Hornet Crashes off South Carolina; Pilot Rescued

Navy NewsStand ^ | 3/25/2004 1:42:00 PM | Commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet Public Affairs

[BykrBayb]

Story Number: NNS040325-01 Release Date: 3/25/2004 1:42:00 PM

From Commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet Public Affairs

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- A U.S. Navy F/A-18 Hornet aircraft on a routine training mission crashed at about 12:30 p.m. EST March 24 off the coast of South Carolina.

The pilot was rescued uninjured and taken to a hospital at Hunter Army Air Field near Savannah, Ga., for observation.

The aicraft was assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 82 based at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, S.C. Known as the "Marauders," the squadron returned Feb. 25 from a six-month deployment as part of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1 aboard the Norfolk, Va.-based aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The cause of the crash is under investigation.

For more news from around the fleet, visit the Navy NewsStand at www.news.navy.mil.

040107-N-3799S-002 Central Command Area of Responsibility (Jan. 7, 2004) -- An F/A-18 Hornet assigned to the “Marauders” of Strike Fighter Squadron Eight Two (VFA-82) on patrol. The aircraft is carrying a Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) on its left wing pylon and a laser guided bomb on its right wing pylon. VFA-82 is deployed with Carrier Air Wing One (CVW-1) aboard USS Enterprise (CVN 65) Carrier Strike Group (CSG), conducting missions in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and the continued war on terrorism. U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Perry Solomon. (RELEASED)

[BykrBayb]

There's a thread about a very similar crash at http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1106330/posts

[Thinkin' Gal]

Yikes. Hornets are dropping like flies this week.

[BykrBayb]

040109-N-3799S-003 Central Command Area of Responsibility (Jan. 9, 2004) -- An F/A 18 Hornet assigned to the “Marauders” of Strike Fighter Squadron Eight Two (VFA 82) refuels with a U.S. Air Force KC-135R Stratotanker assigned to the 380th Aerial Refueling Wing. VFA-82 is deployed with Carrier Air Wing One (CVW-1) aboard USS Enterprise (CVN 65), underway in the Arabian Gulf conducting missions in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Perry Solomon. (RELEASED)

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040109-N-3799S-001 Central Command Area of Responsibility (Jan. 9, 2004) -- An F/A-18 Hornet assigned to the “Marauders” of Strike Fighter Squadron Eight Two (VFA 82) refuels with a U.S. Air Force KC-135R Sratotanker assigned to the 380th Aerial Refueling Wing as an F-14A Tomcat assigned to the “Checkmates” of Fighter Squadron 211 (VF-211) waits its turn to refuel. VFA-82 and VF-211 are deployed with Carrier Air Wing One (CVW-1) aboard USS Enterprise (CVN-65), conducting missions in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and the continued war on terrorism. U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Perry Solomon. (RELEASED)

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031217-N-3799S-001 Arabian Gulf (Dec 17, 2003) -- An F/A-18 Hornet assigned to the “Marauders” of Strike Fighter Squadron Eight Two (VFA 82) soars through the sky during a mission in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. VFA-82 is currently deployed with Carrier Air-wing One (CVW-1) on board USS Enterprise (CVN-65). U.S. Navy photo by Lt.j.g. Grade Perry Solomon. (RELEASED)

[SC Swamp Fox]

Both of those tankers are described as a KC-135R. Something doesn't seem quite right.

[BykrBayb]

What doesn't seem right? Aren't they both the same type of plane?

[SC Swamp Fox]

The tanker in the upper photo has a slender body and 4 wing mounted engines, I believe, a KC-135. The tanker in the lower picture has a wide body, two wing mounted and one tail mounted engine, I believe, a KC-10.

[BykrBayb]

The tanker in the upper photo has a slender body and 4 wing mounted engines, I believe, a KC-135. The tanker in the lower picture has a wide body, two wing mounted and one tail mounted engine, I believe, a KC-10.

Ah, now I see! Thanks.