SASless
23rd Jul 2004, 02:01
I spent the morning flying a state government environmental team around the crash scene of the mid-air collison of two USMC F-18's. The collison occurred yesterday over Arlington, Oregon on the Columbia River just west of the US Navy Boardman, Oregon Bombing Range.
I do not have many details beyond two pilots died, one survived. Both aircraft crashed. Wreckage was scattered over about an 8 NM long area.
Two of the pilots, landed in the river and the surviving pilot landed nearby on land. Will post more details when available.
Sad point of the flight was when doing a recce of the Washington side of the river....sighted numerous pieces of wreckage...and two flight helmets and a deflated life raft. ..brings home how quickly good men and women can be lost while serving their country.
To the Marines out there...others grieve your loss too.
I do not have many details beyond two pilots died, one survived. Both aircraft crashed. Wreckage was scattered over about an 8 NM long area.
Two of the pilots, landed in the river and the surviving pilot landed nearby on land. Will post more details when available.
Sad point of the flight was when doing a recce of the Washington side of the river....sighted numerous pieces of wreckage...and two flight helmets and a deflated life raft. ..brings home how quickly good men and women can be lost while serving their country.
To the Marines out there...others grieve your loss too.