Posted on 07/21/2004 3:29:01 PM PDT by johnfrink
My husband called from Boardman a little bit ago and told me about this. He's concerned they may be F-18's from Miramar, because of the call signs he heard on the radio. Any word on the unit they were from?
Oh, poop, just saw post 31. never mind.
The E-6s are very, very old and desperately overworked.
Anyway, wonder where all the "initial reports are always correct, if a story changes it's a sign of a coverup" people are now.....
Well the live feed you posted is still (or again?) saying "Oregon Air National Guard reports two F-18s collided"... but perhaps TV news doesn't have the most current info.
Also report 2 people found, 1 missing. (I don't have sound, so I can only report what they're scrolling.)
Prowlers routinely fly in the NW zones ... Whidbey has access to great e-ranges.
EA-6B : 4 man crew. Pilot, Nav, and 2 EWarriors.
USMC F/A-18 : 2 man crew. Pilot, Rio/BN.
USN F/A-18 : 1 Man Crew. Pilot.
If it's Miramar they are USMC. Remember, the Navy ceded Miramar to little brother a few years back, and moved the 18s up to LeMoore.
I have seen Whidbey Island, and San Diego; too soon to tell.
Latest news seems to be what someone suspected earlier: there were 3 aircraft in the area, which lead to the confusion: 2 F-18s, and 1 EA6. KGW (which claimed that the EA-6 had exploded) is now saying that 2 F-18s collided.
"ARLINGTON Ore. –- Conflicting reports from the Oregon National Guard and Gilliam county authorities say at least two F-18 Hornet aircraft collided over the Gorge, and at least one pilot has survived.
Gilliam county authorities say there were as many as three aircraft over the area about 2:30 p.m. At least one pilot parachuted and came down south of Interstate 84 and suffered a leg injury, said KGW meteorologist Dave Salesky."
If you're telling me to read the thread... way ahead of you. Read the whole thing before replying. Check #13.
My husband has been hearing Marine Corps call signs (he's been flying the past two days.) That puts them out of Miramar in San Diego, with the training squadron. Damn.
They're Marine Corps... my husband has been hearing their call signs on the radio for the past few days.
You, and your husband, have my prayers. What does he fly?
Yep, that's what I was telling you, and if you had read it, I guess you missed #25, which (at the time you made your post) said it was only one plane.
Not trying to jump down your throat, I just didn't understand your post if you had seen the update about it being only one plane.
However, that's all moot now, since they're BACK to saying it was TWO planes. So without further ado... back to you Terp:
"If the weather was clear, how do two planes just collide?"
http://www.kptv.com/Global/story.asp?S=2071569
07-21-04
ARLINGTON -- Two people are dead after a crash involving two F-18 Hornet jets in Eastern Oregon.
Witnesses reported seeing the crash near Arlington, about 55 miles east of The Dalles.
Authorities say the two Marine jets either collided, or one of the planes exploded and took the other down while flying in formation.
Three people were seen ejecting and parachuting to the ground. One landed in the Columbia River on the Washington side, another was pulled from the river on the Oregon side unconscious, and another in someone's backyard in the town of Arlington, complaining of neck and leg injuries.
The Gilliam County Sheriff's office says two of the crew are reported dead.
The planes are based out of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego.
There is an eight-mile debris field in and around the town of Arlington.
The FAA has also been notified.
FOX 12 will update this story as information becomes available.
Grrrr - I don't have audio at work, what is the eyewitness saying???
Prayers for these pilots, and all who protect us, and their families.
Latest eyewitness account: 3 personnel, 2 aircraft, 2 landed in river, one pilot landed on bank with broked ankle named "Craig". 2 reported to have perished.
Thanks... Right now he's flying the King Air 200 for a private outfit in Portland. He flew CH-46 helicopters at Miramar and still has friends there. We're hoping the pilots are not any of the people we know...
Back to two FA-18S colliding.
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