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A U.S. Navy aircraft on a training mission accidentally dropped an inert "training bomb" Tuesday while flying over the resort town of Virginia Beach, Va., causing minor damage to a wall next to a warehouse, the Navy reported.</p>
<p>The Virginian-Pilot reports the plane was returning to nearby Oceana Naval Air Station from a training mission in Dare County, N.C., when the inert bomb was dropped.
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<p>I have no idea why "training bomb" is in quotes. After all, that's what it was, a TRAINING BOMB. :mad:</p>
<p>And in related news, several innocent civilians were run over by Senator James Webb as he dashed to the cameras to condemn Bush's illegal and undeclared war against Virginia Beach... :rolleyes:</p>
<p>At least it wasn't the real deal. Some articles and comments I've read/heard about this expressed outrage that this could happen. Well, duh! First off, Oceana NAS is within rock-throwing distance of Lynhaven Road (I lived a stone's throw the other way for two years), so it's kinda hard to land and not pass nearby. Second, it's not like the Navy wanted to do it. Third, no one was hurt. Sheesh!</p>
<p>It will be interesting to see if it was a legitimate malfunction or if it was something like the pilot forgetting to safe his weapon system before landing.</p>
<p>I lived very close to Lynnhaven Road for 8 years... and I remember an incident where a pregnant woman in a Volvo was killed instantly when a training bomb was dropped though her windshield. ((This incident occurred in the early 1980s.))</p>
<p>I had just driven through the intersection where the 1980s incident occurred... to me, commuting back and forth to work on a daily basis, it was a big deal indeed.</p>
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An F/A-18C Hornet on a training flight over Hampton Roads, Va., accidentally dropped a training bomb into a warehouse in an industrial part of Virginia Beach on Tuesday, the Navy announced. No one was hurt and the Navy called the bombs damage minimal.</p>
<p>The Hornet was returning to Naval Air Station Oceana after a training mission to a bombing range in Dare County, N.C., the Navy said, when the inert Mk 76 training bomb fell from one of its weapons stations. The plane, which belongs to Strike Fighter Squadron 106, the Gladiators, based at NAS Oceana, went on to land safely....
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I lived very close to Lynnhaven Road for 8 years... and I remember an incident where a pregnant woman in a Volvo was killed instantly when a training bomb was dropped though her windshield.
<p>I don't know precisely what "CEP zero" means, but the incident occurred. </p>
<p>I remember the details about the Volvo and the woman being pregnant because I had a dear friend who was expecting her first child, drove a Volvo, and I couldn't get in touch with her for 2 days - was worried out of my mind, as these were the days before cell phones and email.</p>
<p>As a former long-time resident of VBVA, I am appalled (but not entirely surprised) at the callousness you are displaying regarding innocent American civilians harmed by NAS Oceana personnel. The responsible aviators I knew at the time (including family members, FYI) were horrified at their some of their colleagues' indifference to such incidents. Fortunately, most of said colleagues did not make Naval aviation a lifelong career.</p>
<p>It wasn't meant as a joke, hence the sad face. </p>
<p>Of all the luck to have in the world, that poor thing had to have THAT luck.</p>
<p>It's beyond sad. :(</p>
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I am appalled (but not entirely surprised) at the callousness you are displaying regarding innocent American civilians harmed by NAS Oceana personnel.
