Sea Dragon down
 

Posted on Wed, Jul. 16, 2003

4 die in U.S. helicopter crash in Italy
Associated Press

WASHINGTON - Four crew members were killed Wednesday in a fiery crash of a U.S. Navy helicopter in Italy, a Pentagon spokesman said.

Lt. Dan Hetlage said the MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter crashed Wednesday evening about 10 miles southwest of the Navy base at Sigonella on the island of Sicily. Names of those killed are being withheld while next of kin are notified, he said.

The helicopter had crashed a short time after taking off from the base at Sigonella, outside Catania in eastern Sicily, according to national fire officials in Rome.

Italian firefighters said the helicopter was engulfed in flames sparked by the crash, and that the fire was put out by crews from the U.S. base.

The huge Sea Dragon helicopters can carry up to 55 troops or up to 16 tons of cargo. Its missions include sweeping for mines laid at sea.

May they rest in peace...

The MH-53E was from HC-4, based at NAS Sigonella. HC-4 Home page It will be some time before a cause is determined. They had just departed Sigonella and crashed in a field about 10 miles WSW near Palagonia, Sicily.

The only additional info is that they did get a mayday or similar radio call out before the accident.

RIP

Check 6
Naples, Italy

Update on crash
 

The MH-53E crew killed in the crash are:

XO CDR Kevin A. Bianchi, 40, from Maplewood, New Jersey
LT Peter Ober, 27, from Jacksonville, Florida
PO1 Brian P. Gibson, 33, from Richmond, Virginia
PO3 Samuel Cox, 21, from Duluth, Minnesota