Sad Aviation Ping.....................
“mountainous terrain, cloudy weather, and low visibility,” complicated the search”
I’m suspecting those conditions were more than likely the cause of the crash to begin with. 😔
Another good article:
https://www.oregonlive.com/news/2024/10/2-navy-aviators-are-declared-dead-after-a-fighter-jet-crashed-in-washington-state.html
“It is with a heavy heart that we share the loss of two beloved Zappers,” said Cmdr. Timothy Warburton, commanding officer of the aviators’ Electronic Attack Squadron.
The EA-18G Growler is similar to the F/A-18F Super Hornet and includes sophisticated electronic warfare devices. Most of the Growler squadrons are based at Whidbey Island. One squadron is based at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan.
The “Zappers” were recently deployed on the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower.
“The EA-18G Growler aircraft we fly represents the most advanced technology in airborne Electronic Attack and stands as the Navy’s first line of defense in hostile environments,” the Navy said on its website. Each aircraft costs about $67 million.
Zap goes the growler. DEI?
Makes one wonder what their mission profile was. Did they have a hard deck, radar altimeter, etc.
We train as we fight.
Top Gun: Maverick had scenes filmed on the Olympic Peninsula flying F-18’s through the Olympic Mountains. I hope the pilot was trying to fly like what was shown in the movie.
Naval aviators, not navy aviators.
And the “P” ad “S” in “Corpsman” both are silent.
They were someone’s daughters, granddaughters, wives, sisters, mothers, friends, and they died in a fighter jet aircraft training exercise. They were training to kill and die for us and that’s just what they did. Respect is due.
Today we have identities with photos of the crew...