NBC anchor Brian Williams takes back his story about being in a helicopter shot down in Iraq

NBC anchor Brian Williams apologized and recanted his story about being on board a helicopter forced down by RPG fire during the 2003 invasion of Iraq, according to Stars and Stripes.  "I would not have chosen to make this mistake," Williams told the military newspaper in a Wednesday interview. "I don't know what screwed up in my mind that caused me to conflate one aircraft with another." Citing interviews with crew members, Stars and Stripes reported that Williams was actually in a completely different helicopter an hour behind three helicopters that came under fire. 

"No, we never came under direct enemy fire to the aircraft," said Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Miller, a flight engineer on the Chinook carrying Williams.

What Williams said over the years, according to Stars and Stripes, was a far different tale. As recently as last week he repeated his incorrect version of the incident.

"During the invasion of Iraq when the helicopter we were traveling in was forced down after being hit by an RPG," Williams reportedly said last Friday. "Our traveling NBC News team was rescued, surrounded and kept alive by an armor mechanized platoon from the U.S. Army 3rd Infantry."

Watch video of the segment below: