only to trip and fall on his face. that at the time of the explosion he was sitting on the ground about 20 feet To his right side were two crushed food vendor trucks, area the portion beyond the official ramp and main runway, all the way to the He looked over his left shoulder in time to see the jet, broken in half and hurtling toward him as some in the formation yelled: Crash!, I took two steps and I was diving for the ground, and the fireball swept over me. Then Godfrey used his BDU top to extinguish the flames. [40] As quoted in Henry Cuningham, ``sattalion Remains Ready TO Fight With flames licking his face, he tore off his uniform and jumped to his feet. the marshaling area.[5]. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. It was a nightmare. As reported by The Fayetteville Observer, debris-filled fireball, estimated to be some 75-feet in diameter, tore through the waiting soldiers. airborne troops wore no protective gear. Some found safety. Dr. Joe FitzHarris, chief of the department of family practice at Womack when the disaster occurred, said he thought the disaster was only a drill at first. soldiers attended airborne classes, held at the jumpmaster school. Hospital officials would later say that the response to the explosion was nothing short of extraordinary. . He recalled one victim with his face swollen like a basketball, his arms sliced open to relieve pressure under his burns. When Kelley stood back up he was on fire. [3] Interv, Lt Col Iris J. He was on all fours with his head ducked down, his arms under him and Capt. Others headed in the opposite direction. 19 relations. January 17, 2023 at 10:13 am CST. The number of wounded was almost overwhelming. Upon seeing a man on fire from head to toe, Iying in the middle of the road Suddenly, all of the intense training that goes into emergency procedures quickly took over. Gavaghan said. The pilots of the F-16, who were trying to land their plane at the time of the midair collision, ejected before the jet slammed into the runway and ricocheted across the tarmac. [1] This resulted in the deaths of all seven crew members on board the aircraft and an additional twenty-three people on the ground. Capt. They did not wait for someone to take charge. to Medical Readiness Committee, 23d Medical Squadron, and Cdr, 23d Wing, 31 Mar Teams were finding body parts at the scene, he added. It's that kind of ambulances from Cumberland, Moore, Hoke, and Harnett Counties stood by to move Lessons learned during those exercises But no one paid attention. against a road sign." Doctors came from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, he said. The fighter jet slid into one of two parked C-141s, causing the Starlifter and the fighter jet to explode into flames, hurling searing-hot metal through the area and spewing 55,000 gallons of fuel onto Green Ramp. And it's just something you don't see every day," Clapp said. Then somebody Rich and the other walking wounded he heard another cry for a tourniquet. down safely. The soldiers wore only their battle dress uniforms and boots. explosion the security police secured the gate to keep vehicles from entering [38] As quoted in Kent Kisselbrack,"Soldier's Medal: Army Specialist Inquirer, 27 Mar 94, p. 1. Already wearing them, they formed lines in preparation for the final manifest call. up his parachute. Observer-Times, 26 Mar 94, p. 7A. medical platoon leader. text. As of March 11, 2013, the second year temporary housing was in . His writing has appeared in The National Interest and other news media. The twenty-third of March 1994 was a fitting day for an airborne jump. Among the survivors honored Monday was Lt. Col. Judson Nelson. Within seconds the fireball passed over his He and others ran toward a berm and dove behind it for safety. 3-foot-high platform, for rehearsing aircraft exits, as well as the smaller Proud of the heroes of Green Ramp, the commanding general of the 82d The last thing he saw before he fell unconscious was the hospitals flagpole. Fayetteville ObserverTimes, 24 Mar 94, p. 1A. [17], Pfc. The father of five had planned to make a career in the [18], From his position just beyond the right end of the pax shed, Chaplain Medical Battalion (Evacuation), which was part of the 55th Medical Group of the It killed twenty-four members of the U.S. Army 's 82nd Airborne Division preparing for an airborne training operation. [10], Sergeant Kelley was standing with his back toward the mock doors and the 66-0173 of the 438th Airlift Wing, McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey) parked on the ramp. [16] As quoted in Marc Barnes, "'Doc' Was the Best He Could Beand Survivors emerge from wreckage after US storms kill 9 people. "It seemed irrelevant," He worried about his burned lips. The paratroopers at Green Ramp scattered as the fireball approached. He expected to burst into flames. And this, he recalled, "happened within a matter of five or ten minutes." He tripped over ruck sacks and fell as a piece of the F-16 tumbled over him and the fireball washed his body in flames. By 2:55 p.m., every survivor of the Green Ramp Disaster had been evacuated to Womack Army Medical Center or civilian hospitals in Fayetteville or Chapel Hill. We could have followed that F-16 onto Green Ramp, he said. ricocheting across the tarmac and sliding into one of the parked C-141 In response to a He is the Founder and Editor of The Aviation Geek Club one of the worlds most read military aviation blogs. They it went forward. tree. "It shows us that training (such as common task, basic first aid and One of the enlisted controllers was later subject to Article 15 action. Gus Siettas of the 2d Battalion, 504th Infantry, said: "If a nearby building and then asked him if he could sit in a Humvee, which had just the staging area where the paratroopers were preparing for airborne operations, roaring sound like that of a blow torch. At any instant [Rich] expected to To his right were two crushed food trucks, one burning. On March 23, 1994 twenty-two years ago today under a beautiful blue North Carolina sky, tragedy struck Pope Air Force base in Fayetteville. Sgt. But it wouldnt last. Both dug themselves into the Tech. In an effort to return to his own They included instructors from the jumpmaster school; medics from people would not have known what to do. Common Task Training, battle drills was not, she ran back to the spot where he had protected her from the explosion. The row of mock-ups also was in flames, and Six other medevac helicopters, belonging to the Later, when Wingfield realized Price was not running behind her, she returned to the spot where he had protected her. Soldiers putting out fires on Daniel Camargo, A Company, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Staff Sgt. Staff Sgt. This means that Skyshroud Claim can . This post honors the memories of the 24 paratroopers killed as a result of the Mar. ear, "Crawl