TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. —
Members of the 552nd Air Management Wing, Airborne Early Warning Affiliation, and surviving members of the family gathered for a solemn memorial ceremony September 22, 2023 at Tinker Air Power Base to honor the 24 Canadian and U.S. Airmen misplaced in one of many deadliest plane accidents in U.S. Air Power historical past.
It has been 28 years since crew members assigned to the 962nd Airborne Air Management Squadron, name signal “Yukla-27,” ready for a routine surveillance coaching sortie out of Elmendorf AFB, Alaska.
Because the plane lifted off, a flock of Canadian geese took flight from the airfield and flew straight into the trail of the plane.
In response to cockpit recordings, Copilot Capt. Bradley W. Paakola declared an emergency at 7:46 a.m., and seconds later, plane commander Capt. Glenn L. Rogers Jr. reported they have been going to crash.
At 7:47 a.m. Sept. 22, 1995, solely 42 seconds within the air, Yukla-27 tragically crashed 3,500 yards northeast of the airfield, killing everybody on board.
“We misplaced our comrades in arms that day,” stated Larry Bunting, with 552 ACW E-3 Necessities workplace, and a member of the Airborne Early Warning Affiliation. “We attempt to do a small memorial ceremony yearly to honor their reminiscence, bravery and their final pursuit of freedom and their dedication to the protection of this nation. We are going to always remember them.”
The necessity for Fowl Air Strike Hazard groups happened following the Yukla-27 crash. BASH groups protect conflict combating capabilities by means of the discount of wildlife hazards to plane operations, however extra importantly, assist to guard the lives of Airmen.
Pilot and crew coaching is crucial to sustaining operation readiness. The 552 ACW is holding a security day on Sept. 22 to go over classes realized from that fateful day.
The quick ceremony featured a prayer, the taking part in of “Faucets,” and the studying of the crew names.
The Misplaced however not Forgotten
Lt Col Richard G. Leary, 41, Navigator
Maj Richard P. Stewart II, 40, Mission Crew Commander
Maj Marlon R. Thomas, 39, Mission Crew Commander
Maj Steven A. Tuttle, 40, Airborne Surveillance Officer
Capt Robert J. Lengthy, 27, Senior Director
Capt Bradley W. Paakola, 27, Co-Pilot
Capt Glen L. Rogers, 28, Pilot
1st Lt Carlos A. Arriaga, 25, Weapons Director
MSgt Stephen C. O’Connell, 32, Superior Air Surveillance Technician
TSgt Mark A. Bramer, 34, Flight Engineer
TSgt Mark A. Collins, 30, Communications Techniques Operator
TSgt Bart L. Holmes, 37, Flight Engineer
TSgt Ernest R. Parrish, 32, Intelligence Specialist
TSgt Charles D. Candy, Jr., 33, Airborne Radar Technician
TSgt Timothy B. Thomas, 33, Laptop Show Upkeep Technician
TSgt Brian Okay. Van Leer, 34, Superior Air Surveillance Technician
Sgt David L. Pitcher, 35, Battle Director Technician
MCpl Jean-Pierre J. Legault, 35, Communications Technician
SSgt Scott A. Bresson, 32, Airborne Radar Technician
SSgt Raymond O. Spencer Jr., 26, Airborne Surveillance Technician
SrA Lawrence E. DeFrancesco, 24, Communications Techniques Operator
SrA Darien F. Watson, 20, Airborne Surveillance Technician
SrA Joshua N. Weter, 21, Laptop Show Upkeep Technician
Amn Jeshua C. Smith, 20, Airborne Surveillance Technician
