Osprey crashes in Morocco, two dead

Jacksonville Daily News ^ | 4/11/12

[sonofagun]

RABAT, Morocco (AP) — Two U.S. Marines were killed and two severely injured in the crash of a hybrid aircraft in Morocco on Wednesday, officials said.

The Marines were taking part in joint U.S.-Moroccan military excercises located in the south of the country based in Agadir, said U.S. Embassy spokesman Rodney Ford in Rabat, who gave the toll.

Capt. Kevin Schultz, a Marine spokesman at the Pentagon in Washington, confirmed that the aircraft involved was an MV-22 Osprey, which takes off and lands like a helicopter and flies like an airplane. The aircraft was participating in a U.S.-Moroccan military exercise known as "African Lion."

[sonofagun]

I have a son that flys an Osprey from the Iwo Jima. I believe he had duty aboard ship today so wasn't flying.

Wives haven't heard anything yet.

Keep these young men in you prayers as these are dangerous missions even when not flying into combat.

[OwenKellogg]

Prayers for you and the Marines.

[GeronL]

I didn’t know we have troops in Morocco

[FourPeas]

prayers offered

[Chode]

i think this is the third operational loss, Prayers up...

[grobdriver]

I read a few days ago about a push to replace COD aircraft with the Ospreys.
I've been watching their development for years (decades?) and I just don't have a good feeling about them. A lot of people have been killed in these things - whether to training or maintenance or just inherent dangers/stabilization in hover to flight transition and back.

I don't know. I can't quantify it - can't back it up with facts, just as an aviation nut, ex-Navy aircrew and pilot myself, I'd hate to have a son flying them.
I'd never sleep.

Prayers up!

[Dick Vomer]

Your son is in my prayers this evening. I hope to God he’s safe and sound and that the men who died are in God’s hands. Their mission is complete here and they’ve served us well. God Bless them and God Bless their families.

[Yo-Yo]

I didn’t know we have troops in Morocco

From the fine article: "The aircraft was participating in a U.S.-Moroccan military exercise known as "African Lion." "

Bet you didn't know we recently sold Morocco F-16s, either.

[af_vet_rr]

I didn’t know we have troops in Morocco

We have troops in over 150 different countries. Guarding embassies, maintaining airfields and ports, helping move supplies, training governments on how to fight insurgents, Afghanistan, intelligence gathering, the list goes on.

[sonofagun]

I didn’t know we have troops in Morocco

The Marines are attached to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit and is at sea. Morocco is apparently a friendly power that we train with on occasion.

[af_vet_rr]

DOD put out a list of countries and our troop deployments last fall:

http://siadapp.dmdc.osd.mil/personnel/MILITARY/history/hst1109.pdf

[sonofagun]

I don't know. I can't quantify it - can't back it up with facts, just as an aviation nut, ex-Navy aircrew and pilot myself, I'd hate to have a son flying them. I'd never sleep.

There've been a lot of lessons learned flying this machine. My son loves it and I have every confidence that the plane will take care of the troops as long as the pilot takes care to follow his training as is true with any type aircraft.

The last operational loss, I believe, was an Air Force Model that the pilot flew into the ground. Even at that, most of the occupants survived.

[Lx]

I hate to hear of things like this. May God have mercy on their souls and may they rest in peace.
Prayers for the dead and their families going up.

I think it’s awesome that you have a son flying those, you must be proud despite the danger, not that the Osprey is dangerous but these guys are always prepared and training for war.

[Jack Hydrazine]

We have law enforcement and/or military in 143 countries.

[Blood of Tyrants]

The Osprey is a dangerous aircraft. It was in development for over 20 years because it was so dangerous. When it couldn’t meet the operational requirements, they simply lowered the requirements.

[emax]

We probably have troops in about 80 % of the world’s nations. And for the life of me I cannot fathom why.

[af_vet_rr]

We probably have troops in about 80 % of the world’s nations. And for the life of me I cannot fathom why.

"War on Terror" (i.e. the never-ending war), embassy guard duty, training, maintaining airfields, supply depots, and naval ports for our troops overseas, there are many reasons why we have troops scattered around the world.

Are they all necessary? A lot are necessary - I would rather not see our Marines pulled out of embassy guard duty, and a lot of the airfields and ports are needed to support our missions overseas, and we do a lot of intelligence gathering on the ground that a satellite simply can't do.

Now when it comes to military aid to other nations, that's a whole different topic.

[sonofagun]

I think it’s awesome that you have a son flying those, you must be proud despite the danger, not that the Osprey is dangerous but these guys are always prepared and training for war.

I sure am. It was a long haul and makes for a bit of a story.

[lookout88]

Prayer from a CRO dad. I know what this is all about.

[BluH2o]

I didn’t know we have troops in Morocco ...

On joint military exercises Marines can show up in some very unexpected locals. Mostly locals next to major bodies of water.