Free Republic

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KABC) -- A Marine Corps helicopter based in El Centro crashed on a training mission and all four crew members are believed to have died, officials said.

The Marine Corps faces serious challenges with its aging CH-53E Super Stallion fleet. The huge and complex aircraft are decades old and tired from 15 years of war. A replacement is on the way, the CH-53K King Stallion, although it is behind schedule and still years away from becoming operational. Yet according to a recent report, the Suprr Stallion fleet is in shockingly poor shape. The Virginian-Pilot newspaper describes an internal report with a damning assessment of just how far the heavy-hauling CH-53E fleet has sunk into disrepair, and how little training their crews are receiving. The confidential independent study...

A US Marine helicopter taking part in a joint drill with South Korea crashed Tuesday near the North Korean border, officials said. The helicopter was carrying three crew and 13 other service members, but no casualties were reported.

Fox is reporting live for Beirut. Sea Stallion helicopters are now evacuating women, children and other special cases from via landings at the Beirut embassy.

EDWARDS AFB -- The Marines landed at Arnold Park on Edwards Air Force Base at noon Tuesday for a lunch with family members and well-wishers. The afternoon rendezvous was no ordinary day in the park, marking the last day for Marines to spend with their loved ones before deployment to the Middle East. Members of HMM764, the Marine Corps Reserve medium helicopter squadron stationed at Edwards, and HMM769, the heavy helicopter squadron, took a short break from deployment preparations to share a meal of thanks donated by several local businesses and organizations. Known as the "Moonlighters Squadron," HMM764 will depart...