European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 13, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                1942-199250 years of service vol. 51, no. 240 500 a trip lists my sunday december 13,1992 b d 8693 . Choppers return fire destroy somalian vehicles Mogadishu Somalia apr two american helicopter gunships came under attack and fired on three armed somalian vehicles destroying them and causing casualties a . Military spokesman said saturday. It was the first reported Exchange of fire involving american forces in Somalia. Col. Fred Peck a spokesman for the . Forces said the ah-1 cobra helicopter gunships were fired on about 1 . By an my 13 armoured personnel Carrier using a machine gun. The ahls returned fire with 20 my Cannon and Tow missiles destroying the armoured personnel Carrier and two armed vehicles. The number of casualties was not immediately known. According to Peck the weapons on the see related stories on pages 8 and 9 armed vehicles were recoilless rifles and a machine gun. The cobras were from the amphibious assault ship Tripoli and were on a routine reconnaissance flight Over the City. It was the second Case of casualties this past week involving the .-led multinational Force in Somalia to feed the nations starving. On thursday a somalian truck rammed a French checkpoint in Mogadishu. Troops fired on the vehicle killing two somalis and wounding seven. Meanwhile the United states escorted its first food Convoy to Northern Togadi see choppers on Page 2 Aid Mission not expected to limit space a service a Marine holds a Young somalis hand during a patrol saturday through Mogadishu. By Cluck Vinci Washington Bureau Washington a air Force officials Are cautiously optimistic that the . Military a humanitarian Mission in Somalia will not complicate space available Holiday travel for Europe based passengers going to and from the United states. A we Are not predicting significant changes in space a opportunities in Europe during the upcoming Christmas season said maj. Ann Simpson a spokeswoman for the air forces air mobility come at Scott af13, 111. A a we re Well aware of the Holiday travel needs of service members and their families and we try not to detract from space a availability if we can avoid it a Simpson said. But officials warn that the Airlift requirements for operation restore Hope Are fluid and could change. As of thursday a total of 87 transport aircraft had been designated for use in support of the operation in Somalia Simpson said. In Europe am terminals have not experienced any significant backlog be tips for since a travellers a travel Early and allow plenty of time to get there. 88 take enough Money to cover commercial transportation food and lodging in Case base facilities Are not available. 88 keep in touch with the air mobility come terminal being used for updated travel information. Cause of the somalian Mission. Officials at Rhein main a Germany and Raf Mildenhall England two of the busiest am terminals in Europe said operations Are running More or less normally. Ramstein a Germany is handling fewer space a flights than before said see Mission on Page 2monster storm soaks East with rain Snow by the associated press an Atlantic coast storm chewed away at cities and Shore towns from Massachusetts to Virginia flooding out hundreds of residents and smothering some areas farther Inland with Snow. The subway system in new York City was paralysed Friday by electrical problems and High water. Up to 6,000 people fled their Homes to till shelters in new Jersey. Rain sleet and Snow knocked out Power to hundreds of thousands of people. At least 12 deaths since thursday have been blamed on the storm. Hurricane Force gusts of 77 Mph shut Down la Guardia Airport in new York City. There were delays and closings at airports elsewhere within the storm s reach. Wind gusted to 90 Mph in Southern new Jersey and combined see related Story and photos on Page 7 with High tides to lash Shore communities. Rail and ferry service fed morning commuters into Manhattan then trapped them there but most Public transportation in the new York City area was Back in service by 8 . A needless to say Rush hour Wasny to fun in new York City a said department of transportation spokesman Joe Deplasco. A but those who waited to go Home were rewarded by subways that were on  Between thursday night and Early saturday the storm had dumped 2.32 inches of rain in Central Park and created 10-foot tides in new York Harbor. Docks at the statue of Liberty and the nearby Ellis Island immigration museum were awash. National guard troops were called out to help with evacuations in new Jersey Connecticut Massachusetts West Virginia and Virginia. The National weather service said flooding in new Jersey Shore areas was brought on by morning High fides 4 feet above Normal combined with heavy surf that bit off chunks of Beach and smashed boardwalks. A people who have lived through this storm will have lived through probably the highest tides this Century on the Southern new Jersey coastline a said meteorologist Wayne Albright. Up to 4 inches of rain fell in Southern new Jersey. Two 80-foot clamming boats broke Loose from Moor see storm on Page 2