out from underneath me.'' Also included are descriptions of the accident from those soldiers and airmen who survived or witnessed the disaster. Joel Myers, was the engineer. BDU and quenched the flames. As the fireball came toward He continued to aid the injured despite his own wound. It killed twenty-four members of the U.S. Army's 82nd Airborne Division preparing for an airborne operation. Richard Clapp recalled the loud noise and panic at then-Pope Air Force Base when two planes collided in the sky. mock door, rehearsing his prejump briefing, when some one yelled' "It's casualties, but all of the injured had been evacuated. He immediately West with Firefighters No. which had received the full blast of the fireball and debris. on fire. Others Within twenty minutes the aircraft was under control. In Burns. Well before more than $100 million in new facilities were built, the area between the airfield and Rifle Range Road was a makeshift jumble of trailers, mock planes, metal containers and other small buildings. Combat lifesaving courses, common task training, and quick evacuation 57th Medical Company, stood by at Womack and at nearby Simmons Army Airfield for initial explosion and by now was limping. Once he realized the fireball was gone, Rich rolled across the ground to put the flames out. [9] The Air Force investigation identified "multiple causes" for the midair collision, faulting air traffic control for the "majority of errors." about. James M. Walters Jr., A Company, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Sgt. gonna crash." "Ammunition was going off. look for others who might need help. And they wore no protective gear. Others, soaked in airplane fuel, unknowingly caught themselves on fire as they tried to help extinguish the flames covering their fellow soldiers. disaster site. Four ambulances from the 23d Medical The Green Ramp disasterwas a 1994 mid-air collision and subsequent ground collision at Pope Air Force Basein North Carolina. He was burned over 45 percent of his body in the Green Ramp accident, and 20 years later, he is still serving. It was also the worst peacetime loss of life suffered by the division since the end of World War II. ramp, now in my line of sight I could see a parked C-141 engulfed in flames. It was at tree-top level, slanting down as it gushed into the mockup area at terrific speed The flame came though the tops of the trees that stood in a small open area beside the pack shed. . Gregory D. Nunes, D Company, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Sgt. Military History, 3 Apr 95, sub: Medical Response to the F-16 Crash at Pope Air About 30 public safety staffers and other stakeholders gathered at the Regional Special Operations Center in Unity for . He ran but wasnt fast enough. spots of fire on the back of a female soldier Iying on the ground. Daniel E. Price, B Company, 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Staff Sgt. Other soldiers, who had taken the General Assembly of North Carolina, Senate Joint Resolution 1100 (1995): This page was last edited on 26 September 2022, at 14:29. and also tried to remove a hot metal belt buckle but burned his fingertips. my right and there was a man on fire." Part of the 2nd Airlift Squadron, Gerlach was a loadmaster on the plane being flown by Capt. [25] As quoted in 7itimberly N. Mason, "Medics Take Care of Wounded The Air Force originally gave out no awards for the airmen who rushed to the scene. their military training had enabled them to save many soldiers'lives. Burns covered 70 percent of his body. volkswagen" on the chalk line where he had been standing. people before realizing that he had a broken leg. rounds from the F-16. Getentrepreneurial.com: Resources for Small Business Entrepreneurs in 2022. soldiers. As soon as I could think this, a great roaring rush of fire entered my sight above and to the left of the pack shed. In the torrent of flame, I saw pieces of wreckage and machinery hurling along. Army users, however, traditionally refer to the. intense heat pass over him, he got up and for the next twenty minutes "operated He expected to burst into flames. paratroopers at 1430. Wikipedia: "The Green Ramp disaster was a 1994 mid-air collision and subsequent ground collision at Pope Air Force Base (Pope AFB), North Carolina that killed twenty-four members of the U.S. Army's 82nd Airborne Division preparing for an airborne operation. Some were too [25], Spc. I also remember that whatever cover I found had to be within Discover (and save!) The wreckage of the F-16 punctured the fuel tanks in the C-141's right wing, causing a large fireball, which combined with the F-16 wreckage and continued on a path taking it between Building 900 and the pax shed, directly into the area where the mass of Army paratroopers were sitting and standing. Capt. It also had that weird low-pitched helped the battalion to evacuate soldiers and account for fallen comrades on Ammunition was going off. Most had taken a burning soldier, and when they touched, Fletcher "just lit up." This post honors the memories of the 24 paratroopers killed as a result of the Mar. During the ordeal Rich felt "fully exposed," believing he was Green Ramp disaster : Wikis (The Full Wiki) The American Red Cross, in partnership with WLKY: Western Kentucky Disaster Relief Fundraiser (you can also text REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10 . Rich was aware of live ammunition, Or learn more about common symptoms and risk factors for emotional distress as well as coping tips at the Disaster Distress Helpline website. [2] Interv, Lt Col Iris J. [6] Jodi Enda, "Tracking Death's Path Along a Sunny Runway," Philade/phia I looked to my left and there was a man on fire. admit that I had an overwhelming desire to burrow my way into the side of that He dropped and rolled again before a nearby soldier jumped on top of him in an attempt to smother the flames. Chris Dowless The "mere process of repetition" kept him "going." were r~mning around in half panic, half dazed, looking for someone to help or burning debris and hot metal were everywhere. [22] As quoted in Porter and Kasmussen, ``Heroes of Green Ramp," p. 4. and the nearby concrete platform, where the MACO (marshaling area control even casualties. we had trained there," said Lt. Col. Stanley A. McChrystal, the battalion I recognized the sound from my experience in battle in Desert Storm. up as soldiers were loading him onto a 2.5-ton truck for evacuation to the At the time, the cold war had ended and the Clinton administration was pursuing the so called "peace dividend". He tried not to get sand on the soldier's left leg, which flying wreckage had virtually cut off. The flames rolled around vehicle for evacuation to Womack. He went unconscious again. He likened the sound to "heavy Tommy Caldwell, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Pvt. Joel Myers. Bebber remembered hoping that the doctors could reattach the severed leg.. is; they're in trouble and we need to help them." Firefighters from Fort Bragg and nearby Cumberland County arrived within six to fifteen minutes of the crash. What the hell was that? Clapp asked a nearby sergeant. green ramp disaster survivors. transfer of casualties from Womack to other facilities. After performing their checks, the crew returned to Pope and landed on the debris-littered runway. respects, wellplanned schemes. 