread out to surround the airfield. They also cut off the Pan-American Highway that ran through the base. Another goal was to seize a nearby ammunition storage area.

Two military trucks, possibly more, full of PDF soldiers drove down the runway. They fired small arms and heavy machine guns at the wounded and gathering Rangers. A Ranger sergeant stopped these trucks with a rocket. Another Ranger fired a pistol at a truck, accidentally hitting its gas tank, which made it explode.

Meanwhile, another Ranger company attacked a nearby military academy. Yet another company fought the two PDF companies defending the airfield. The fighting became very intense. The Rangers' ground fire was strongly supported by an AC-130 "Spectre" gunship and several attack helicopters.

The buildings that were being fought over fell to the Rangers. They fought room-to-room, using many grenades and automatic rifles up close. The Battle of Rio Hato Airfield lasted about five hours. By the end, the Rangers had secured Rio Hato. They also took control of Manuel Noriega's large beach house nearby.

An armored vehicle (APC) engaged Rangers on the west side of the airfield. Rangers destroyed it using rockets and fire from the AC-130 Spectre gunship at the same time.

However, there was one sad mistake. A U.S. attack helicopter thought a group of Rangers were enemy soldiers. It fired, killing two Rangers and wounding four others.

Battle Results

The U.S. military had 4 soldiers killed. Another 18 were wounded in the fighting, and 26 were injured during the parachute jump. At Rio Hato, the PDF lost 34 soldiers killed. 362 PDF soldiers were captured. A large amount of their weapons were left behind. About 200 PDF soldiers managed to escape into the countryside.

See also

In Spanish: Batalla del Aeródromo de Río Hato para niños