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.

FMI: www.army.mil