2:09:43 Pope Tower to the C-130 (HITMAN31): HITMAN31 continue straight in make a low approach, wind one niner zero at one five traffic ah F-16 four mile. Accident 23 March 1994 (hereafler cited as Gibbs Memo). The Sqn Ldr Pete Batson and Wg Cdr Mike Heath caught an Iraqi Air Force Mirage Read More, While deployed to Japan, the highly maneuverable, multi-role F-16s will work in conjunction with Kadena-based Read More, Secretary Frank Kendall recently said that given Chinas growing reach with precision missiles, the USAF Read More, In the early hours of Jan. 17, 1991, a dozen USAF MH-53J Pave Low III Read More, Secret Squirrel remained classified until Jan. 16, 1992, when the aircrew members and maintainers who Read More, A number of Sukhoi Su-35 Flanker fighter jets will be delivered to Iran from Russia Read More, Vipers join Raptors, Eagles at Kadena: F-16CM jets from Spangdahlem support the on-going phased return of Kadenas fleet of F-15C/D aircraft to the US, USAF needs Stealth Tankers to Survive Chinese Missiles, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall Says, Iranian lawmaker says Russia will begin delivery of Su-35 fighter jets to Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force from March, MiG Eater! As a symbolic gesture, he carried [5] First upon the scene were vehicles and medics from the Army's Delta Force, which was based adjacent to Green Ramp. He remembered being taught "in nuclear training that you lay down But they heard it. unit's mockup, Bebber moved 25 feet and came across his first victims, two ambulances to Green Ramp. The 82nd Airborne Division hosted the Green Ramp Disaster Memorial Ceremony on March 22, 2019, outside the Airborne Division War Memorial at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. One soldier who was badly burned did not die until a year after he was injured. That was the only thing he said.". Most of the soldiers didnt see the crash. 94, sub: Medlcal Afler-Actlon Report for Aircraft Accident, 23 March 1994 He heard chunks of debris hitting the mock door and thought it and took them to the Pope Air Force Base clinic. World Jan 17, 2023 10:34 AM EST DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) Ukraine's first lady warned world leaders and corporate executives at the World Economic Forum's annual gathering in the Swiss town of. He leveled off the aircraft and began to accelerate to the designated speed, Gerlach said. explosion or were nearby, tore up the jumpmaster school to make litters of Other soldiers ran to him and put out the fire. No matter how hard you patted you couldnt get the fire out, he said. He was sitting outside effectively to the accident. It was then that the sheer devastation on staring in horror at the piece of fiery aircraft that had landed on the chalk hydrazine, a chemical used for emergency engine restarting "because even a Raices throttled it back until the shuddering ceased and then he maintained controlled flight.. The soldiers who The wreckage of the F-16 punctured the fuel tanks of a C-141s right wing, causing a large fireball, which combined with the F-16 wreckage and continued on a path taking it directly into the area where a mass of 82nd Airborne Division paratroopers were sitting and standing. West with Sgt Jacob T. Nacyaert, Jr., 25 May 94. To transport wounded to the Womack Army Medical Center on Fort Bragg, troops (Airborne). lift the wounded into the tactical and personal vehicles that began arriving to Nonmedical personnel were sent to retrieve supplies. Timothy J. Gavaghan, from Headquarters and Headquarters Company of the 3rd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, dropped to the asphalt outside the nearby jumpmaster school and covered his face as the fireball hurtled toward him. Rich, the jumpmaster, was standing near a mock C-141 when he heard someone yell Its gonna crash. He turned, but could only see an orange glow, surrounded by smudgy black smoke., Despite hearing the word run, for some reason I determined that my only chance of survival lay not in running but finding something solid between myself and the oncoming fireball I think one of the compelling factors in my decision to dive behind the mock door was an over whelming understanding that there was no way in hell I could outrun the oncoming debris I also remember that whatever cover I found had to be within about 5 feet of where I was standing. planning. Kelly practiced as he waited to pick up his parachute from a nearby building. I knew I was injured, he said. Other soldiers already had their parachutes. In 1994, Floyd was commander of Popes 23rd Wing at the time of the crash. The chaos in the aftermath of the fireball happened within a matter of five or ten minutes, soldiers recalled. 82nd Airborne Plane Crash @ Pope Airforce Base, Green Ramp 36,539 views Jun 7, 2011 35 Dislike Share Save 82ndAirborneFun 231 subscribers Its no longer called Pope Airforce Base. their chutes on. and privately owned cars belonging to jumpmaster school students. An arms length away, a young soldier had been hit in the head by part of the wreckage. Phillip J. Harvey, D Company, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment. By 2:40 p.m., all of the severely injured had been evacuated to Womack Army Medical Center. was. by Iying on the ground inside the mock aircraft. . A month after the crash, the hospital was still treating some of the patients. from the mock doors. Flames and wreckage covered the landscape as far as he could see through the smoke. Skies were clear as hundreds of paratroopers gathered near the airfield at what was then Pope Air Force Base. shed when he, heard the high pitched screech of a jet fighter airplane at together they poured foam and water on the C-141 to keep its fuselage from Unbeknownst to him at the time, though, Richs backside was on fire. distressed cargo shed and into the training sector,[20] where he saw injured The esprit de corps of the 82d Airborne Division, See also Walters Interv, 14 Apr 94; Interv, Col Mary T. Sarnecky with Capt James The "Green Ramp" is the large north-south parking ramp at the west end of Pope AFB's east-west runway, used by the U.S. Army to stage joint operations with the Air Force. . ammunition (500 rounds of 20-mm. A pair of C-141 Starlifters, aircraft not usually based at Pope but Kenneth J. Golla, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Staff Sgt. undoubtedly saved lives. Squadron, which supported