2016 — Jan 14, Aviation, Two Marine Helicopters Crash off Haleiwa, Oahu, HI — 12

–12  AP (McAvoy). “High Surf Complicating Hawaii Search for Missing Marines.” 1-16-2016.

–12  AP (A. McAvoy). “Marine Helicopters Collide off Oahu, Search Under Way.” 1-15-2016.

–12  CBS News/Associated Press. “Marine helicopters collide off Hawaiian coast.” 1-15-2016.

–12  Marine Corps Times. “Search for 12 Marines ends without finding survivors…” 1-20-2016.

–12  USA Today. “2 Marine helicopters collide off Hawaii with 12 people aboard.” 1-15-2016.

 

Narrative Information:

 

Jan 16, AP: “Rescuers battled winds of up to 23 mph and waves up to 30 feet as they searched for 12 Marines who are missing after two helicopters they were in crashed off the Hawaiian island of Oahu. The winds and the waves complicated the search, possibly pushing debris beyond the 2 mile search area….

 

“The Coast Guard was notified late Thursday of the crash by a civilian who saw the aircraft flying then disappear and a fireball. Someone else reported a flare in the sky, Carr [USCG spokesman] said. It was not clear if the fireball and the flare were the same.

 

“The Marines were alerted when the CH-53E helicopters carrying six crew members each failed to return to their base at Kaneohe Bay following a nighttime training mission. Hours later, a Coast Guard helicopter and C-130 airplane spotted debris 2 1/2 miles off of Oahu….

 

“The transport helicopters were part of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing at Marine Corps Base Hawaii. Known as Super Stallions, they are the U.S. military’s largest helicopter, capable of carrying a light armored vehicle, 16 tons of cargo or a team of combat-equipped Marines, according to a Marine Corps website.

 

“The Coast Guard initially reported that the choppers had collided, but Marine Capt. Timothy Irish said Friday that he did not know if the accident was a collision. The helicopters normally carry four crew members, but this particular flight also carried one or two instructor trainers, Irish said. He did not know if they were teaching the crew or just observing.

 

“Ty Hart, a 21-year-old from Oregon, was in one of the helicopters, the Oregonian reported Friday night. The newspaper said Hart lives on base in Hawaii with his wife….

 

“The family of Capt. Kevin Roche believes he was one of the Marines aboard the helicopters….” (AP (A. McAvoy). “High Surf Complicating Hawaii Search for Missing Marines.” 1-16-2016.)

 

Jan 20: “After five days without finding any survivors, the Coast Guard suspended its search for 12 Marines who were missing since Jan. 14 when their two CH-53 helicopters crashed off Oahu…. Searchers discovered some of the wreckage from the helicopters on the ocean floor about two miles offshore in roughly 325 feet of water…

 

“The two CH-53s that crashed came from Helicopter Squadron 463, Marine Aircraft Group 24, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing from Marine Corps Base Hawaii. The Marines have been identified as:

 

Maj. Shawn M. Campbell,      41,       College Station, Texas.

Capt. Brian T. Kennedy,        31,       Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Capt. Kevin T. Roche,            30,       St. Louis, Missouri.

Capt. Steven R. Torbert,         29,       Florence, Alabama.

Sgt. Dillon J. Semolina,          24,       Chaska, Minnesota.

Sgt. Adam C. Schoeller,         25,       Gardners, Pennsylvania.

Sgt. Jeffrey A. Sempler,         22,       Woodruff, South Carolina.

Sgt. William J. Turner,           25,       Florala, Alabama.

Cpl. Matthew R. Drown,        23,       Spring, Texas.

Cpl. Thomas J. Jardas,            22,       Fort Myers, Florida.

Cpl. Christopher J. Orlando,   23,       Hingham, Massachusetts.

Lance Cpl. Ty L. Hart,            21,       Aumsville, Oregon.”

 

(Marine Corps Times (Jeff Schogol). “Search for 12 Marines ends without finding survivors after helicopters crash.” 1-20-2016.)

 

Sources

 

Associated Press (Audrey McAvoy). “High Surf Complicating Hawaii Search for Missing Marines.” 1-16-2016. Accessed 1-16-2016: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/marine-helicopters-crash-off-oahu-search-underway-36328744

 

Associated Press (Audrey McAvoy). “Marine Helicopters Collide off Oahu, Search Under Way.” 1-15-2016. Accessed 1-15-2016 at: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/coast-guard-marine-helicopters-collide-off-hawaiis-oahu-36310170

 

CBS News/Assoc. Press. “Marine helicopters collide off Hawaiian coast.” 1-15-2016. Accessed 1-15-2016 at: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/possible-marine-helicopter-collision-off-hawaii/

 

Marine Corps Times (Jeff Schogol). “Search for 12 Marines ends without finding survivors after helicopters crash.” 1-20-2016. Accessed 1-21-2016 at: http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/story/military/2016/01/19/search-12-marines-ends-without-finding-survivors/79037672/

 

USA Today (Doug Stanglin). “2 Marine helicopters collide off Hawaii with 12 people aboard.” 1-15-2016. Accessed 1-15-2016 at: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2016/01/15/2-marine-helicopters-collide-off-hawaii-12-people-aboard/78839118/