It is indeed very sad news. Our guys dont deserve all that they are exposed to. I have prayers for every one of them and their family and loved ones. What is more of a shame is it seems like the hard lessons learned in Vietnam are not being taught in the flight schools anymore. We have lost entirely too many helicopters and good people in these wars. I have been appaled watching films of the ops and seeing how the pilots court disaster. A Chinook is an awesome bird, and has a tremendous rate of climb. I used to work with them as cover flying Cobras, and they could easily out climb and out run us. Of course there is always the chance the enemy will get lucky, but there are techniques that minimize that. Not saying the flight crew was at fault at all, but from what I have observed there is a gap in the hostile enviroment traning.
With Stinger missiles you don't really need to get lucky. With a clear shot a Chinook is toast. Coulda been an RPG but I'm distrustful of the government's official line on this kind of thing.
Anyway, 30 of our best and brightest Americans gone. That sucks. HARD.