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<p>No one was harmed this time. Besides, it's not like NAS Oceana personnel are out to get the peaceful citizens of Virginia Beach. It was an accident. Tragic, but hardly a reason to tar all the folks who work there as "harmers".</p>
<p>Were any Democratic Presidential Candidates campaigning nearby? Has Virginia Beach surrendered? Next debate the featured issue will be whether the candidate is for or against the bombing of Virginia Beach.</p>
<p>Don't quite follow what you are saying here. The aviators responsible for the incident were horrified because their colleagues, who were not involved, were also not horrified? What would their horrification have added to the horror of the incident? I was an aviator at Oceana in the early '80s and don't even remember it. Should I jump into the corner, don sackcloth, and cover myself with ashes? I do remember the A-6 on takeoff that plowed across Lynnhaven, striking a car, and killing a pregnant woman. Again, it was an unfortunate incident but I, again, do not remember being horrified.</p>
<p>NAS Oceana has been doing everything they can for years to prevent encroachment. This type of stuff is going to happen. And when no one gets hurt, yes, we can chuckle about it.</p>
<p>That type of attitude, IMO, is why you don't have an active career these days, and spend hours posting on message boards that are designed for college-aged students.</p>
<p>Wow, I had to post. Are you sure you are from a Military family background. Accidents happen in all walks of life, all type of businesses and even in the US Military. The pregnant woman in her Volvo being killed in the 80s near Oceana was a terrible, horrific accident! No one thinks that is funny. Military personnel have to deal with death and can not dwell on it to long because they have to see the bigger picture. It does not mean they are callous. It does not mean they do not feel or care because if they did not care they would not be serving our country. I feel anyone who serves does care deeply. USNA69 said, And when no one gets hurt, yes, we can chuckle about it. I think he was talking about the current incident, where no one was hurt and not the terrible incident from back in the 80s. Oh, do the Math if USNA69 graduated from the Academy in 1969, which I would assume he did, if he was still active duty he would have celebrated 42 years of service from the time he entered the Academy in 1965. That sure would be a long career in the Navy. I just felt I had to post because your statements seemed so anti-military and I believe you have a plebe son at the Academy. We need to be supportive of the troops . this includes Naval Aviators at home or abroad.</p>
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That type of attitude, IMO, is why you don't have an active career these days, and spend hours posting on message boards that are designed for college-aged students.
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Dude. Seriously.</p>
<p>This board is designed for candidates to get advice from successful (and possibly retired) Academy graduates and other germane parties. This board is NOT designed for ignorant comments or ignoramouses (ignorami?).</p>
<p>2011, you are on ground that you don't belong. I suggest you quietly walk off. Naval Aviators deal constantly with the death of their friends and squadron mates, the deaths of those they intentionally drop bombs on, and the accidential deaths of friendly fire and other accidents. They don't make Hallmark cards that say, "Hey, I'm sorry I dropped a bomb through your pregnant wife's windshield and killed her." They each deal with it in their own private and personal way. Remember, they have to go out tomorrow and do the same thing again. They deserve your empathy, not your ridicule.</p>
<p>This is a situation that many of the candidates here, maybe even your mid, will be facing some day. Nothing wrong with them thinking about it now.</p>
<p>Since you seem concerned about the amount of time I spend posting on these boards, this took about 5 minutes.</p>
<p>I'm pretty sure none of the candidates (who this board is really for) mind USNA69's presence here.</p>
<p>He has been a wealth of information for all of us and I for one am grateful he "spend hours posting on message boards that are designed for college-aged students."</p>
<p>Just quick perspective from someone who lives in Virginia Beach (and have my entire life)...</p>
<p>First the location reported by the Navy is inaccurate, it was actually off London Bridge Road. This is only significant because there are 3 different "Lynnhaven" roads in Virginia Beach and at least two of them are highly residential so it can be confusing. </p>
<p>Second, no one here thinks that this was "done on purpose" or anything silly like that. Accidents happen and they are tragic and fortunately in this case no one was hurt. The Navy has and continues to be a great neighbor and I hope they never leave! </p>
<p>I just wish this hadn't happened because I have a bad feeling that idiotic group CCAJN will twist this into something it is not.</p>
<p>The plane was returning from the bombing range. There are very few reasons to RTB with a very inexpensive Mk 76, weather, aircraft emergency, or fuel state being the primary reasons. Very likely, the reason was "hung" ordnance. The bomb failed to release as it should. They were most likely in a section and the planes checked each other on the way home. When the bomb was discovered, they most likely detoured out over the Atlantic and tried dislodging it with a series of high g maneuvers. </p>
<p>They do come off. A live 500 pounder skipping up the flight deck after an aircraft trap, decapitating a young E-3 serving his country, whose family is on food stamps, is a true tragedy.</p>
<p>Short for:
CCAJNWJMTVBLYASTTDCNUWTCOLTROAQSA-Citizens Concerned About Jet Noise Who Just Moved to Virginia Beach Last Year and Still To This Day Can Not Understand Why They Could Only Locate Their Realtor On a Quiet Sunday Afternoon</p>
<p>Idiots. While I love the sound of silence, I certainly never minded the thunder of our nation's finest aviators practicing overhead, especially since they were there long before I was.</p>