Four killed in US military helicopter crash in Norfolk

A nature reserve on the North Norfolk coast has re-opened, twelve days after a helicopter crash that claimed the lives of four US service personnel.

Cley Marshes had been closed while investigations into the tragedy were carried out.

All four crew died when their Pave Hawk aircraft crashed in the marshes nearly two weeks ago.

Police have confirm the A149 Coast Road from Salthouse to Old Woman’s Lane that has been closed since a helicopter crash earlier this month has now reopened.

Four aircrew were killed when a US military helicopter crashed at Cley-next-the-Sea on the 7th January.

The police cordon around the crash scene has also been lifted.

Police thanked the local community and those wishing to use the marshlands for their patience and understanding.

Thousands packed into a hanger at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk today to honour the four air crew who died when their helicopter came down last week on the Norfolk coast.

Investigations are still continuing into the cause of the crash at Cley-next-the-Sea.

More than 2,000 US military personnel paused today at a memorial service to remember four US air crew members who died in a helicopter crash.

US Air Force (USAF) Captains Christopher Stover and Sean Ruane and Technical Sergeant Dale Mathews were killed, along with their female colleague Staff Sergeant Afton Ponce when the Pave Hawk helicopter they were flying came down suddenly on marshland on the North Norfolk Coast earlier this month.

Today body armour, rifles and dog tags belonging to each crew member were on display as their fellow servicemen and women gathered at RAF Lakenheath, Suffolk, where they were based.

Tributes were read to each of the air crew members of the 56th Rescue Squadron in the base's Hangar Seven.

The service, which was not open to the public, had been arranged to allow the military community to come together to recognise the tragedy.

A spokesman from RAF Lakenheath said: "Your continued thoughts and prayers are appreciated."

Norfolk Police has handed the investigation over to the USAF as there was no evidence that the crash was a criminal matter.

The USAF, supported by the Ministry of Defence, is to lead the investigation into the crash.

A memorial service is taking place at RAF Lakenheath this afternoon to honour the four aircrew who died when their helicopter crashed on the north Norfolk coast last week. Hundreds of people are expected at the service.

Click below to see Claire McGlasson's report from Lakenheath:

A private memorial is being held at RAF Lakenheath today in Hanger 7. The memorial comes ten days after the crash of the Pave Hawk helicopter which killed four US aircrew members on January 7.

A memorial service to honour four US air crewmen who died in a Norfolk helicopter crash is due to take place.

The United States Air Force (USAF) predicted there will be "an overwhelming turnout from the military communities" in Hangar 7 at RAF Lakenheath for the service. It will not be open to the public.

It has been arranged in tribute to the fallen Airmen of the 56th Rescue Squadron, who died when their Pave Hawk helicopter crashed into marshland in Cley-next-the-sea on January 7.

Captains Christopher Stover and Sean Ruane and Technical Sergeant Dale Mathews were killed, along with their female colleague Staff Sergeant Afton Ponce.

A spokesman said: "Your continued thoughts and prayers are appreciated."

Norfolk Police has handed the investigation over to the USAF as there was no evidence that the crash was a criminal matter.

The USAF, supported by the Ministry of Defence, is to lead the investigation into the crash.

A special memorial service will be held at the American airbase at Lakenheath today to honour the four crew members of a helicpter who were killed when it crashed in Norfolk.

The Pave Hawk came down on a shingle bank at Cley marshes during a night time training mission. A second helicopter flying with it landed safely nearby.

An American military helicopter which made an emergency landing when the aircraft it was flying with crashed has finally taken off from a Norfolk beach.

Four aircrew aboard the other Pave Hawk were killed when it came down on Cley marshes.

The second helicopter landed on a shingle bank to try and help. Both helicopters were stationed at the US airbase at Lakenheath in Suffolk

A second military helicopter which landed on Cley marshes after US servicemen saw their colleagues crash has taken off from the site.

The aircraft had been left at the Norfolk Wildlife Trust nature reserve since last week's accident for fear that moving it could disturb evidence.

A Pave Hawk helicopter crashed into the marshes last Tuesday evening, killing all four of its crew.

As the US Air Force continues with its investigation into the cause of the crash, the second helicopter was finally able to leave this afternoon.

Both aircraft and crews were based at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk.