Jack47 Loc: Ontario

On this day in 1985, Arrow Air Flight 1285 prepared for take-off from Gander NL after its second fueling stop enroute to Fort Campbell Kentucky from Cairo Egypt. Onboard were 248 members of the 101st Airborne Division and 8 crew members. All were heading home for Christmas.
Only about a minute after takeoff the plane crashed killing everyone on board. The cause of the crash was officially listed as ice on the wings but speculation abounds to this day about other causes. Lots of info can be seen with a search of Arrow Air 1285. There is also a very poignant tribute to the crash on youTube. If you are ever in Gander, NL you should visit the Silent Witness memorial. Its only about a minute of the highway.

Lest We Forget.

blue-ultra Loc: New Hampshire

I remember that, horrific...Thank you for the reminder!

sjb3

I knew seven guys on that flight; one was a medic and the rest were combat engineers. They were all (as was myself) assigned to 326th Engineer Battalion, 101st Airborne Division and were part of Task Force 3-502, returning from the Sinai Desert.

SonyBug

RIP military brothers...

cdayton

Tragic. My uncle was in the 101st in WWII, jumped on DDay and survived but never talked about it.

saltysarge

I remember that very well . I was stationed at Dover AFB De. at the time. That's where all the bodies were brought back too for identification and to prepare the bodies for the trip back for burial. I personally went to every service we had for them at Dover. Just about everybody including most of the children on base helped in some way to help the families who came up to bring there fallen loved ones home. That was just so sad, and so close to Christmas.