CH-46 down in Kuwait

[ORAC]

A USMC CH-46 has gone down in Kuwait with 16 POB, thought to be 12 Americans and 4 British. Reported as an accident, not enemy action. No survivors.

[T_richard]

American TV is reporting that the souls on board are all DOA. US an UK military . My sympathies to the families

[FatFlyer]

Just heard the sad news that a CH 46 crashed at 00.37 today in Kuwait carrying US & UK troops, believed no survivors.
Thought & prayers for those lost and their families

[solotk]

American networks reporting it as a CH46

ITV insists on calling it a Chinook. The number of mistakes, being made by the news networks in basic facts, is irritating to say the least

However, the only important thing, is we have lost people.

Our sympathies with their families, and I pray for the members of my Regiment who crossed the line of departure earlier. Bring them all back safe

[46Driver]

Definitely a Marine CH-46E of the I MEF. Sounds like a crew of 4 Americans and a stick of 12 Brits. If anybody has any info, please post it - I've got alot of good friends and former students over there.

[West Coast]

CH46 is a sea knight, or frog as its nicknamed.

It is a terrible shame. My prayers are with all involved.

[LTN man]

8 young British and 4 young Americans taken from us. 12 families united in grief. Let no one forget the price of war.

[Tiger_mate]

16 DIE IN HELICOPTER CRASH

Twelve UK and four US soldiers have become the first allied fatalities in the war on Iraq, military chiefs said.

They died when a US Marines Sea Knight helicopter, assigned to the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, crashed in Kuwait, nine miles from the Iraqi border.

Military officials said hostile fire had not been reported in the area and it is thought that the crash may have been caused by a technical fault.

Sad day, R.I.P.

[Kaptin M]

Reports on the English news in Japan state that the aircraft that crashed, killing all on board, carried 17 crew members of U.S. and British nationality.

It also stated that another 2 helicopters of the "Forces of the coalition of the willing", had "crashed" on the Iraq side of the no-fly zone.

All together 3 American/British choppers down on this, the first day, according to the news.

[brit bus driver]

Radio 4 reporting it to be 4 US soldiers and 8 Royal Marines from 3 Commando. Thoughts and prayers to the families.

[BoeingMEL]

Cobblers Sir! One heli down in Kuwait...not 3. The first casualty in war is always the truth. What on earth do English journos in Japan know that our people on the ground in Kuwait don't?

[Tiger_mate]

Fraid hes right me old, MH53, Apache and CH46 all toast on day one. MH53 subsequently destroyed by allied firepower to avoid Iraq getting PR or worse still use of it. Daily Torigraph refers.

[Tigs2]

BoeingMEL

No need for such a curt reaction. The guy in Japan is giving info out based on the quality of info given to them. There are always a lot of inaccurate statements during conflict before quality info is delivered. The guys on the ground in Kuwait are only allowed to say what their military escorts approve.

[solotk]

Earlier news

US Marine 1st Expeditionary Force comes under "Co-ordinated defence in depth" across the axis of advance.
Iraqis using Small Arms under Saggers under Artillery. One US Marine element is reported to have been forced to tactically advance backwards. US Marines were reported to be 200 Meters into Iraq when engaged. British Artillery support to dig the US Marines out. 1 US Marine killed.

Up to 300 Iraqi soldiers reported to have surrendered to British and US forces around Umm Qasr. Photos released so far, see to show a lot of the captured wearing civilaian clothes?

US flag raised over part of Umm Qasr, but the "Old Port" appears to still be in Iraqi hands.

[Archimedes]

When the DoD website says:

'The CH-46E is the Marine version of the tandem-rotor Chinook '

Is it any wonder that the media are confused??