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April 2, 2010 - Search and rescue efforts continue for a missing crew member of an aircraft that crashed in the North Arabian Sea On Wednesday. After radioing USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) of the intent to conduct a controlled bailout, an E-2C Hawkeye from the Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 121 impacted the water approximately five miles from the ship. The E-2C was returning from conducting operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) when the aircraft experienced mechanical malfunctions. Two of the four crew members were rescued by an H-60 Seahawk helicopter from the Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 5, and an H-60 helicopter from Helicopter Combat Support Squadron 26 rescued the third crew member. All three are in good condition without significant injuries. |
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Search and rescue efforts for the fourth crew member continue. In addition to Eisenhower and her embarked aircraft, helicopters from guided missile destroyer USS Carney (DDG 64) and replenishment ship, USNS Supply (T-AOE 6), along with other air assets that include KC-10 and KC-135 tankers, P-3, U-2 and RC-135 aircraft are assisting in the search effort. The identities of the crewmen involved are being withheld pending notification of next-of-kin. The incident is under investigation. The Grumman E-2 Hawkeye is an American all-weather, aircraft carrier-capable tactical Airborne Early Warning (AEW) aircraft. This twin-turboprop airplane was designed and developed during the late 1950s and early 1960s by the Grumman Aircraft Company for the United States Navy as a replacement for the earlier E-1 Tracer, which was rapidly becoming obsolete. The performance of the Hawkeye has been upgraded through the E-2A, E-2B, and E-2C versions with most of the changes being made in the electronics of the Hawkeye, especially since radar and radio communications have greatly increased processing speed with advances that have been made in electronic integrated circuits and other electronics. The fourth version of the Hawkeye is the E-2D, which first entered service in 2007. |
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The E-2 also received the nickname "Super Fudd" because it replaced the E-1 Tracer "Willy Fudd". In recent decades, the E-2 has been commonly referred to jokingly, as the "Hummer" because of the distinctive sounds of its turboprop engines, quite unlike that of a turbojet and turbofan jet engines.
The E-2 and its sister, the C-2 Greyhound, are the final propeller
airplanes that operate from aircraft carriers. In addition to U.S. Navy
service, smaller numbers of E-2s have been sold to the armed forces of |
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