Anyone remember this incident?
C&P this from of all places, CL Rant & Raves, Miami.
Anyone know if true? Sad, if it is. The last paragraph says it all.
September 9th, 1987
I was serving in the US Navy, stationed aboard the USS Saipan. I was assigned to the flight crew during operations in the North Atlantic off the coast of Norway about 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle on this day.
It was a cold morning to say the least. We had been called down for 1-Alpha operations at 0:400hrs. It was around 08:00hrs and I was near the bow of the ship on spot 2 when I heard the first explosion. I turned in time to see a CH-46, which had just lifted off from spot 5, bounce off the flight deck, roll onto the catwalk and over the side of the ship. At the same time I saw one of the flight crew thrown into the air and then back down onto the flight deck with brutal force. Mac, his "call sign", was the spotter that day for spot 5 and had just cleared the CH-46 to lift-off. As the helicopter started to fall from the ship I saw the tail number, 7. in that moment my mind flashed back to the night before when I was sitting in that very same helicopter with one of my best friends Rory as he showed me pictures of his new born baby girl, talking about his family and what he was going to do after his enlistment was up at the end of this assignment. We talked about what we were going to do while on liberty and just caught up on all the simple, stupid oatmeal. We hadn't seen each other since the previous Med-cruise the year before. it was good to just sit and hang out with him. Rory was the plane captain for the bird that went into the water so I knew he was onboard when this happened. I ran toward spot 5 with everything I had. I was the first person to reach Mac who was not moving. When the CH-46 lost control it slammed into the aircraft sitting on spot 6. A piece of the splintered blade hit Mac directly in the head. I pulled him back to the medical triage area but Mac died while in my arms. it all happened so fast.
The CH-53 on spot 6 was on fire as was spot 5 where jet fuel had spilled from Rory's bird as it left the flight deck. We spend what seemed like forever putting out these fires when in fact it was only about 20 minutes. The rescue crews had been pulling bodies from the cold North Atlantic while we fought the fire. Those of us fighting the fire occasionally looked over the catwalk to see rescue boats speeding from and then back to the ship. Most of the bodies in the boat were completely covered and one of the older sailors standing next to me said "you know what that means don't you?". I knew. I needed to know that Rory was okay. After the 'all clear' I ran down to the medical ward. As I stood in the ward I saw the co-pilot counting, he was trying to account for all the marines that were on that bird. He was visibly shaken and kept repeating that the pilot was dead, killed instantly when the CH-46 slammed into the bird sitting on spot 6. I didn't see Rory anywhere. Word came down that they needed volunteers for search and rescue. I ran to the well deck and volunteered to help in the search. I was given a wet suit and two minutes in the water. I found no one. I found nothing... I couldn't save him... I couldn't save any of them.
We lost nine people that day. Rory was gone, they never recovered his body. it's been twenty years. his daughter has grown and his wife has re-married.
As members in the military we all serve to protect the rights of the citizens of the United States. members of the military die during peace as well as during war. We owe every man and woman in uniform our deepest gratitude and respect. they sacrifice everyday as we live our lives in complete ignorance of what they give. know that there is a price being paid and a price that has been paid. Don't take for granted the freedoms that you have.
For Rory.
For Mac.
And for the other seven servicemen that died that day.
I remember.
Anyone know if true? Sad, if it is. The last paragraph says it all.
September 9th, 1987
I was serving in the US Navy, stationed aboard the USS Saipan. I was assigned to the flight crew during operations in the North Atlantic off the coast of Norway about 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle on this day.
It was a cold morning to say the least. We had been called down for 1-Alpha operations at 0:400hrs. It was around 08:00hrs and I was near the bow of the ship on spot 2 when I heard the first explosion. I turned in time to see a CH-46, which had just lifted off from spot 5, bounce off the flight deck, roll onto the catwalk and over the side of the ship. At the same time I saw one of the flight crew thrown into the air and then back down onto the flight deck with brutal force. Mac, his "call sign", was the spotter that day for spot 5 and had just cleared the CH-46 to lift-off. As the helicopter started to fall from the ship I saw the tail number, 7. in that moment my mind flashed back to the night before when I was sitting in that very same helicopter with one of my best friends Rory as he showed me pictures of his new born baby girl, talking about his family and what he was going to do after his enlistment was up at the end of this assignment. We talked about what we were going to do while on liberty and just caught up on all the simple, stupid oatmeal. We hadn't seen each other since the previous Med-cruise the year before. it was good to just sit and hang out with him. Rory was the plane captain for the bird that went into the water so I knew he was onboard when this happened. I ran toward spot 5 with everything I had. I was the first person to reach Mac who was not moving. When the CH-46 lost control it slammed into the aircraft sitting on spot 6. A piece of the splintered blade hit Mac directly in the head. I pulled him back to the medical triage area but Mac died while in my arms. it all happened so fast.
