Army: Enemy fire caused helicopter collision

[unhappycamper]

Army: Enemy fire caused helicopter collision
The Associated Press
Posted : Friday Feb 27, 2009 10:42:45 EST

FORT DRUM, N.Y. — Enemy fire caused two U.S. Army helicopters to collide in Iraq last month, killing four American pilots from Fort Drum, officials at the military post said Friday.

The Defense Department initially said the cause of the Jan. 26 crashes near Kirkuk didn’t appear to be an attack. But on Thursday, the Army said forensic evidence revealed that the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopters collided while evading enemy fire and crashed.

The details were announced after a memorial service for the soldiers at Fort Drum, where they were based.

“The two OH-58D helicopters were engaged and struck by hostile fire while conducting a reconnaissance mission,” Fort Drum spokeswoman Julie Cupernall said Friday.

According to a report from the U.S. Army Aircraft Shootdown Assessment Team and the Joint Combat Assessment Team, the aircraft were hit while maneuvering to evade the fire and collided, Cupernall said.


Rest of article at: http://armytimes.com/news/2009/02/ap_army_helo_crash_022709/%2e