Blackwater OH-6 Crash

[edcate]

Are you going to post the Blackwater Crew who was killed in Iraq yesterday in the OH-6 shoot down .??

[Admin]

I do not list private company helicopter deaths in crashes and/or shootdowns, only U.S. Army active-duty, national guard and reserves. If you wish I can list the Blackwater names in this forum.

Blackwater USA Helicopter deaths:
Arthur Laguna

, 52, of Sacramento, CA (former USA)
Ronald Johnson

, 45, of TN (retired USA Ranger)
Casey Casavant, 35, of VT (former USA Ranger)
Shane Stanfield, 25, of Cheyenne, WY (former USMC)
Steve Gernet, 42, of Colorado Springs, CO (retired USA)

[edcate]

Thanks, I was just wondering, I see why you want to keep it seperate.
ed

[Weldedwingman]

This website serves as a great tribute to Army Aircrews. Well done! I also understand the reasoning behind not posting civilians here. May I suggest that these men are still part of the Army Family just as Night Stalkers are always Night Stalkers assigned elsewhere. I won't attempt to talk you into posting incidents like these, but I will say these men were special, and the Army provided a place for them to develope their skills and put their trade to use. Unfortunately, we all get old and have to retire sometime. Sometimes not by choice. So maybe it won't seem to muddle your contribution if you could construct a special place for them. I'm sure there will be no objections from their distinguished company. Thank you for this superior website!

[ranger]

The CASA crash is listed under fixed wing? These men died doing what they were trained to do in the army and hit the retirement age. Then they desided to continue to serve the only way they knew how....going into harms way to help the cause of our great men and women in uniform. They are the angels in the out field so to speak.

[KevinZ]

Thanks for posting the info about these guys. Some Civllian helicopter losses merit the attention of this site in my view if the crew served "above the best" (not referring to just the Mother Rucker motto but rather to all our fighting forces on the gound). With so many losses lately, I regularly check in to see if I have lost any more of my former stick buddies or crew chiefs or medics...thanks for posting this information>

[vfwmichael]

I can understand what could develop if civilian type bird-down posts were included on the lists here, but there have been some good points made here in support of doing so.

I'm posting, though, to mention that anytime I used in the past "ex-Marine" my comrades would nail me quick and hard with the retort, "There are no ex-Marines. They are former Marines."

So I also use the same for former Army, Air Force, etc.

Figured I mention that before one of our Marine Comrades posted the same here.

.

[Warhawk 06]

art laguna was deployed to OIF III (2005) with my guard battalion as the company standardization instructor pilot (UH-60). He was still active in the California National Guard.

Your website is an awesome tribute to the American Aviator.


Warhawk 06

[Admin]

Due to popular demand, I will be adding a web page for "private contractor" aircraft as many of those were crewed by former Army aviators. The page will be accessible on the "Other A/C" web page.