I recently read an article about exactly what happened. It was a CF equipment wise, lack of communication, and simply a tragic accident all due to the weather. I personally would have called it off until conditions improved.
Hug your meteorologist.
The Air Force commander and the Army commander both agree that it was the inadequate helicopter pilots, Carter should never have forced Navy (Beckwith succeeded in getting them dumped after they proved inadequate) and then Marine pilots onto Beckwith.
Watched “Count Down To D-Day” with Tom Selleck the other day. The young meteorologist officer caught hell from everyone, like it was all his fault the weather wouldn’t cooperate and he couldn’t give a better forecast.
Know it was only a movie, but thought it likely true that the high and mighty, even Ike, could be like that in times of stress.