Helicopters buzz Southborough as part of a military training exercise

Low-flying helicopters shook the walls and rattled the windows of homes in Southborough last night. Many of you took to Facebook and the blog to ask what it was all about.

Reader John found the answer in an article in the Worcester Telegram. Turns out it was part of a military training exercise:

The helicopters, which were black and had only a couple of small lights on their underside, had an eerie ability to be heard but not seen. At 10 o’clock, for instance, the church bell at Wesley United Methodist tolled just as a nearly invisible but thunderous handful of helicopters rose from Lincoln Square and flew by.

Maj. Potter said units from across the state were doing military operations and urban terrain training. She said the exercise, which started about 9 p.m., was coordinated with the appropriate city and county officials and property owners.

“All safety precautions have been taken to prevent unnecessary risks to either the participants or any residents or their property,” Maj. Potter said. “We apologize for any inconvenience or unforeseen disturbance.”

A similar training event rattled Southborough during the first week of August last year, so perhaps this is becoming a yearly event?

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resident
11 years ago

Thanks for the information. We couldn’t imagine what was going on when they went by after 10:30 last night almost right on top of our house. I thought maybe it had something to do with the Obamas being in the western part of the state but now we know.

Kelly Roney
11 years ago

I heard and saw a couple of flights in the evening, while out canvassing on Woodbury. The choppers were dark military green, not black. I saw two in the first flight and three in the second, but there are many trees there, so for all I know both flights could have been the same birds and I just missed one.

Just curious
11 years ago

When we see the dangerous conditions that these soldiers have to practice in, let alone fight, it makes me very thankful we have so many fine young people willing to serve this country.

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