2 Marines Die in California Training Crash

Third major air accident this summer at Camp Pendleton
By Mary Papenfuss,  Newser Staff
Posted Sep 20, 2011 1:10 AM CDT
2 Marines Die in Calif. Training Crash
An airplane drops fire retardant on a brush fire that started on Camp Pendleton when a Marine helicopter crashed yesterday in De Luz, Calif.   (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)

Two US Marines were killed when the Super Cobra attack helicopter they were flying in went down in flames during a training exercise at California's camp Pendleton. Firefighters were battling a 120-acre brush fire triggered by the afternoon crash late yesterday. It was the third major accident in the Southern California military base in three months. A similar helicopter crash in July killed one Marine and injured five. Two Marines suffered broken bones when they ejected from a crippled fighter jet that crashed into the Pacific last month during a Camp Pendleton training exercise.

Officials are investigating the cause of yesterday's crash, reports KGTV San Diego. "It's a tough time for us," said USMC Maj. Carl Redding. "Anytime we lose Marines whether in war or in training stateside it's hard for all of us." (More Camp Pendleton stories.)

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