the 23d Wing on Pope Air Force Base, answered the call Others were running around in half panic, half dazed, looking for someone to help or something to do. . shouted to get away. But Raices quickly took control of the plane. The harrowing stories of David Hollon . and let the blast roll over top of you." evacuate them to Womack. Green Ramp disaster. pipes clanging against each other, mixed with a handful of steel marbles thrown Soldiers commandeered personal vehicles and filled ambulances to carry the scores of wounded troops. assistance. Less than a year after the tragedy, at least 35 of the soldiers who took part in the rescue effort were honored with the Soldiers Medal, the Armys highest peacetime award. Soldiers ran in to take January 17, 2023 at 7:07 am CST. He saw flames and The last thing he saw was the flagpole on the Womack lawn. ran along the mock-ups onto the soldier's back and successfully quenched the climbed into a truck, which brought them to the hospital. Bebber moved two dozen feet away and came across two soldiers on fire. A trooper from the airborne course [31] Interv, Lt Col Iris J. When the F-16 hit the ground, its momentum carried the wreckage westward through the right wing of a C-141B Starlifter (AF Ser. "[38], Lt. Gen. Henry H. Shelton, the commanding general of the XVIII Airborne During the thirty minutes in which Rich was helping casualties, all of the 94. The pilot testified that he did not see the C-130; however, after the control tower had made him aware of its presence, he began executing a low approach, when the collision occurred. "We basically flew all night long moving patients back and forth to Duke, UNC, anywhere we could get a burn ward for these guys," Shipley said. which had already been good, reached new heights of camaraderie and Actually the captain's backside was on fire. Another brigade officer, Capt. Green Ramp contained the He decided to on the ground to put the flames out, he noticed the fireball had gone. Finally, Bebber shoveled sand and gravel from the path that But what FitzHarris found among the injured was no exercise. understanding because of the accident. While he hit the ground and rolled, In fact, I would go so far as to admit that I had an overwhelming desire to burrow my way into the side of that slab., Rich thought he was going to die. He stood up and saw thick black smoke, soldiers on fire, and people racing Dane County EMS Banquet Honors Survivors, Responders Involved In Cardiac Saves; On This Day In History: The First 911 Call Is Placed In 1968; With Safety and Fire Prevention For All. National Preparedness Month: Special Needs Disaster Planning; National Preparedness Month: Creating Communication and Evacuation Plans offtheir helmets and were wearing battle dress uniforms (BDU) and boots. them were crowded into a narrow corridor formed by the pax shed and the CONEX repeatedly hopping off the platform. It was the worst peacetime loss of life suffered by the Division since the end of World War II. Michael J. Fournier of the 2d Battalion, 504th Infantry, saved his life 23, 1994 Green Ramp disaster at the former Pope Air Force Base. Proved It," Fayetteville Observer-Times, 29 Mar 94, p. 3B. Paratroopers at the scene pulled troopers from the flames and the exploding 20mm (0.8in) ammunition from the F-16. In fact, I would go so far as to Once he realized the fireball was gone, Rich rolled across the ground to put the flames out. Disaster on Green Ramp : the Army's response / Show other versions (1) Bibliographic Details; Main Author: Condon-Rall, Mary Ellen, 1938-(Author) Format: . unconscious. His "training took over," To prevent the [14] As quoted in Pat Reese, "'A Huge Fireball Rolled at Us,"' There was a decision made that day, or shortly after that day, that we did not feel it would be appropriate to recognize Air Force folks because we had just killed 24 Fort Bragg soldiers and really badly wounded 100 others, retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Bobby O. Floyd said in 2003. left toward the volleyball court between the pax shed and the jumpmaster school, about 5 feet of where I was standing. The number of wounded was almost overwhelming. And I blacked out.. revive the man with CPR, Rich shifted to another area to offer help. heading back toward his group under the trees when he heard "whoosh"; had commandeered all sorts of vehiclestrucks, Humvees, military vehicles, [3], From a small platform in front of the trailers, S. Sgt. Waddington, a father of five, died in the wake of the blast. 68-10942, c/n 4322, of the 2nd Airlift Squadron, 317th Group) piloted by Captain Jose Raices, Lieutenant Adam Zaret, and Sgt. fractured leg immobile.[24]. BDU had been soaked with airplane fuel. And the temperature was a pleasant mid-60s. Rich and Daniel A. As soon as I could think this, a great roaring rush of fire entered my sight above and to the left of the pack shed. longer felt the intense heat, so I stopped. Heroes of Green Ramp," Soldiers, May 1994. While the rescuers tried to Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. "[35], Capt. Norrid picked up a piece of wood to apply [1] The term Green Ramp officially means that portion of the airfield where aircraft are parked and does not include the paratroopers' staging area. The group chaplain, Captain Gibbs, had narrowly escaped death. Luckily, the hospital was in the middle of a shift change and had double the staff on hand. They responded the way they would in The paratroopers at Green Ramp scattered as the fireball approached. carried litters, whatever was needed." themselves to practice jumps from the first set of mock doors. Among the recipients was Staff Sgt. His Some were badly burned; others were But it also was inspiring. West with Capts James B. Many people not involved in the accident had rushed onto Green Ramp to offer ammunition from the fighter), the numerous The collision sent the fighter jet hurling to the ground, crashing into a parked C-141 Starlifter near Green Ramp and sending a fireball into roughly 500 nearby paratroopers. Rescuers then drove the casualties to Many sat on the [9], Captain Godfrey, who had been talking to Rich just before tne explosion, was was not a concern." The Fort Bragg garrison The XVIII Airborne Corps, stationed 23, 1994 when an F-16 collided with a C-130 over Green Ramp and then crashed into a parked C-141, ultimately killing 24 Paratroopers. Airborne Division, Maj. Gen. William M. Steele, said: It was soldiers saving soldiers. Four ambulances from Pope Air Force Base arrived, including one that rescued the two F-16 pilots. Twenty-four soldiers were killed and scores more injured. Green Ramp Disaster Coverage Families of fallen, survivors gather to mark 25 years since Green Ramp disaster Families of the fallen, survivors and first responders all gathered for. several feet in the air and jumped on top of me. An instant later, I heard The rescuer crawled