Posted on 04/28/2003 6:05:06 PM PDT by Bobby777
Sorry for asking, but I just read about the last American soldier they ID'd today. I don't recall ever hearing what became of the F-15 that was shot down over Baghdad a couple weeks ago ... does anyone know what became of the crew? ... I have not seen them as returning and just wanted to know ...
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While flying over Kirkut an F-15E went down. I never heard whether they found the pilots or not. The section in the below article says they were killed. Anyone know who they were? Or article about them? Thanks.
Of 1,800 U.S. and allied aircraft, only two U.S. warplanes were lost to enemy fire: the A-10 over Baghdad and an F-15E fighter jet that went down April 7 near Tikrit north of the capital. The A-10 pilot was rescued; the two F-15E crewmen were killed.
By JIM McBRIDE, jmcbride@amarillonet.com
They came by the hundreds to honor and remember a fallen Amarillo son.
More than 600 friends, well-wishers, family members and loved ones were on hand Thursday at First Presbyterian Church for a memorial service honoring Air Force Capt. Eric Bruce Das.
On April 7 in Iraq, Das, 30, was piloting an F-15E Strike Eagle on a bombing mission near Tikrit when his plane went down. Das and his weapons systems officer Maj. William R. "Salty" Watkins III, 37, assigned to the 333rd Fighter Squadron, were killed. The cause of the crash has not been released.
During Thursday's service, comrades and friends spoke of Das as a faithful servant dedicated to his family, his faith and his nation. They spoke of a man who set an example for others, a leader whose friends respected and honored him.
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Fallen Pilot: Air Force Capt. Eric Bruce Das was piloting an F-15E Strike Eagle on April 7 near Tikrit, Iraq, when his plane went down.
Longtime friend Doug Jesko spoke of Das' courage, his strong faith in God and his Christian upbringing.
"He made me want to be a better man and by example showed me it was possible," he said.
Childhood buddy Jared Galloway thanked Das' parents, Bruce and Rosie, for opening their home to him and raising a wonderful son who taught him the value of loyalty. Eric, he said, was a fun-loving friend he likened to a brother. Galloway drew laughs from the crowd as he fondly recalled milk-chugging contests and shooting rubber bands at Eric as he prepared to head off on his newspaper route.
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Treasured Memories: Lifelong friend Doug Jesko reminisces about his friend, Air Force Capt. Eric Bruce Das, during a memorial tribute Thursday at First Presbyterian Church in Amarillo.
Air Force Col. Darryl Roberson, the 4th Fighter Winger Operations Group Commander at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, said Das exemplified the values the Air Force stands for and that he was fond of Eric and his wife, Nikki, a first lieutenant in Air Force intelligence operations.
"We grew to love them and feel privileged to have been a part of their lives," he said.
On his final day, Roberson said Das spent a perfect day: he attended church services, had lunch with the love of his life and headed off to a combat mission. Das, he said, volunteered to serve in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
"He was clearly where he wanted to be, doing what he loved to do," he said.
Das, dubbed "Boot," was flying his 17th combat mission when he and other pilots began locating and destroying enemy targets.
That night, his squadron flew into an area heavily defended with anti-aircraft artillery and shoulder-mounted, infrared surface-to-air missiles. Shortly after bombing their third target, Das and Watkins were killed when their plane struck the ground, Roberson said.
"We may never know exactly what happened that night, but what I do know is that Boot was a great pilot," he said. "His actions that night and in previous missions undoubtedly saved American lives, shortened this conflict and provided millions of Iraqis the opportunity to live free from terror."
Toward the close of the service, an honor guard carefully folded an American flag and presented the neatly folded flag to the Das family. As an Air Force serviceman handed the flag to the family, Eric's younger sister, Elisa, gently patted the revered cloth triangle with her hand.
"On behalf of a grateful nation, I want to thank you for your sacrifice," Retired Air Force Major Gen. Jerry White told the Das family.
"Eric served, he sacrificed and he was selfless, but most of all he was following Jesus, and like Jesus he now has a new life."
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