Whidbey Island EA-6B down in Eastern Washington

The Inspector · **Posted:** Mon Mar 11, 2013 7:12 pm

An EA-6B based @ NAS Whidbey Island crashed this morning on the Palouse near Odessa WA. while on a routine training mission leaving a large crater in a plowed field, small bits of wreckage but no major parts are visible and all three crew fatally injured. No announcement yet as to which VAQ squadron the aircraft came from yet pending notification of next of kin.

StudeDave · **Posted:** Mon Mar 11, 2013 7:53 pm

I have seen multiple news articles saying the mishap aircraft was from VAQ-129.

R.I.P. to the crew.
Prayers for the family, friends, and all who knew the crew.
I lost five squardon mates (from HSL-47) 15 years and five days ago- I know your pain.

JohnB · **Posted:** Mon Mar 11, 2013 8:55 pm

That area of Lincoln county is a regular low lever area for Whidby aircraft (I've seen EA-6s out there myself) and McChord C-17s.

It's a reminder that military crews are always in harm's way.

RIP to the aviators and I hope their familes and friends find peace.

The Inspector · **Posted:** Mon Mar 11, 2013 9:18 pm

StudeDave wrote:

I have seen multiple news articles saying the mishap aircraft was from VAQ-129.

R.I.P. to the crew.
Prayers for the family, friends, and all who knew the crew.
I lost five squardon mates (from HSL-47) 15 years and five days ago- I know your pain.

GEEZ! 129 just moved here from the East Coast after the Enterprise docked for the last time. Many years ago an A-6B from Whidbey clobbered an ag duster over in that area.

daveymac82c · **Posted:** Mon Mar 11, 2013 11:49 pm

My old flying partner from commercial flight school joined the Marines and was stationed at Whidby. He also flew Prowlers. I certainly hope he was not involved. Regardless, my heart goes out to the airmen lost, and to their families and friends.

Peace,

David M

StudeDave · **Posted:** Tue Mar 12, 2013 1:05 am

The Inspector wrote:

GEEZ! 129 just moved here from the East Coast after the Enterprise docked for the last time. Many years ago an A-6B from Whidbey clobbered an ag duster over in that area.

Wait, what? -129 (like most all the Qs') has been at NAS WI for just about it's entire life.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VAQ-129

As for the crop duster bump and run- that was an A-6E. I remember that. I was stationed at NAS WI (VA-128) when it happened. I think it was a bird from VA-95, was it not...?

B 25 C · **Joined:** Sun Feb 13, 2011 12:05 pm **Posts:** 166

Sad news R.I.P. My prayers to Family and Friends.

SaxMan · **Posted:** Tue Mar 12, 2013 12:27 pm

StudeDave wrote:

The Inspector wrote:

GEEZ! 129 just moved here from the East Coast after the Enterprise docked for the last time. Many years ago an A-6B from Whidbey clobbered an ag duster over in that area.

Wait, what? -129 (like most all the Qs') has been at NAS WI for just about it's entire life.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VAQ-129

As for the crop duster bump and run- that was an A-6E. I remember that. I was stationed at NAS WI (VA-128) when it happened. I think it was a bird from VA-95, was it not...?

I think he meant VAQ-209, which was recently transferred to the West Coast from JSB Andrews and was re-equipping with the EA-18G. One of their EA-6 Prowlers was nice enough to do a fly-by for our cruise ship one evening on our way back to Baltimore.

The Inspector · **Posted:** Tue Mar 12, 2013 12:55 pm

SaxMan wrote:

StudeDave wrote:

The Inspector wrote:

GEEZ! 129 just moved here from the East Coast after the Enterprise docked for the last time. Many years ago an A-6B from Whidbey clobbered an ag duster over in that area.

Wait, what? -129 (like most all the Qs') has been at NAS WI for just about it's entire life.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VAQ-129

As for the crop duster bump and run- that was an A-6E. I remember that. I was stationed at NAS WI (VA-128) when it happened. I think it was a bird from VA-95, was it not...?

I think he meant VAQ-209, which was recently transferred to the West Coast from JSB Andrews and was re-equipping with the EA-18G. One of their EA-6 Prowlers was nice enough to do a fly-by for our cruise ship one evening on our way back to Baltimore.

YEP!

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Whidbey Island EA-6B down in Eastern Washington

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