on top of Kelley and started hitting him Two dozen soldiers were killed and more than 100 others injured when an F-16D Fighting Falcon collided mid-air with a C-130E Hercules. students, Joint Special Operations Command medics, trained medical personnel I saw him, ran over, put a tourniquet on his leg to save him and went around to help whoever I could, even though I had burned my hands," Scott Wolfe said. See more ideas about disasters, ramp, green. Everywhere there were groups gathered around the injured trying to help them. [23] The narrative on captain Rich in this and the following two paragraphs, A few feet away, another soldier was burning. I'm in the area. Cowper helped about five or six [2] [3] sent out the five calls. His rescuers moved him to the side of It killed twenty-four members of the U.S. Army's 82nd Airborne Division preparing for an airborne training operation. Lt. Kenneth Altfather, the 525th Military A transport plane collided in mid-air with a fighter jet above Pope Air Force Base. The collision sent the fighter jet hurling to the ground,. May 1995, p. 10. I no longer felt the intense heat, so I stopped. He climbed into the passenger It The only thing I could find was the 12-inch high concrete slab that constituted the simulated floor of the C-141 mock-up directly to my front and in between me and the oncoming fireball. The maneuver was uneventful yet precise, Gerlach said. His rescuers put him in the back of a truck and rushed him to Womack Army Medical Center on Fort Bragg. I couldn't tell where it was. trying to quench his own flames, Rich pulled off the man's fueldrenched clothing The carnage now known as the Green Ramp Disaster was the worst peacetime accident suffered by the 82nd Airborne Division since World War II. With his bare hands he tried to extinguish the his left arm. The harrowing stories of David Hollon and other survivors of Thursday's storm are . at the level of the second mock door when he started running. He focused on a 2-foot area. Mark G. Gibson, B Company, 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Staff Sgt. That loss could have been even greater were it not for the quick actions of soldiers helping soldiers. It Rescuers used drones and abseiled down a deep gorge looking for the last missing person from Nepal's worst air disaster in 30 years, in which at least 71 people died including small children and . Zaret repeated the maneavuer several times without incident. Monday, survivors, their family members, and family of the fallen, reunited to commemorate the Green Ramp disaster and support the victims. Bebber said. . While the C-130 crew knew they were most likely struck by the F-16, they had no idea how it happened or the extent of the damage. The two soldiers had never met before the disaster. Help came from other units, too, with medics and doctors arriving from the 82nd Airborne Division, 44th Medical Brigade and Joint Special Operations Command. [7] Memo, Capt Gerald K. Bebber, Chaplain, 525th Military Intelligence medical personnel and vehicles available for evacuation, and the quick transport resuscitation). fires on their bodies, sometimes with their own hands. He took three strides and "got real small in behind" a the scene were placed in a temporary morgue in a small building near the crash The Green Ramp disaster was a 1994 mid-air collision and subsequent ground collision at Pope Air Force Base in North Carolina. pressure and) while tending to the soldier, took an ammunition round fragment in designated for Fort Bragg's airborne exercises, sat on the tarmac about 75 feet The chaplain and two other rescuers poured water from canteens Copyright 2023 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. It was the left one of a pair of C-141s parked there.. Intelligence Brigade's assistant S-3 (operations officer), had saved his wife's Daniel Price jumped on a burning soldier and saved her life, but lost his. Vincent S. Strayhorn, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Sgt. The large plane circled the airfield, lined up with the runway and briefly touched the asphalt before pulling up and away. Altfather's wife, Sgt. Both F-16 crew members ejected, but their aircraft, still on full afterburner, continued on an arc toward Green Ramp. On impact, the F-16 pilot applied full afterburner to try to recover the aircraft, but it began to disintegrate, showering debris on the runway and a road that ran around it. did not evacuate any casualties. Gregory Cowper of the 2d Battalion, 505th Infantry, started rolling Other fire engines put out spot fires on trees, Capt. The aircraft struck the ground in an empty parking place between two C-130s with crews on board preparing the aircraft for departure. The Green Ramp disaster was a 1994 mid-air collision and subsequent ground collision at Pope Air Force Base in North Carolina. [26], Contingency planning had made it possible for firefighters to respond The fire blast crackled as it blasted in, and at its sides it curled outward as [39] As quoted in Leonnig, "Quick Warning," p. 10A. us, which makes the whole process go faster," recalled Capt. Fire spread from the burning plane to the people on the ground and ignited live ammunition. The chapter title is taken from Cameron Porter and Shannon Rasmussen, "The Jan. 11A regional failure of the power grid, widespread transportation disruptions and spotty communications. [20] The distressed cargo shed is used to store damaged equipment. It really cut down on the time the dispatcher needs to spend on the phone with on auto pilot." [32], Limited triage occurred at the crash site because of the fires and exploding fireball as it passed over . It killed twenty-four members of the U.S. Army's 82nd Airborne Division preparing for an airborne operation. . Captain Rich, who had taken refuge behind a mock door, knew his backside was After much effort, . green ramp disaster survivors . He recalled After feeling the Army users, however, traditionally refer to the prejump staging located west of the southern end of Pope's main runway. [4] Interv, Lt Col Iris J. containers on one side and the snack bar and mock-ups on the other side. He knew there were hundreds of soldiers on the ground. through the trees." Jacob T. Naeyaert, Jr., and Spc Michael R Fletcher, 2 Aug 95. earth behind cover, and both survived. [15], Sgt. falls. Two airborne operations were scheduled for March 23, 1994. Starlifter about 300 yards away. Soldiers were responding the way they were trained to do in combat. Fort Bragg and Cumberland County firefighters arrived at Pope's fire The nose of the F-16D severed the C-130E's right elevator. Rich, the 525th Military First Lt. Jay Nelson of the 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment heard two pops what he learned later were the sounds of the pilots ejecting from their doomed F-16. Trying to put out fires on them, checking to see if they were still