CAUTION: Do not make more of this than it is. The USA under the Obama Administration is seeking to make the military efficient and less costly, not bolstering the Military Industrial Complex at every turn. So don't even go there! The country isn't interested.
NO MORE 'THE TAIL' WAGGING 'THE DOG.' Absolutely not!
What is the issue? The real issue. Training missions don't go wrong at opposite ends of the world without some explanation. There must be a lot of pressure somewhere they are reacting to, otherwise, this wouldn't occur.
Now, Marines are usually the first military unit 'in' to a battle area. So, like what is this all about?
This isn't the first time an AH-1W Super Cobra went down during a training incident. It occurred in 2008 as well. So, is this coincidence or is there some profound problem with the way training episodes are conducted? No scapegoating, real facts please, lives are being lost.
Probe Continues into Military Helicopter Crash; Pilots Identified
Contributor: Elex Michaelson
Email: elex.michaelson@sandiego6.com
Contributor: Antonio Castelan
Last Update: 5/08 6:23 am
...Capt. Jessica Conkling, 27, of Centre, Pa., and 1st Lt. Aaron Cox, 26, of Pulaski, Ark., (click here) were killed when the AH-1W Super Cobra they were flying went down for unknown reasons near Interstate 8 in the Boulder Oaks area of Cleveland National Forest late Tuesday night.
The aviators, who were assigned to Miramar-based Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 166, were on a training mission when the aircraft plunged to the ground in the hilly locale southeast of Pine Valley about 11:55 p.m., sparking a small brush fire.
The possible presence of live ordnance at the crash site -- the aircraft reportedly had been carrying rockets -- kept firefighters from getting close to the smoldering burn zone. ...
AH-1W Super Cobra
Military aircraft in collision off coast (click title to entry - thank you)
9 are missing near San Clemente Island
By Steve Schmidt
Union-Tribune Staff Writer
2:00 a.m. October 30, 2009
A Coast Guard transport plane and a Camp Pendleton helicopter collided last night about 15 miles east of San Clemente Island, federal aviation and military officials said.
Seven people were believed to be aboard a Coast Guard C-130, and two were in the AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter, authorities said.
Coast Guard and Navy officials launched a search and had begun to spot debris late last night, the Coast Guard said.
Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor said the crash was reported at 7:10 p.m.
Authorities said the cause was not immediately known.
The Cobra helicopter belonged to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, which is based at Miramar Marine Corps Air Station, said Marine spokesman Maj. Jay Delarosa.
The helicopter was stationed at Camp Pendleton, Delarosa said. He didn't know when or from where the Cobra left for its training mission.
The crash site is roughly 50 miles west of San Diego, said Petty Officer Henry Dunphy, a Coast Guard spokesman. San Clemente Island is owned by the Navy and used by the Marines for various exercises, including training for deployment....
One doesn't usually think of a C-130 Hercules as a plane able to take care of itself. It is used for transport.
