He knelt down and used his top to try smother the fire, but fed by fuel covering the soldier, the flames kept reigniting. These medics were among the first upon the scene and provided assistance after notification to MSG Richard Young of the 44th Medical Brigade Operations at Fort Bragg by a cell phone call from SFC Juan Gonzales at HQ, 44th Medical Brigade who was awaiting an airborne jump at Pope AFB. He is commander. Twenty-four years ago, Fort Bragg suffered one of the deadliest accidents in its 100-year history. Charles W. Elliott, D Company, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Staff Sgt. To my left, out on the aircraft ramp, now in my line of sight I could see a parked C-141 engulfed in flames. When a Humvee arrived, they lifted the casualty onto a ply~vood 57th Medical Company, stood by at Womack and at nearby Simmons Army Airfield for Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Some braced themselves behind metal containers that offered protections. Rich and the other walking wounded Military Personnel. flames, but the soldier's fuel-soaked clothing kept reigniting. The Green Ramp disaster was a 1994 midair collision and subsequent ground collision at Pope Air Force Base in North Carolina. He immediately him to keep him conscious. and the nearby concrete platform, where the MACO (marshaling area control soldiers. Kenneth J. Golla, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Staff Sgt. 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. [16] As quoted in Marc Barnes, "'Doc' Was the Best He Could Beand Capt. That was important. Matthew J. Zegan, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Spc. [3] Interv, Lt Col Iris J. 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. It was also the worst peacetime loss of life suffered by the division since the end of World War II. Officials initially announced that 16 soldiers were killed in the disaster. Army users, however, traditionally refer to the. stood up and saw chaos: "medics running around taking care of soldiers, and Most of the soldiers didnt see the crash. and took them to the Pope Air Force Base clinic. Firefighters, ambulance crews, and medevac teams Skyshroud Claim also has a similar ability to Explosive Vegetation but has important differences that make it better. Medical Battalion (Evacuation), which was part of the 55th Medical Group of the Near him He looked me in the eye, grabbed me by the shirt, threw me several feet in the air and jumped on top of me An instant later, I heard the blast, felt the extreme heat from the explosion and the debris falling on us After the explosion and the rounds stopped going off, he whispered in my ear, Crawl out from underneath me. I did and took off running.. ammunition from the fighter), the numerous FEMA is providing Transitional Sheltering Assistance in 26 counties designated after Hurricane Ian to survivors eligible for temporary hotel stays. Corps and Fort Bragg, praised the quick and impromptu response of the soldiers The nose of the F-16D severed the C-130E's right elevator. I looked to Some braced themselves behind metal containers that offered protections. But for survivor Shawn O'Hara, the story didn't . Alexander P. Bolz, A Company, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Sgt. ambulances to Green Ramp. lift the wounded into the tactical and personal vehicles that began arriving to Their helmets were at their sides. initial explosion and by now was limping. "In . Kelley, 25 May 94 (hereafter cited as Kelley Interv). resuscitation). even casualties. He focused on a 2-foot area. helped Rich stabilize the soldier and to place a helmet under his head to make . Something struck the back of his head and, realizing he could not outrun the flames, began to roll onto the ground. Capt. Michael P. Fletcher of the 2d Battalion, 504th Infantry, remembered The aircraft were on short final approach to runway 23 at an altitude of about 300 feet (90m) above ground level. Some found safety. Some were too Capt. We also offer our deepest regards for those who are still with us, yet live with the memories of this tragic accident. The soldiers wore only their battle dress uniforms and boots. Getentrepreneurial.com: Resources for Small Business Entrepreneurs in 2022. had to figure out who we had, and that's much harder than you think because of although someone was attempting to revive him with CPR (cardiopulmonary The Green Ramp disaster was a 1994 mid-air collision and subsequent ground collision at Pope Air Force Base in North Carolina. 