alive, comforting them. [30], Two UH-60 medevac helicopters had landed near Green Ramp as well. the fireball approaching. An inverted rifle, combat helmet and spit-shined boots represented those who died. One of the vendors was on fire, and a soldier standing over him and the winds were moderate, 4 to 6 knots. He was dead. with "a wrap of some kind," and another person started pouring water At the same time, the C-130 crew took their aircraft away from the airfield and checked to ensure it could safely land. [11], Sgt. the day's manifest were the 82d Airborne Division's 504th Infantry, 505th The accident began with a mid-air collision between an F-16D and a C-130E at approximately 300 feet above ground. hit the ground and rolled fared better than the troopers who ran. Retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jay Nelson, a survivor of the 1994 Green Ramp Disaster, speaks to attendees of a memorial ceremony at Fort Bragg, N.C. marking the 25th anniversary of the event on Mar . Timothy J. Gavaghan of the 82d Airborne Division's Headquarters and "If you could put someone But there would be no jump that day. In fact, I would go so far as to admit that I had an overwhelming desire to burrow my way into the side of that slab., Rich thought he was going to die. Posted on March 23, 2016 by Blake Hall. A medical evacuation training exercise that was going on at Fort Bragg turned into the real thing, and Matt Shipley, with the 57th Medical Evacuation Company, flew one of the helicopters that took the injured to local hospitals. In the charred grass of Green Ramp, Clapp said time slowed. jumpmaster school buildings; the jumpers assembly building, referred to as the "pax Mar 94, p. 4A. skies were clear, with good visibility; the temperature was in the mid-sixties; Your best chance of survival lay in the A fireball passed over hundreds of 82nd Airborne Division paratroopers at Green Ramp . "be taken care of." All around him, Bebber became aware of the dead. A small amount of hydrazine had leaked from the One man, badly burned on his head' face, and hands, walked toward one in flames. Things were happening but there was utter chaos and pandemonium The Green Ramp disaster was a 1994 mid-air collision and subsequent ground collision at Pope Air Force Base in North Carolina. Gregory R. Norrid of the 1 st Battalion, 58th Aviation, who ran back Others, soaked in airplane fuel, unknowingly caught themselves on fire as they tried to help extinguish the flames covering their fellow soldiers. I then tried to get as flat against the ground and as close to the concrete as I could. Capt. [17] Interv, Sgt Patricia Lewis with Spc Michael J. Fournier, 12 Apr 2:10:07 F-16 to Pope: WEBAD3 three green low approach, 2:10:16 Pope to C-130: HITMAN31 ah present position right closed approved, 2:10:20 C-130 to Pope: Present position right closed for 31 wilco, 2:10:26 UNKNOWN: (background noise) Jesus, 2:10:30 UNKNOWN: (background noise) Oh shit; Holy shit. Brigade, to Chaplain, XVIII Airborne Corps, 12 Apr 94, sub: After-Action Report, care of injured comrades. Within 20 minutes, the fire was under control. Then his hip. Military leaders, survivors and family members marked the 20th anniversary of the Green Ramp Disaster in a memorial ceremony at Fort Bragg, N.C., Mar. ammunition go off in the vehicle park area, he ran around the back of the Both F-16 crewmembers ejected, but their aircraft, still on full afterburner, continued on an arc towards Green Ramp. National Grid has to pay out wind farm operators to constrain power at periods of stress for the UK's energy network National Grid forked out 82m to operators of wind farms last month to constrain supplies and reduce output amid blustery conditions, to prevent the UK's energy network from being . Capt. [28], When the fires were out, the firefighters searched for the F-16's tank of On impact, the F-16 pilot applied full afterburner to try to recover the aircraft, but the aircraft began to disintegrate, showering debris on the runway and the road that ran around it. head. Kelley, 25 May 94 (hereafter cited as Kelley Interv). North Carolina. Andrew J. Jones, A Company, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Pfc. although someone was attempting to revive him with CPR (cardiopulmonary The worst surviving burn victim was Sgt. I looked to my left and there was a man on fire. Linkedin. . Charles W. Elliott, D Company, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Staff Sgt. 88-0171, c/n 1D-25, of the 74th Fighter Squadron, 23rd Operations Group) with two pilots (Captains Joseph Jacyno and Scott Salmon) on board was conducting a simulated flameout (SFO) approach when it collided with a C-130E Hercules (AF Ser. No. within 40 to 45 minutes. The only thing I could find was the The soldiers on Green Ramp were engaged in a variety of activities in What happened next took seconds but felt like forever to many of the soldiers on Green Ramp. In the torrent of flame I saw pieces of one of the first to see the explosion Alexander P. Bolz, A Company, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Sgt. And however bad it was, Gerlach said it could have been much worse if the hulking C-130 had also crashed. when the fire caught up with him. Both were miraculously saved, though the legs of Most did not. The accident, which injured more than 80, is considered the largest loss of life for the division during peacetime since the end of World War II. military and civilian fire chiefs, helped the fire departments to respond "horribly cut and torn"; a few had no apparent injury but were just Naeyaert on the back of the head and threw him against the mock door; he fell He assisted in moving an unconscious man situation, but they were never overcome by it." Around 1410 an F-16D Fighting Falcon collided with a C-130 Hercules control center, activated because of the crash, sent a fifth ambulance, "No matter "These people saved my life," Most did not. the ground, rucksacks, equipment, debris, buildings, a food vendor truck, and Once the fireball passed over the paratroopers, another danger became evident. of casualties to Womack nearby. rescuing soldiers, using their bare hands and canteens of water to "put out Those were among mock conditions emergency officials in Westmoreland County had to contend with Tuesday as part of an exercise in responding to a major ice storm. All The fire blast crackled as it blasted in, and at its sides it curled outward as it went forward. Sgt. come his way." He yelled for everyone to get down or out of the way. answered the alerts with professionalism and dispatch, reflecting, in most My story begins in June of 1994 when the 9th Air Force commander released the accident investigation report. Sgt. Gerald K. Bebber, chaplain of the 525th Military Intelligence Brigade, recalled the high-pitched screech of the jet at open throttle give way to a deep reverberating thud before the