Posted on 05/15/2015 6:28:18 AM PDT by Kegger
CHARIKOT, Nepal -- On May 15, at approximately 3:30 p.m., Japanese Standard Time, a Nepalese search team identified possible wreckage of a downed aircraft approximately 15 miles north of Charikot, Nepal.
Joint Task Force 505 currently has a team of pararescuemen and a combat rescue officer inbound to assess the wreckage and determine if it is the downed UH-1Y Huey with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 469.
The UH-1Y Huey went missing May 12 near Charikot, Nepal, while conducting humanitarian assistance as part of JTF 505 supporting Operation Sahayogi Haat. The UH-1Y Huey was delivering humanitarian aid to those affected by the recent earthquakes.
Close enough to the border I think to ask the question, did the ChiCom’s shoot it down?
I know there are some places in Nepal helos can't reach because of altitude. Could this be a factor?
Just a guess, could be mechanical failure, pilot error, or something else...
A humanitarian mission isn’t even safe under this Adbomination.
That would be down the list of my initial suspicions. Four factors we can count on: age of equipment, service ceiling of equipment, unpredictable weather/wind conditions, and unfamiliar terrain.
RIP good Marines and Nepalese. You were doing God’s work.
A Hip chopper with latest engines is actually capable to hover about 3000 ft over Everest which is the highest peak on Earth. I don’t think there are any of these in the area but Indian military certainly has older 1980s ‘Afghan version’ Hips there which aren’t really bad in this department too.
May God receive their souls.
U.S. Marine Corps
Efforts underway to recover the six Marines and two Nepalese soldiers who were aboard the missing UH-1Y Huey that was located Friday in Nepal.
“We are deeply saddened by the discovery of this wreckage and we will remain dedicated to the recovery effort until every last Marine and Nepalese soldier is brought home. While we mourn the tragic passing of our service members and of the Nepalese Army, we recognize that the Nepalese people have suffered a loss of thousands of their own citizens. We will continue to stand with Nepal.”
— Lt. Gen. John Wissler, JTF 505 commander and III Marine Expeditionary Force/Marine Corps Installations Pacific commanding general
Lt. Gen. John Wissler
He’s a good man.
Lord God, may Your Spirit comfort the family, friends, loved ones, and unit members of our warriors. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
RIP my brothers! Go rest from your long, hard journey!
We’ll keep watch down here!
Was it shot down?
Contaminated fuel is a possibility...
THe Nepalese death toll is already over 8,000 and I wouldn’t be surprised if it tops 10,000, especially with more deaths from major aftershocks.
My chopper mechanics, who do sea duty in the 5th Fleet, tell me that there are no more UH-1’s in US military service. And very few parts available. And this thing looks to have four blades-—not really Huey? The whole story is kind of disorienting. Sea-going Marines should have Seahawks along with Ospreys. Note that the chopper seems to be painted “Navy.” It has me wondering whether our guys had a scavenger hunt to get something they could fly?
And this thing looks to have four blades-—not really Huey?
- - - -
The Bell UH-1Y has a 4 blade main rotor.
http://www.bellhelicopter.com/en_US/Military/BellUH-1Y/1291148375207.html#/?tab=highlights-tab
JTF 505 CONTINUES SEARCH, HUMANITARIAN AID
http://www.marines.mil/News/NewsDisplay/tabid/3258/Article/588688/jtf-505-continues-search-humanitarian-aid.aspx
May 14, 2015
Joint Task Force 505 continues efforts both in support of the ongoing search and rescue mission for a missing UH-1Y Huey helicopter, as well as humanitarian aid and disaster relief for the country of Nepal.
To date, two UH-1Y Hueys, two MV-22 Ospreys, one Indian MI-17 and three Nepalese helicopters have searched for the UH-1Y Huey that went missing near Charikot, Nepal, while conducting humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations May 12. Augmenting the aerial search is one Nepalese special forces platoon and a battalion-sized ground element.
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