E-2D Ditched? in Shallow Water near Wallops Flight Facility

Navy IDs Aviator Killed in E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Crash Near Wallops Island
01 Apr 2022 Sam LaGrone

"The Navy has identified the sailor killed in a Wednesday crash of an E-2D Advanced Hawkeye on Chincoteague Island, Va., just south of the Maryland border, the service announced on Friday. Lt. Hyrum Hanlon, assigned to the “Greyhawks” of Airborne Command and Control Squadron (VAW) 120, was one of three sailors aboard the Advanced Hawkeye when it went down after operating near the Navy and NASA base at Wallops Island, Va., at 7:30 P.M.

The two other sailors were rescued from the wreck by Maryland State Police, the Navy said earlier this week. Richmond station WRIC said the two surviving crew members suffered broken legs. “Two crew members were found injured on the top of the partially submerged wreckage. They were rescued and transported to the Wallops Flight Facility airport. Both were then transported to Tidal Health Hospital in Salisbury with non life threatening injuries,” reported Shore Daily News....

...The aircraft was partially submerged near Wildcat Marsh on the north part of Chincoteague and the Navy and local authorities are in the process of salvaging the aircraft.... The cause of the mishap is under investigation."

Photo: https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org ... 65da35.jpg

Source: https://news.usni.org/2022/04/01/navy-i ... ops-island

I am guessing that PERHAPS the aircraft had just OR was engaging in FCLP at Wallops Flight Facility nearby ditching site.

The only FCLP deck markings are on the EAST to WEST runway at WALLOPS now marked 10/28. Attached 1 page PDF has beginning page describing how FCLP/Carrier Deck Landings conducted for the E-3C so I guess E-3D would be similar.

"...We arrived in Chincoteague and this is the closest we can get to the Wildcat Marsh area, near where officials say the plane crashed...." https://twitter.com/13AArintok/status/1 ... -22-a.html

Navy Recovers E-2D from Wallops Island and Chincoteague
15 Apr 2022 Seapower Staff

"NORFOLK, Va. — The Navy successfully recovered the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye that crashed in the vicinity of Wallops Island and Chincoteague, Virginia, April 12, the service announced.

U.S. Navy divers from Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 2 recovered the aircraft with collaboration from other interagency partners, as well local and federal actors. MDSU 2 specializes in salvage, a Navy mission area that includes recovery of submerged objects....

...Navy divers recovered the E-2D by cutting the aircraft into sections and preparing each section to be lifted with a sling. A crane lifted each section out of the water and barges transported the aircraft pieces offsite. MDSU 2 also surveyed the site and surrounding area to identify and recover aircraft debris.

The E-2D aircraft, attached to Airborne Command and Control Squadron (VAW) 120, crashed March 30. The mishap, which left one service member dead and two injured, remains under investigation...."

Photo: “A Navy E-2 Hawkeye conducts field carrier landing practice at Wallops Flight Facility at its ribbon-cutting ceremony in 2013. U.S. NAVY” https://seapowermagazine.org/wp-content ... -Crash.jpg

Source: https://seapowermagazine.org/navy-recov ... ncoteague/

Divers recover Navy plane weeks after fatal crash off Virginia coast
14 Apr 2022 The Associated Press

"...The E-2D Hawkeye was conducting routine flight operations in the vicinity of Wallops Island, Virginia, when it went down around 7:30 p.m. on March 30...

...The Virginian-Pilot reported that to recover the plane on Tuesday, the Navy called on divers from Little Creek’s Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 2, which specializes in salvage and recovery of underwater objects. Divers cut the aircraft into sections, put them each into a sling which was lifted by a crane onto barges which carried those sections out of the area."

Photo: "Barges, carrying what is left of a crashed Navy E2-D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft, makes its way to a NASA facility in Wallops Va., Tuesday, April 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Patrick Henderickson)AP" https://www.pennlive.com/resizer/XWNK0l ... QILOMQ.jpg

Source: https://www.pennlive.com/nation-world/2 ... coast.html

I hope they can save most of this aircraft. This will give the USN some more E-2D parts for the pool.