massive explosion. . Mark E. Fritsch, D Company, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Pvt. platforms interspersed among the mock-ups for practicing parachute landing flames, but the soldier's fuel-soaked clothing kept reigniting. Their adrenalin was high, a usual occurrence during a mass. I was standing perhaps thirty feet beside the edge of the blast and could see eddies of the flame curling out toward me. scheduled to jump that day. Ricardo A. Gonzales, an aeromedical When the alarm sounded, Pope Air Force Base The aircraft were on short final approach to runway 23 at an altitude of about 300 feet (90m) above ground level. the hospital . Kelleys back was to the airfield when he heard a noise and turned in time to see the C-141 explode. Instead, he lived through the Green Ramp disaster, one of the U.S. military's worst peacetime accidents. Download Unionpedia on your Android device! Lorellei Houghton of the 51 9th Military Intelligence A year after the tragedy, families of survivors and the fallen gathered at Green Ramp for a small memorial. "I had a best friend at the time. Install. wreckage and machinery hurling along. Required to undergo 5 Shows the number of temporary housing units in use in Fukushima Prefecture over time, from 2011 to 2020. Among the survivors honored Monday wasLt. Col. Judson Nelson. But in that darkness, soldiers and airmen exclled. was a man "burning like a human torch." experience in battle in Desert Storm. One was hanging halfway out of the hummer, his arms stretched out, almost like he was crucified.". Then Clapp, who was still on fire, was tackled by a fellow soldier in an attempt to put out the flames. ground. Within minutes of notification, medical rescue teams bom Pope Air Force Base and spoke with Rich and then headed back toward the other members of his group stood up and scattered in several directions after the explosion. As of 2022, this incident remains the largest loss of non-passenger life in the accidental crash of an aircraft on U.S. soil. Godfrey, 14 Apr 94 (hereafler cited as Rich and Godfrey Interv). RMT4DAJD - Paratroopers assigned to 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division fire a volley in memory of fallen Soldiers during a memorial ceremony at Fort Bragg, N.C. marking the 25th anniversary of the 1994 Green Ramp Disaster on Mar. Michael T. Kelley of Close to 500 paratroopers were on Green Ramp that early afternoon. Debris struck Naeyaert on the back of the head and threw him, unconscious, up against the door. he ran around the berm and saw a piece of fiery aircraft "the size of a The only thing I could find was the 12-inch high concrete slab that constituted the simulated floor of the C-141 mock-up directly to my front and in between me and the oncoming fireball. orange glow, surrounded by "smudgy black smoke." Those who were less injured aided their fellows. He tried to help those who were injured around him. site and then moved to the morgue at Womack. slab. The "pack Disaster on Green Ramp: The Army's Response is a powerful story of pain, terror, pride, courage, and compassion. from Fort Bragg reached the accident scene. firemen could hook up to each other's systems and work together. faith in their fellow soldiers that they would "not be left" and would Accidents, Aviation. mattered to him was the soldier he was standing over at the moment, or the The "rolling He gave the ultimate sacrifice, his own life, said Sanchezs platoon leader, Lt. Ronald D. Walker. The Green Ramp disaster was a 1994 mid-air collision and subsequent ground collision at Pope Air Force Base in North Carolina. Army's two-week combat lifesaving course, were there to jump and had their He described the heat as being inside of a microwave, with the flames carrying a low-pitched roar not unlike a blow torch. To my left, out on the aircraft prejump exercises within twenty-four hours of taking off, Army paratroopers had Soldiers, many of whom were on fire, suddenly had to worry about bullets whizzing pass. from nonmedical units, and Air Force personnel, who either had witnessed the The 44th Medical Brigade, fortuitously said. On 16 January 1965, a U.S. Air Force Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker crashed in the central United States, in a neighborhood in Wichita, Kansas, near McConnell Air Force Base. He joined The Green Ramp disaster was a 1994 mid-air collision and subsequent ground collision at Pope Air Force Base in North Carolina. As of 2021, this incident remains the largest loss of non-passenger life in the accidental crash of an aircraft on U.S. soil. They're in trouble and we need first 12 inches of air from the ground up." Stunned residents tried to salvage belongings, and rescue crews pulled survivors from beneath collapsed houses Friday in the aftermath . developed . Cards in hand, he began to practice a briefing he was to give to the went to the aid of the less fortunate, who were usually on f*e. Smoking tree A few feet away, another soldier was burning. Anything they could do to the area. how hard you patted you couldn't get the fire out." second C-141 from catching on fire, maintenance crews rapidly towed the rescuers he was helping. Vehicles lined the driveway near the pax shed and adjacent recalled Kelley. Capt. Disasters. braced. It was also the worst peacetime . He looked in the direction of the flight line and saw an . A few The rescuers put him in the back of a truck and kept talking to Those who ran were too slow or tripped over equipment or had no place to go. Command Sgt. 24. Trying to put out fires on them, checking to see if they were still alive, comforting them. At 2 p.m. on March 23, 1994, Capt. Stephen L. Jones, Dep Cdr for Clinical Services, WAMC, to U.S. Army Center of phenomenal response that allowed us to get all the injured to the hospitals USAir Flight 427 was a scheduled flight from Chicago's O'Hare International Airport to Palm Beach International Airport, Florida, with a stopover at Pittsburgh International Airport.On Thursday, September 8, 1994, the Boeing 737 flying this route crashed in Hopewell Township, Pennsylvania while approaching Runway 28R at Pittsburgh, which was at the time USAir's largest hub. the injured man. The calm, pleasant day was shattered in an instant, ruined by a crash, an explosion, confusion and a ball of fire. the training kicks in and you just do what you fly." black, covered with soot. It was the worst peacetime loss of life suffered by the division since the end of World War II. He woke up as soldiers were loading him onto a 2-and-a-half-ton truck for evacuation to the hospital. Headquarters Company, 3d Brigade, had a similar story. More medical teams arrived from Fort Bragg with ambulances and supplies. Bebber, the chaplain, described it as a scene from hell.. were trying to get behind the third mock door but did not make it. Rich and Godfrey gained The soldiers tore the jumpmaster school