USMC IDs Marines killed in crash
Stars & Stripes reports that the four Marines killed in the crash of a CH-53E Super Stallion from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 465, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California have been identified;
Capt. Samuel A. Schultz, 28, of Huntington Valley, Pa., a pilot assigned to HMH-465. He joined the Corps in May 2012. His previous duty stations included Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla.; Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas; and MCAS New River, N.C. He previously deployed with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit.
First Lt. Samuel D. Phillips, 27, of Pinehurst, N.C., a pilot assigned to HMH-465, in the Marines since August 2013. His previous duty stations included Naval Air Stations Pensacola and Corpus Christi and MCAS New River.
Gunnery Sgt. Derik R. Holley, 33, of Dayton, Ohio, a CH-53 helicopter crew chief assigned to HMH-465, in the Marines since November 2003. Previous duty stations included Marine Corps Base Quantico and MCAS Miramar. He had deployed to Iraq twice in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, to Japan as part of the Unit Deployment Program and with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit.
Lance Cpl. Taylor J. Conrad, 24, of Baton Rouge, La., a CH-53 helicopter crew chief assigned to HMH-465. He joined the Marine Corps in May 2016.
“The hardest part of being a Marine is the tragic loss of life of a fellow brother-in-arms,” Col. Craig Leflore, commanding officer of Marine Aircraft Group 16, said in a Marine Corps statement.
Category: Marine Corps
RIP Marines
RIP
Fair winds and following seas, Marines.
I am terribly sorry for the loss of these lives, but I am getting sick and tired of tragedies involving this bird. A cursory look at its safety record leaves one aghast. And if this turns out to be another mechanical failure traceable to design flaw or a worn part, then it was not just a tragedy, as the colonel said, but an avoidable tragedy.
Agreed. These birds are dangerous enough and not really meant to fly. I want to know the cause of the crash. I think they should all be grounded, if this is a consistent pattern, until the problem is found and solved.
Meantime, rest in peace, Marines. Too young, too soon.
CH-53s?
CH-53E. The Corps has been upgrading the Es to the CH-53K spec for several years now. Guess the mishap bird is one of the holdouts.
Rest well, Marines.
One of my young friends, and Eagle Scout and USNA grad, has piloted the Super Stallion for years – including a tour in Iraq.
A tight-knit community of outstanding Marines.
Sounds like a guy I went through the USMC Aerial Nav School with back in the late ’90s. He got tapped for the USNA, graduated in ’04, and ended up as a 53 driver. IIRC he was an Eagle Scout. By any chance is his name Steve Lantz?
Rest in peace Marines. God be with and comfort your families.
Rest in Peace, Marines.
Rest in Peace.
Peace to your families.
With Respect.
Rest In Peace Warriors, you were taken to Valhalla before your time.