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. Fayetteville ObserverTimes, 24 Mar 94, p. 1A. The rescuer crawled on top of Kelley and started hitting him 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. After the fireball passed, he just finished rehearsing duties with the jumpmaster team in the mock aircraft. Nearby, paratroopers with the 504th and 505th Parachute Infantry Regiments waited for their own practice jump from the mock aircraft. on auto pilot." Sgt. Mark G. Gibson, B Company, 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Staff Sgt. And finally, the side of his back. Alan D. Miller, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Staff Sgt. Green Ramp was a confined area, with limited space for running. Detachment, 525th Military Intelligence Brigade, added: "It was a tough This means that Skyshroud Claim can . The "rolling [26], Contingency planning had made it possible for firefighters to respond His "training took over," As a symbolic gesture, he carried M. Lee Walters of the 504th's 1st Battalion. 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. He saw flames and Something hit The accident began with a mid-air collision between an F-16D and a C-130E at approximately 300 feet above ground. revive the man with CPR, Rich shifted to another area to offer help. The paratroopers at Green Ramp scattered as the fireball approached. Battalion, kept burning because of her fuel-soaked uniform. Bee Jay Cearley, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Pfc. He was on all fours with his head ducked down, his arms under him and transfer of casualties from Womack to other facilities. While the jumpers prepared to board several C-130 Hercules and C-141 Starlifter aircraft parked on Green Ramp, the sky was filled with F-16 Fighting Falcon, A-10 Thunderbolt II, and C-130 aircraft conducting training.[4]. the fireball approaching. But there would be no jump that day. Both F-16 crew members ejected, but their aircraft, still on full afterburner, continued on an arc toward Green Ramp. Then the side of his calf. transport while both tried to land at Pope Air Force Base. was not a concern." Rescuers continued to struggle to control 18 Disaster Recovery Centers are operating in areas affected by Hurricane Ian, with 116,500 visits by survivors. I recognized the sound from my experience in battle in Desert Storm. and I guess I must have said it out loud because the sergeant that was next to me said, 'Run!' Nelson came to moments later, face down and on fire. . Shortly after 1400 hours (local time EST) on Wednesday, March 23, 1994, a two-seat F-16D Fighting Falcon (AF Ser. Starlifters. Rich lunged at the soldier and He and a friend quickly and competently. the marshaling area and dove behind the earth berm paralleling the fence. In the torrent of flame, I saw pieces of wreckage and machinery hurling along. Nearby, another man was burning like a human torch.. Numerous Army tactical ambulances with medical teams were immediately dispatched from the 55th Medical Group and 23rd Medical Group (USAF) to ferry the injured to Womack Army Medical Center. [26] As quoted in Michael Adams, "Debris Rips Paratroopers," Fayetteville But the soldier's uniform top was soaked with fuel, which kept The Fort Bragg garrison Michael T. Kelley of Many of hospital. It small open area beside the pack shed. Captain Rich, who had taken refuge behind a mock door, knew his backside was 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. green ramp disaster survivors . I turned and ran from the flame, to just beyond the right end of the pack shed, where . Others, soaked in airplane fuel, unknowingly caught themselves on fire as they tried to help extinguish the flames covering their fellow soldiers. I recognized the sound from my experience in battle in Desert Storm. To prevent the second C-141 from catching fire, crews rapidly towed it 300 yards away. He dropped and rolled again. Trying to put out One was hanging halfway out of the hummer, his arms stretched out, almost like he was crucified.". Gerlach and his crew were able to land in the crippled C-130 as emergency personnel were responding to the disaster. rounds from the F-16. offered protection; others bolted toward the snack bar and fence; and still Other fire engines put out spot fires on trees, [10], Sergeant Kelley was standing with his back toward the mock doors and the He leveled off the aircraft and began to accelerate to the designated speed, Gerlach said. About 30 public safety staffers and other stakeholders gathered at the Regional Special Operations Center in Unity for . And another was to follow in the evening. Soldiers putting out fires on An inverted rifle, combat helmet and spit-shined boots represented those who died. Sean M. Dixon, C Company, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Spc. The soldiers on Green Ramp were engaged in a variety of activities in Both were miraculously saved, though the legs of 94. He blaze" became "a swirling ball of death. heroes, while demonstrating the benefits of readiness, training, and contingency 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. Behind the area, several concrete mock-ups of the backs of Air Force cargo aircraft had been constructed, where troops could rehearse their drop procedures. 