Bad times for Marine Air.

pic via Army Complex Twitter page.

via Huffington Post.

One Marine was killed Sunday morning after a military aircraft reportedly went dbown at Bellows Air Force Station in Waimanalo, Hawaii, sending plumes of smoke in the air that could be seen for miles.
According to an official statement released by the Marine Corps, the Marine was killed when an MV-22 Osprey experienced a "hard-landing mishap"

This is turning out to be a very bad month for Marine Air and my heart goes out to the deceased Marine, his family and shipmates.

First the Huey crash in Nepal and now this.  But what should make everyone pause is the reality that instead of seeing the limitations on being totally reliant on air for amphibious assaults and raids, the Marine Corps is prepping to double down.

These two crashes happened in peacetime.

What happens during the next war against an enemy that has a networked anti-air defense?  HQMC is casually throwing out that the Marine Corps is prepared to launch from 65 or more miles out Company Landing Teams to help take down anti-ship missile complexes.

Has anyone asked the simple but powerful question...if they have anti-ship missiles that cause us to hover 65 or more miles offshore wouldn't they also have formidable air defenses?

The scenario where S-400's are shooting down MV-22's as they take off from the decks of our LHA's isn't outside the realm of possibilities.  It makes sense to assume operational risk, but your operating doctrine should be based on HOPE with a large dose of risk mixed in. 

Sidenote:  What is the ACTUAL accident rate for the MV-22.  Let's be honest.  Amos has been fudging the numbers on that bird since he was a colonel.  HQMC figures aren't to be trusted.  Does anyone know an aviation guy that is keeping up with this?

UPDATE:  Thanks to John Smith for finding me this link to G2mil Blog.  They have the most comprehensive coverage on V-22 incidents that I've seen.