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Taps
By John
Sad, sad day for the VMI family.
Navy identifies 3 aviators killed in crash off carrier.
The three aviators aboard a radar plane that crashed off the coast of North Carolina were declared dead Friday after the Navy called off its search for survivors.Atlantic Fleet Naval Air Force spokesman Mike Maus identified the men as Lt. Cameron N. Hall, 30, of Natchitoches, La., Lt. Ryan K. Betton, 31, of Collinsville and Lt. j.g. Jerry R. Smith, 26, of Greenville, Maine.
Betton and Hall were instructors with Norfolk-based Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 120; Smith was a student.
The weather and seas were calm Wednesday night as the E-2 Hawkeye practiced carrier takeoffs and landings from the aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman. The plane crashed around 11 p.m., shortly after its catapult launch off the carrier deck.
Maus said searchers covered 2,100 square miles of sea and found some debris from the twin-engine turboprop plane.
“Most of it was pretty small pieces,” Maus said. “The majority of it apparently sunk.”
The water there is about 3,000 feet deep, he said. An investigating board will determine whether it’s necessary to recover the wreckage to determine the cause of the crash, Maus said.
Lt. Ryan K. Betton, left, Lt. JG Jerry R. Smith, middle and Lt. Cameron N. Hall
Betton – whose nickname was “Tater” – graduated in 1998 from the Virginia Military Institute, according to a statement from his family. He had been an instructor pilot with the Norfolk squadron since 2005, after a tour aboard the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk with Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 115.
VMI is such a tightly knit family that any and all losses, no matter how distant (I never knew Ryan), feel close and personal.
Thoughts and prayers are with the family, as Tater slips the surly bonds of this earth, to touch the face of God.
LtCol P adds... Very sad news. The Roanoke Times has some more detail about Tater and his family.
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Comments
Amen. To all my ground brethren, let us remember that although we might bitch about the aviators' flight pay and bonuses, there's a reason why they get that money. Don't begrudge them those privileges, because some will pay a stiff price in return.
Godspeed Lt's, Godspeed. My prayers are for their families......
My condolences, as well.
{salute}
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I have commented before about the dangers inherent in our business, especially the daily part of training, which is what these guys were doing.
When you are out sending guys into combat on a daily basis, it is almost expected. It is not so much expected when you are operating out of your home port.
My heart goes out to their families.
(John - I will send you a separate note.)