Fri, Sep 22, 2006
Second US Aircraft Down In Germany This Week
An Apache AH-64D Longbow chopper is down... and two soldiers are
dead in Germany.
The two airmen, assigned to the 1st Armored Division, were
killed late Tuesday night during a training exercise near
Grafenwöhr Army Air Field in Germany. Their craft went down in
a heavily-wooded area while training for night aerial gunnery
missions.
Initial rescue efforts were hampered because the area is
peppered with unexploded ordnance from previous exercises.
Chief Warrant Officer Timothy R. Breneman, and Chief Warrant
Officer Terry M. Thomas, were part of the 1st Armored Division's
12th Combat Aviation Brigade, based at Illesheim Army Airfield in
Germany. Their unit has conducted training exercises at
Grafenwöhr since early September.
The AH-64 Apache is the US Army's premier attack chopper. Its
crew of two commands an array of advanced weaponry and sensor
equipment meant to directly aid ground forces from the air.
At this time, no cause for the crash is known, but a spokesman
told Stars and Stripes the Army will conduct a thorough
investigation.
"The Army is a close-knit family and the loss of our own affects
all of us," said 1st AD public relatons officer Major Wayne
Marotto. "A tragedy of this type is felt by each and every member,
but we will pull together to help our own. We wish to express our
deepest condolences to the family members of the two pilots,”
he said.
This is the second US aircraft to go down in Germany this month.
As Aero-News reported, last
week an F-16 based at Spangdahlem Air Base crashed when its pilot
ejected after reporting a gear malfunction. The US Air Force is
still investigating that incident.
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