Copter Hits Power Line in France, Killing 5 U.S. Marines

A U.S. military helicopter crashed and exploded in southern France after it hit a high-tension power line on a night training flight, and all five Marines aboard were killed, officials said Thursday.

The UH-1N Huey fell about 200 feet and crashed into a mountain stream and exploded at about 9:45 p.m. Wednesday near Rougon, a village 60 miles northwest of Nice.

The craft was from the amphibious assault ship Guadalcanal, currently in port in Toulon, and was assigned to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 162 based at the New River, N.C., Marine Corps Air Station.

The victims were identified as pilot Maj. Bruce A. Boulton, 37, of Broward County, Fla.; pilot 1st Lt. Michael P. Wilkes, 26, Akron, Ohio; Cpl. Terry A. Miles, 22, Ashland, Ky., a helicopter mechanic, and Lance Cpl. Matthew F. Rossell, 21, also a helicopter mechanic, of Des Moines, Iowa. The fifth victim was identified by his father as Cpl. Lansden R. Good III, 24, of Paducah, Ky.

Although the pilots were using night-vision goggles, military officials said there was no reason to suspect the goggles played a role in the crash.

A Marine official in Washington, however, confirmed that the goggles do not permit pilots to see power lines.

The Army recently ordered a safety inspection of its night-vision goggles after several crashes.

In Washington, the Marine Corps said the Huey was the lead helicopter of two aircraft conducting a navigation training exercise. The other helicopter was not involved in the accident.

The helicopter was one of 13 taking part in U.S.-French training exercises in southern France, said Peter Antico, a spokesman for the U.S. Embassy in Paris.