WHAT: CRASH OF A U.S. AIR FORCE C-130 HERCULES
WHERE: 10 Kilometers North of Baghdad, Iraq
WHEN: 1222 Hours 27 June 2008
WHY: "Uncommanded Power Loss after takeoff" . . . no shit - I hope it wasn't a COMMANDED power loss. (thanks Mike the Marine - see comments below)
HOW MANY: At least nine that I can count . . . and one Big Iron Bird!
By all accounts this should have been it for everybody on board . . . instead Tail # 60412 dug a 600 yard furrow in the dirt and came to rest intact - all aboard cheated death.
The crew leaves the C-130 after crash landing - it is 1222 hours 27 June 2008.
A hasty perimeter is set up to establish security until help arrives.
The Iraqi Police arrive at the crash scene. Command Sergeant Major Miller meets the Iraqi Police to explain what happened.
THE passengers are evacuated by helicopter. Staying behind are 8th PSYOP Battalion Commander, Colonel Ceroli, LT. Colonel Goldsmith, CSM Miller And . . .
. . . two members of the Asymmetric Warfare Group. They will recover weapons, night vision & other sensitive gear - and await U.S. ground forces
Half of the nose gear that was sheared off at landing.
Other half of the nose gear - this "landing" was beyond engineering limits
Ladder To flight deck in left of frame. Deck is pushed up in the center & split down the middle. The landing was rough.
Close-up of split in the deck. Dust filled the cabin through this split, filled the ship, making it hard to breath or see until emergency exits were opened within a minute of landing.
Wider view of the interior damage - a miracle that anyone survived.
Landing gear forced up into fuselage with doors torn off
Port side emergency exit hatch near flight deck.
Iraqi Police with U.S. advisers were first on the scene. They unloaded for the C-130 crew.
Stryker Infantry Company from U.S. 25th Infantry Division arrives to secure the site.
Preparations are made for transport of personnel, weapons, sensitive items and equipment back to Baghdad.
A Fort Bragg & Pope Air Force Base Aircraft From Which Unit Commander, Colonel Michael Ceroli and his men probably jumped by parachute in training. Never Again will they jump Tail # 60412 - this Hercules is a complete loss.
SGT Washington From The Stryker Company snapped this photo to document the Moment: L-R: 2X Asymmetric Warfare Group Personnel, CSM Miller, LTC Goldsmith, COL Michael Ceroli and C-130 Tail # 60412
