 Two CH @-@ <unk> Super <unk> carrying a 60 @-@ man security detail — 51 Marines and nine Navy <unk> — departed Guam at 02 : 47 , <unk> nautical miles ( <unk> km ; <unk> mi ) from the embassy , and were expected to arrive at 06 : 20 . They performed two aerial <unk> . During the first <unk> , a pipe burst on one of the helicopters , <unk> soldiers in fuel and nearly forcing a return to the Guam ; problems with the helicopters ' navigation system also complicated the <unk> rendezvous . The helicopters arrived in Mogadishu at dawn , crossing the coast just south of the harbor at 25 – 50 feet ( 7 @.@ 6 – 15 @.@ 2 m ) in altitude on a route that was planned to avoid areas of more intense violence reported in the northern parts of the city . On their arrival in Mogadishu , the crew of the helicopters were using an outdated 1969 map , which showed the embassy in an isolated area . Furthermore , they had been told the embassy could be discerned by its white stucco perimeter wall and golf course . The embassy was , in fact , surrounded by new development and the crew saw white stucco walls around many buildings in the city . The helicopters were flying too low to spot a <unk> light which was placed on the embassy 's water tower ( the highest point within the embassy compound ) and the golf course in the embassy compound had a black , oil @-@ coated surface — not the familiar green grass that the helicopter crew would <unk> breaking radio silence ( their only direct communication with the embassy was <unk> ) to contact the embassy , they were able to <unk> it and land at 07 : 10 . As they arrived , a group of about 100 to 150 <unk> were attempting to enter the embassy compound via <unk> on the wall , but scattered as the helicopters arrived . 
