A DC9 ON CLBOUT EXPERIENCED SEVERAL BIRD STRIKES ON THE R LOWER FUSELAGE AND MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE R WING SLATS.

Narrative

WE WERE CLBING AFTER DEP FROM RWY 12R AT MSP. WITH THE GEAR AND FLAPS RETRACTED AND THE SLATS EXTENDED; WE ENCOUNTERED A V-SHAPE FORMATION OF DUCKS. I HEARD ONE; MAYBE TWO; HIT THE FUSELAGE JUST BELOW MY SEAT. NOTHING ELSE HAPPENED -- ENG PARAMETERS DID NOT CHANGE; NO ODOR; AND FLT CTLS FELT NORMAL. AFTER DISCUSSING THIS; THE CAPT AND I AGREED TO RETRACT THE SLATS. NOTHING UNUSUAL FOLLOWED; SO WE CONTINUED. AFTER 10000 FT ALT; THE CAPT RELINQUISHED CTL OF THE ACFT AND ATC RADIO USAGE TO ME WHILE HE COMMUNICATED WITH OUR COMPANY THAT WE HAD A BIRD STRIKE WITH A HARD HIT ON THE LOWER FUSELAGE; BUT EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL. THE DECISION WAS TO CONTINUE ON TO THE DEST. AT CRUISE OUR FLT ATTENDANT CALLED TO SAY PAX WERE TELLING HER OF BIRDS HITTING THE R WING. THE CAPT SENT ME BACK TO LOOK. I RETURNED TO THE FLT DECK WITH THE RPT OF A BIG DENT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SLAT ABOUT 3 FT FROM THE FUSELAGE AND A SECOND SMALLER DENT ANOTHER 4 FT OUT ON THE TOP OF THE SLAT. WE AGAIN COMMUNICATED THIS INFO TO COMPANY AND AGREED TO CONTINUE. THE CAPT AND I DISCUSSED USING SLATS FOR LNDG WITH THE IDEA THAT THE PLANE FLEW FINE WITH THE SLATS EXTENDED BEFORE AND I DID NOT SEE ANY STRUCTURAL DAMAGE THAT WOULD CAUSE THE SLAT TO FAIL. BUT WE WOULD EXTEND THE SLATS AT THE SLOWEST SPD AS A PRECAUTION. THE FLT CONTINUED NORMALLY. AFTER PARKING AT THE GATE AND ALL PAX DEPLANED; ALL FOUR OF US (CREW MEMBERS) AND THE MECHS WENT OUT TO LOOK. WE FOUND EVIDENCE OF ONE BIRD STRIKE THAT GLANCED OFF THE LOWER R FUSELAGE JUST AFT OF THE FLT DECK. ONE BIRD STRIKE ON THE TOP OF AN OUTBOARD SLAT WITH DENTS ON THE TOP OF THE SLAT AND THE WING. ONE BIRD STRIKE IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INBOARD SLAT WITH A 2 FT LONG DENT THAT RIPPED A VERT HOLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DENT. THIS HOLE WAS NOT VISIBLE FROM INSIDE THE CABIN. BLOOD FROM THIS STRIKE WAS ALSO VISIBLE ON THE R SIDE OF THE R ENG'S COWLING.