The identities of two Tennessee Army National Guard pilots killed Wednesday afternoon in a helicopter accident have been confirmed.
Today, Brig. Gen. Warner Ross, Tennessee’s Adjutant General, confirmed the identities of two Tennessee Army National Guard pilots killed Wednesday afternoon in a helicopter accident in Madison County, Alabama.https://t.co/TTqOFi5oUt pic.twitter.com/MQXfZGml6w
— Tenn. National Guard (@TNMilitaryDept) February 16, 2023
A Tennessee National Guard UH-60 Blackhawk Helicopter crashed on Wednesday in Huntsville, Alabama, while conducting a training flight near Highway 53 and Burwell Road. While approaching Huntsville Executive Airport, the Tennessee National Guard helicopter descended rapidly and impacted the ground, according to the Tennessee Department of Military.
Two crew members onboard were confirmed dead by the Madison County Sheriff’s Department in Alabama. The incident did not result in any injuries to other military members or civilians, the department noted.
On Thursday, Brigadier General Warner A. Ross II, the 77th Adjutant General for the Tennessee National Guard, announced the identities of the two service members involved in the fatal crash.
Chief Warrant Officer 3 Daniel Wadham of Joelton, who had 15 years of service, and Chief Warrant Officer 3 Danny Randolph of Murfreesboro, who had 13 years of service, were killed in the crash, both of which were assigned to A Company, 1-230th Assault Helicopter Battalion, from Nashville’s Berry Field Air National Guard Base.
“Words cannot express my sorrow for the loss of these two Tennessee National Guardsmen,” Brig. Gen. Ross said in a statement. “It is felt not only within the ranks of the Tennessee National Guard, but across our entire military community. We ask that Tennesseans continue to join us in prayer for these soldiers’ families amid this tragic loss.”
The helicopter crash is currently under investigation by state and federal authorities.
Flags over the Capitol will fly at half-staff through the weekend in memory of Tennessee National Guardsmen CW3 Danny Randolph & CW3 Daniel Wadham. pic.twitter.com/udKLL7jtse
— Gov. Bill Lee (@GovBillLee) February 17, 2023
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee ordered all flags over the Capitol to fly at half-staff through the weekend in memory of service members CW3 Randolph & CW3 Wadham. Lee further asked all Tennesseans to join him in “lifting their families up in prayer & support during this time of unspeakable grief.”
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.
Photo “Danny Randolph” and photo “Daniel Wadham” by Tenn. National Guard. Background Photo “UH-60 Blackhawk Helicopter” by Faith Vowler. CC BY 3.0.