The CH-53 on spot 6 was on fire as was spot 5 where jet fuel had spilled from Rory's bird as it left the flight deck. We spend what seemed like forever putting out these fires when in fact it was only about 20 minutes. The rescue crews had been pulling bodies from the cold North Atlantic while we fought the fire. Those of us fighting the fire occasionally looked over the catwalk to see rescue boats speeding from and then back to the ship. Most of the bodies in the boat were completely covered and one of the older sailors standing next to me said "you know what that means don't you?". I knew. I needed to know that Rory was okay. After the 'all clear' I ran down to the medical ward. As I stood in the ward I saw the co-pilot counting, he was trying to account for all the marines that were on that bird. He was visibly shaken and kept repeating that the pilot was dead, killed instantly when the CH-46 slammed into the bird sitting on spot 6. I didn't see Rory anywhere. Word came down that they needed volunteers for search and rescue. I ran to the well deck and volunteered to help in the search. I was given a wet suit and two minutes in the water. I found no one. I found nothing... I couldn't save him... I couldn't save any of them.
We lost nine people that day. Rory was gone, they never recovered his body. it's been twenty years. his daughter has grown and his wife has re-married.
As members in the military we all serve to protect the rights of the citizens of the United States. members of the military die during peace as well as during war. We owe every man and woman in uniform our deepest gratitude and respect. they sacrifice everyday as we live our lives in complete ignorance of what they give. know that there is a price being paid and a price that has been paid. Don't take for granted the freedoms that you have.
For Rory.
For Mac.
And for the other seven servicemen that died that day.
I remember.
0
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Don't know what to say, speachless I guess. Sad Story. 0 -
[:(]
Some gave all...
Don0 -
So sad. I thank them for their service. May they find peace 0 -
I have no doubt that is a factual incident.
On a carrier during a Med Cruise, we lost five guys. On work ups off the East Coast we lost six men when an A-7 mistakenly landed on a fouled deck at night.
My old P-3 squadron had a mid-air off San Clemente Island around '89. Two aircraft and twenty seven men. A training mission.
At sea, it's always playing for keeps.0 -
Those of us that havent served owe those who have more then we could ever say, but, sometimes "THANK YOU" is in order. Salute!!!! Semper Gratus! 0 -
Remember ,29 july,67.U.S.S.FORESTAL,Lost my son Carl that day!Thanks,Paul 0 -
yes i remember very well very sad 0 -
quote:Originally posted by aka rotten
Remember ,29 july,67.U.S.S.FORESTAL,Lost my son Carl that day!Thanks,Paul
FORRESTAL was one of my carriers. In Hanger Bay One is a large bronze plaque with the names of the 127 men that lost their lives to that fire. As a side note, Ltjg John McCain was in an A-4 on the roof that day. He is the same John McCain in the US Senate.
Sorry for your loss sir.0 -
quote:Originally posted by aka rotten
Remember ,29 july,67.U.S.S.FORESTAL,Lost my son Carl that day!Thanks,PaulI'm sorry for the loss of your son and I salute him!
Whether the incident associated with the topic of this thread is true or not, I don't know. However, Air Ops, whether on a carrier or other type ship, is an accident waiting to happen and sometimes it does. When an accident happens the entire crew (ship and air wing) is affected. I can still remember pretty vividly events that occurred aboard the USS Midway 35+ years ago.0 -
quote:Originally posted by aka rotten
Remember ,29 july,67.U.S.S.FORESTAL,Lost my son Carl that day!Thanks,Paul My sincere heartfelt condolences to you.
I was only 5 back in '67 but I've seen many documentaries/footage of the horrific events on the Forestal that tragic day in '67.0 -
The reason I asked if anyone remembers this incident is that according to Wikipedia, the USS Saipan was drydocked on Sept. '87.
Yet the unknown writer of the post sounds credible and sincere.
From Wiki:
On August 17, 1986, Saipan departed on its fourth Mediterranean deployment. Extended briefly in the Eastern Mediterranean for contingency operations, Saipan returned to Norfolk on February 24, 1987.
Starting at the end of October 1987 , Saipan was in the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard for major refitting.0 -
On FT Bragg, if the post can go 82 days without a Division fatality, the entire post gets a 4 day weekend...never saw it happen. I think the average number of days went up into the low 20's. Soldiers die in training accidents quite frequently. 0 -
Date was 1985 Sept.9 LHA 4 NATO/North Wedding. 0 -
kick start it, You are correct.
A google search found the following:
Accidents aboard USS SAIPAN:
Date Where Events
September 9, 1985 off northern Norway A CH-46 helicopter crashes into a CH-53 helicopter on the flight deck of USS SAIPAN while participating in NATO exercise "Northern Wedding". The CH-46 flips into the water killing nine.0 -
...Don't remember that incident, remember the USS Forrestal incident though...real bad deal... 
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The very worst thing that can happen to a Man is to have a Child predecease him.
I don't know how it could be borne.
You have my heartfelt sympathy and prayers.
Doug0
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