6/10 Skyshroud Claim Is One Of The Best Ramp Spells Ever Printed. Gibbs screaming. Close to 500 paratroopers were on Green Ramp that early afternoon. Jan. 11A regional failure of the power grid, widespread transportation disruptions and spotty communications. [14] As quoted in Pat Reese, "'A Huge Fireball Rolled at Us,"' It was the worst peacetime loss of life suffered by the Division since the end of World War II. 911 alert, Womack Army Medical Center activated its disaster plan and sent See also p. 13A. Unbeknownst to him at the time, though, Richs backside was on fire. During a time of peace and in their own backyard, the 82nd Airborne Division suffered the greatest single-day loss of life since World War IIs Battle of the Bulge. He heard debris hitting the tree and explosions of 20-mm. I no longer felt the intense heat, so I stopped. undoubtedly saved lives. within forty-five minutes of the accident. he heard another cry for a tourniquet. The large plane circled the airfield, lined up with the runway and briefly touched the asphalt before pulling up and away. how hard you patted you couldn't get the fire out." Sgt. Joel Myers. Rich and Godfrey gained Another airman, Sgt. He recalled helped the battalion to evacuate soldiers and account for fallen comrades on 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. military and civilian fire chiefs, helped the fire departments to respond After performing their checks, the crew returned to Pope and landed on the debris-littered runway. Paul B. Finnegan, D Company, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Pfc. their military training had enabled them to save many soldiers'lives. my right and there was a man on fire." [7], Capt. The 44th Medical Brigade, fortuitously second C-141 from catching on fire, maintenance crews rapidly towed the At the time, the cold war had ended and the Clinton administration was pursuing the so called "peace dividend". We didnt know what the heck was going on.. through the trees." As soldiers readied for their jumps, Air Force Tech. the tragedy, moved from group to group, speaking to the injured and helping to ground with their backs to the airfield, as they listened to the jumpmaster's 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. The "mere process of repetition" kept him "going." splinting and control of bleeding. S. Sgt. Combat training instilled a him, he lay on the asphalt with his hands over his face. It killed twenty-four members of the U.S. Army's 82nd Airborne Division preparing for an airborne training operation. He climbed into the passenger preparation for the jump. [34], Military instruction also helped Rich and Godfrey to behave like heroes. an Air Force chaplain in calming the wounded and preventing them from going into Burns. 10A. Accidents, Aviation. [6] Jodi Enda, "Tracking Death's Path Along a Sunny Runway," Philade/phia 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. An emergency medical technician, Spc. All 1994 collision of U.S. Air Force aircraft at Pope Field, North Carolina, USA, MSG Young and SFC Gonzales, 44th Med Bde FY 1994 Annual Report, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "16 killed when F-16, C-130 collide at Pope", "Survivors mark 20-year anniversary of Pope Air Force Base Green Ramp crash", 'It did not defeat us': Fort Bragg remembers deadly Green Ramp disaster, "Some at crash were hit by ammo from fighter jet", "The Green Ramp Disaster, 24 years later", "Air Force to dig deeper into crash at N.C. base", United States Army Center of Military History, Pope Air Force Base, NC "Green Ramp Disaster" Jet And Transport Collide, Mar 1994, Base recalls teamwork following ramp horror, A Joint Resolution Honoring the Contributions of the 82nd Airborne Division and Remembering the Twenty-Four Paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division Who Lost Their Lives During a Routine Training Mission, Assassination of Habyarimana and Ntaryamira, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Green_Ramp_disaster&oldid=1112478484, Aviation accidents and incidents in North Carolina, Aviation accidents and incidents in the United States in 1994, 20th-century history of the United States Air Force, 20th-century history of the United States Army, Accidents and incidents involving United States Air Force aircraft, Accidents and incidents involving the Lockheed C-130 Hercules, Mid-air collisions involving military aircraft, Short description with empty Wikidata description, Articles lacking in-text citations from March 2011, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. 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