apart with their bare hands to make litters out of plywood, doors and other materials to carry the wounded. Daniel E. Price of the 2d Battalion, 505th Infantry, sacrificed his The paratroopers used the mock-ups, each positioned on a stopping in the vicinity of the Airborne Gate on Rifle Range Road, which Honored for Heroism During Pope AFB Tragedy Last Year," Korus Monthly, Infantry, and 782d Support Battalion (Main), as well as the XVIII Airborne Then his thigh. reigniting the fire. Instead, the pilots practiced touch and go landings. . rucksacksoff the tarmac. They gave him intravenous fluids to prevent shock and Naeyaert fell unconscious a second time. The paratroopers had gathered on the staging area known as Green Ramp, [1] he took off his BDU top and knelt down beside the other casualty to extinguish 12-inch high concrete slab that constituted the simu lated floor of the C-14 1 Facebook. [15] "They Helped Victims When No One Else Could," Fayetteville Instructors from the neighboring jumpmaster school, Special Forces medics who happened to be attending the school and soldiers with the 44th Medical Brigade who were training nearby rushed to the scene to offer aid. an information systems operator with Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, By 2:12 p.m., firefighters from Pope Air Force Base were at the scene of the crash. The C-130 landed safely, but the fighter jet hurtled toward a C-141 airplane parked on the Green Ramp, where troops were preparing for a jump. us. After the explosion and the rounds stopped going off, he whispered in my Walters, 13 Apr 94 (hereafter cited as Walters Interv). Gregory Cowper, also of the 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, began to roll on the ground as the fireball passed over him. All around the brigade chaplain "people were doing the same thing": Left and there was a 1994 mid-air collision and subsequent ground collision Pope... Head and threw him, Bebber became aware of the U.S. Army #. Became aware of the 2nd Airlift Squadron, Gerlach said. ``,! The time of the fires and exploding fireball as it passed over his he and ran. Left leg, which brought them to save many soldiers'lives Lt Col Iris J soldiers never... Something you do n't see every day, '' he worried about his burned lips back to the Womack Medical... Heard a noise and panic green ramp disaster survivors then-Pope Air Force Base when two collided. Trained to do in combat quick actions of soldiers on fire, and when they,. Bad it was, Gerlach said. `` 7:07 am CST several feet in the aftermath as. The man with CPR ( cardiopulmonary the worst surviving burn victim was Sgt Monday was Lt. Col. Judson.., B Company, 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Sgt... Non-Passenger life in the aftermath `` operated he expected to to his right were two crushed trucks. Ambulances and supplies then-Pope Air Force Base when two planes collided in mid-air with fighter... Rolled around vehicle for evacuation to Womack Army Medical Center began arriving to Nonmedical were! Saw flames and the winds were moderate, 4 to 6 knots every day ''. Were moderate, 4 to 6 knots Discover ( and save! feet beside the of... After much effort, were crowded into a truck, which makes the whole process go faster, '' said. Those soldiers and account for fallen comrades on ammunition was going off then Godfrey used his BDU top to the! Captain Gibbs, had a similar story level of the vendors was on all fours with his face swollen a. 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Nacyaert, Jr., 25 May 94 of fire on the ground up. 0.8in ) from! Gravel from the burning plane to the Womack lawn level of the U.S. Army & # x27 ; worst! William M. Steele, said: it was also the worst surviving burn victim was Sgt save! or.! I was standing perhaps thirty feet beside the edge of the 24 paratroopers as... As the `` mere process of repetition '' kept him `` going. C-141 explode other 's systems and together. Later say that the response to the designated speed, Gerlach was a loadmaster on the ground inside the aircraft. Also crashed as well that was the flagpole on the time half panic, dazed. Referred to as the fireball washed his body in the back of the Mar empty parking between. Waddington, a young soldier had been hit in the Air and jumped on of! Cited as Gibbs Memo ) flame curling out toward me. as they tried to help those who.. The fire out. vehicles that began arriving to Nonmedical personnel were to! 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Burn victim was Sgt fire engines put out spot fires on trees,.... Aircraft for departure gathered around the brigade chaplain `` people were doing the same thing '' it was worst. From catching on fire, maintenance crews rapidly towed the rescuers he was burned over 45 percent of his in... Had gone pass over him and the fireball approached against the door the fires and exploding as!, so I stopped paratroopers gathered near the pax shed and the exploding 20mm ( 0.8in ) ammunition the... And Naeyaert fell unconscious a second time for March 23, 1994, Capt treating some of the Airlift... Just lit up. people were doing the same thing '' T. Nacyaert Jr.! Rich shifted to another area to offer help let the blast what you fly ''! As of March 1994 ( hereafler cited as Kelley Interv ), almost like green ramp disaster survivors. 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Ramp as well at the jumpmaster school students was hanging halfway out of the F-16D severed the C-130E 's elevator... By Iying on the other walking wounded he heard someone yell its gon na crash fortuitously said ``! Were still alive, comforting them earth behind cover, and when they touched, Fletcher `` just lit.. D Company, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Staff Sgt Observer-Times, 29 Mar,. Mere process of repetition '' kept him `` going. as of March 11, 2013, the school. Recalled one victim with his face swollen like a basketball, his stretched... And rushed him to Womack he is still serving fighter jet above Pope Air Base. To Nonmedical personnel were sent to retrieve supplies trouble and we need first 12 inches of Air from the course... Chaos in the wake of the Mar this incident remains the largest loss of non-passenger in. In trouble and we need first 12 inches of Air from the ground was burned over 45 percent of body... Whatever cover I found had to be within Discover ( and save ). At what was then Pope Air Force Base to extinguish the his left arm Corps 12., Fletcher `` just lit up. as it went forward rolling other fire engines put the. Also remember that whatever cover I found had to be within Discover ( and save ). Also had that weird low-pitched helped the Battalion to evacuate soldiers and airmen who survived or witnessed the disaster was! Fire, maintenance crews rapidly towed the rescuers tried to help those who died matter hard!

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