Kaneohe Marine identified as 1 of 2 pilots killed in helicopter crash in Arizona
COURTESY U.S. MARINES
Kaneohe-based Marine Capt. Travis W. Brannon of Nashville, Tenn., died Saturday in Arizona in a helicopter crash during a training mission.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
In this April 17, 2017, photo released by the Marine Corps, an AH-1Z Viper prepares to land at the Chocolate Mountain Aerial Gunnery Range, Calif. An AH-1Z Viper crashed Saturday night in Yuma, Ariz., killing two pilots who were conducting a training mission.
YUMA, Ariz. >> Two Marine pilots, including one assigned to Kaneohe Marine Corps Base Hawaii, were killed over the weekend in a helicopter crash during a training mission in southwestern Arizona.
U.S. Marine Corps officials today identified the pilots as Maj. Matthew M. Wiegand, 34, of Ambler, Pennsylvania, and Capt. Travis W. Brannon, 30, of Nashville, Tennessee.
They said the AH-1Z Viper crashed about 8:45 p.m. Saturday on the vast Marine Corps Air Station Yuma training grounds while the pilots were conducting a training mission as part of a weapons and tactical instructor course.
Officials said Wiegand held qualifications in the AH-1Z Viper and AH-1W Super Cobra and Brannon was attending the semi-annual weapons and tactics instructor course hosted by the Yuma base.
Brannon, who joined the Marines in 2010, was assigned to the Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 367, Marine Aircraft Group 24, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. His previous duty stations included the Naval Air Station in Pensacola and the Marine Corps Base Camp in Pendleton.
Brannon also participated in Marine Rotational Force Darwin in Northern Territory, Australia, and his personal decorations included the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.
Wiegand, who joined the Marines in 2008, was assigned to the Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One in Yuma. His previous duty stations included the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida; the Marine Corps Base Camp in Pendleton, California, and the Marine Corps Air Station in Yuma.
Marine officials said Wiegand previously deployed in support of a Unit Deployment Program in Okinawa, Japan, and his personal decorations included the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with a gold star.
“It is a somber day for the entire Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Command as we mourn this tremendous loss,” Brig. Gen. Roger B. Turner Jr., a commanding general at the base in Twentynine Palms, California.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey ordered flags to be lowered to half-staff Tuesday.
