Helicopter crash in Kuwait kills 12

[thedrifter]

Helicopter crash in Kuwait kills 12

From Jamie McIntyre
CNN
Friday, March 21, 2003 Posted: 2:51 AM EST (0751 GMT)


WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A U.S. Marine CH-46 helicopter crashed early Friday in Kuwait, killing all 12 people aboard, the first coalition fatalities of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Pentagon officials said.

The 12 aboard included eight British military personnel and four American crew members, Pentagon officials said.

The helicopter crashed 9 miles south of Kuwait's border with Iraq at 3:40 a.m. (7:40 p.m. ET Thursday).

There was no indication of hostile fire, officials said, saying it appeared the chopper went down because of some other problem, possibly mechanical.

The CH-46 is a dual-rotor assault helicopter mainly used to transport troops, supplies and equipment. Troop transport is the primary function of the helicopter, and movement of equipment and supplies is secondary.

The CH-46 has a maximum combat capacity of 14 troops and two aerial gunners.




Sempers,

Roger

Prayers to the family

[thedrifter]

NEWS RELEASE from the United States Department of Defense

No. 135-03
(703)697-5131(media)
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 21, 2003
(703)428-0711(public/industry)

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE INDENTIFIES MARINES KILLED IN CH-46 CRASH
The Department of Defense announced today the identities of four
U.S. Marines killed in a CH-46E helicopter crash on March 20 in
Kuwait. Killed were:

Maj. Jay Thomas Aubin, 36, of Waterville, Maine

Capt. Ryan Anthony Beaupre, 30, of Bloomington, Ill.

Cpl. Brian Matthew Kennedy, 25, of Houston, Texas

Staff Sgt. Kendall Damon Watersbey, 29, of Baltimore, Md.

Aubin was assigned to the Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics
Squadron - 1, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Corps Air Station
Yuma, Ariz. Beaupre, Kennedy and Watersbey were assigned to the
Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron - 268, 3d Marine Aircraft
Wing, Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Sempers,

Roger