Posted on 02/07/2024 10:25:57 AM PST by V_TWIN
The -last- thing they would do if the 53 was intact would be to walk away. It’s shelter, and it is what would be found.
Sounds like crashed and they are combing the wreckage field.
Hate it but that will be what it is. Damned tragic.
As for those who want to know why they flew in bad weather. Because wars happen in bad weather. They train how they fight. Same reason USMC grunts are out in the field training when it’s sleet, rain, snow or sweltering heat.
Prayers for those brave men.
This article is so poor that it seems like it came from some obscure blog site.
Currently, about 150 CH-53E helicopters are in service with the Marines and another 28 MH-53Es are in service with the U.S Navy. The CH-53 requires 44 maintenance hours per flight hour. A flight hour costs about $20,000.[23]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikorsky_CH-53E_Super_Stallion
They were built in the late ‘70s and ‘80s?
My guess is they are just not going to announce the loss of those men pending notification.
This is just bureaucracy.
If your suggesting it’s an old platform, I can tell you I worked on a Navy jet engine platform that flew in Vietnam, and the aircraft wasn’t retired until after 2000.......it was my experience working at a US Navy aircraft maintenance facility that they like to squeeze every flight hour they can out of their gear. 😏
“The -last- thing they would do if the 53 was intact would be to walk away. It’s shelter, and it is what would be found.”
Exactly, and of course right about training in it as well. Carter’s disaster in the desert comes to mind. If the bodies were immediately found, perhaps wreckage is scattered in very rough territory. An average Jr high student from the 60’s would have written a better report than this one. Just have to wait.
A little more detail to the location of the found helo.
EXCERPT:
The aircraft was located just after 9 a.m. by civil authorities near the mountain community of Pine Valley, about a 45-mile (72-kilometer) drive from San Diego but rescue crews said snowy conditions were making access challenging on the ground.
https://www.npr.org/2024/02/07/1229812205/marine-corps-helicopter-missing-found-san-diego
Thanks 👍
Oh, and I’ve never heard anything about a MayDay. That’s very bad too if that’s the case.
Thanks. Damn it.
Only bits and pieces of news regarding the crew.
EXCERPT:
Marine Corps Times asked the Marine Corps if any human remains had been found at the crash site and didn’t immediately receive a response.
https://news.yahoo.com/corps-searching-5-marines-helicopter-185449415.html
Sounds like an opening scene of the X-Files.
Now using the terms- wreckage and crash site.
EXCERPT:
The wreckage of the US Marine helicopter that went missing on Wednesday morning with five onboard has been found on a mountainside near Cleveland National Forest, around the last-known location of the machine.
Officials confirmed the location of the crash site on Wednesday, adding that civil authorities found the downed vessel in Pine Valley at around 9.08AM PST.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/us-news/breaking-military-helicopter-crash-hunt-32070348
Another much better story:
https://apnews.com/article/marine-helicopter-san-diego-a1498c3de5cc4d3bd6f59a97f10a4c74
The report was puzzling by lack of detail.
Thanks for this.
No information on the condition of the bird. If it crashed, you’d expect to find bodies; if an emergency landing, there’s hope.
I just finished a Google search on all the available reports. Some are using the word wreckage but no additional information. Its odd for sure.
The pilot and co- pilot have a small radio attached to their shoulder that will give a one way transponder signal and a short distance two way comm so if either one of them is alive somebody should know by now. If rescuers are near they should be able to talk to them.
There’s nothing in the article definitive with regards to the whereabouts or condition of the aircrew.
No mention in the reporting, as to whether the aircrew is aboard the helo. or missing.
Got it. Chief…so were they training or fighting in a time sensitive mission to transport 5 guys to Mirimar in the equivalent of a hurricane?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.