Pope AFB disaster

The Green Ramp Disaster.

I was young and working at Duke. I remember the military helicopters bringing in the wounded to the helipad. It was a somber day.
 
bowtoot said:
The Green Ramp Disaster.

I was young and working at Duke. I remember the military helicopters bringing in the wounded to the helipad. It was a somber day.
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I was off of active duty in the Navy and in reserves, and working as a paramedic for Orange County EMS. We transported patients from the little airport in Chapel Hill, Horace Williams, to UNC. I would ride in back with one of the Army flight medics. There were always Blackhawks circling the pad to land. We got a lion's share of the burn patients.
 
eddie0225 said:
I was there in 75, 76 glad I wasn't there then
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Same time my older brother was there. He would take me down, and I would
stay in the barracks with him. And spend the day in the hanger and flite line while he worked
on C 130's. Good times. I was about 11 or 12 yrs old.
 
BASIL said:
Same time my older brother was there. He would take me down, and I would
stay in the barracks with him. And spend the day in the hanger and flite line while he worked
on C 130's. Good times. I was about 11 or 12 yrs old.
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Lol I might have fed you then if you went to any of the mess halls
 
Chuckman said:
I was off of active duty in the Navy and in reserves, and working as a paramedic for Orange County EMS. We transported patients from the little airport in Chapel Hill, Horace Williams, to UNC. I would ride in back with one of the Army flight medics. There were always Blackhawks circling the pad to land. We got a lion's share of the burn patients.
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Oh most certainly. The Burn Center was and is the best around.
 
eddie0225 said:
Lol I might have fed you then if you went to any of the mess halls
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BASIL said:
Same time my older brother was there. He would take me down, and I would
stay in the barracks with him. And spend the day in the hanger and flite line while he worked
on C 130's. Good times. I was about 11 or 12 yrs old.
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Can you imagine trying to do that in this day and time? ;) 🤣
I got to wax a wing on one of the Thunderbirds. And I think a C 130 could plow a field if they wanted.
Nothing like seeing low alt drops, closer than the average person.
 
Chuckman said:
March 23, 1994.

My wife and I were talking about it this evening. Does anyone else remember?
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Yes.

The 24 who perished have their names etched in stone on a memorial at the 82D ABN DIV museum on Bragg. On Mar 22 the 82D held a memorial service to mark the 30th anniversary at the museum. Retired GEN Mingus was the speaker...he was young CPT back then and one of the severely injured.

In memory of the 24 Paratroopers who died on that fateful day:

  • Capt. Christopher D. Dunaway, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment
  • Capt. Kenneth J. Golla, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment
  • Staff Sgt. Charles W. Elliott, D Company, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment
  • Staff Sgt. Daniel Camargo, A Company, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment
  • Staff Sgt. Daniel E. Price, B Company, 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment
  • Staff Sgt. Harry L. Momoa Jr., C Company, 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment
  • Staff Sgt. Mark G. Gibson, B Company, 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment
  • Staff Sgt. Waddington Sanchez, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment
  • Staff Sgt. Alan D. Miller, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment
  • Staff Sgt. James C. Howard, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment
  • Sgt. Alexander P. Bolz, A Company, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment
  • Sgt. James M. Walters Jr., A Company, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment
  • Sgt. Gregory D. Nunes, D Company, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment
  • Sgt. Vincent S. Strayhorn, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment
  • Sgt. Gustavo Gallardo, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment
  • Spc. Martin R. Lumbert, D Company, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment
  • Spc. Matthew J. Zegan, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment
  • Spc. Sean M. Dixon, C Company, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment
  • Spc. Bee Jay Cearley, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment
  • Pfc. Andrew J. Jones, A Company, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment
  • Pfc. Paul B. Finnegan, D Company, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment
  • Pfc. Tommy Caldwell, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment
  • Pvt. Mark E. Fritsch, D Company, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment
  • Pvt. Phillip J. Harvey, D Company, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment
 
I posted this a few years ago...

I was in building 900, Base Ops, that day (100 yards from the 141 and 30 yards from the troopers doing pre-jump).

Big boom and impact. I walked through the pre-jump area and saw the carnage. Troopers burned, rucks and T-10s on fire, F16 parts. Awful.

I rendered a bit of assistance until I was ordered to leave the area but honestly there was not much I could do. It was an intense scene. I can still see it...
 
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