Posted on 04/07/2003 11:08:05 PM PDT by quietolong
FILE PHOTO -- An HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter like the one seen here crashed in Afghanistan on March 23, killing all six airmen on board. The aircraft was on a mission to carry civilians to medical care when it crashed. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Val Gempis)
Original story
Six airmen die in helicopter crash
by Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
03/24/03 - WASHINGTON (AFPN) -- An Air Force HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter crashed near Ghazni, Afghanistan, on March 23, killing all aboard, said Combined Joint Task Force 180 officials at Bagram Air Base.
Six airmen died in the crash, task force spokesman Army Col. Roger King said. Names of the dead are being withheld pending notification of next of kin. Enemy fire was not a factor in the crash, officials said.
The helicopter crew was on its way to evacuate two Afghan children for medical treatment in the U.S. facilities at Bagram, King said. One child has a head injury, the other an eye injury. Both children arrived safely in Bagram on March 24, he said.
Six airmen die in helicopter crash
>>> Crash victims identified <<<<
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03/25/03 - MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. (AFPN) -- Air Force officials have identified the airmen killed in the HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter crash in Afghanistan on March 23.
The airmen were deployed from here supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Killed in the crash were:
-- 1st Lt. Tamara Archuleta, co-pilot.
-- Staff Sgt. Jason Hicks, flight engineer.
-- Master Sgt. Michael Maltz, pararescueman.
-- Senior Airman Jason Plite, pararescueman.
-- Lt. Col. John Stein, aircraft commander.
-- Staff Sgt. John Teal, flight engineer.
Archuleta, Hicks, Stein and Teal were assigned to the 41st Rescue Squadron. Maltz and Plite were assigned to the 38th RQS.
"The Air Force is a close-knit family and the loss of one of our own affects us all," said Brig. Gen. John H. Folkerts, 347th Rescue Wing commander. "We wish to express our deepest condolences to family members of these brave airmen and want them to know that we will not forget the valuable contributions they made to this country and the impact they made on the Air Force."
A memorial service will be held here March 27.
The cause of the accident is under investigation.
I just found out my Niece Was a Squadron mate and friend of the Co-pilot. And got the duty. To go tell and be with the family at the funeral.
And to make things more of a downer. She just got orders to ship out to Afghanistan and sit the same seat.
Thanks for the follow-up posting.
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