Dutton
06-15-2007, 11:42 PM
For those of you whom haven't heard; yesterday morning (June 15th), around midnight to be exact, one of our great F16 Stinger pilots lost his life in a tragic jet crash North of Baghdad. He was a member of the 180th Fighter Wing, based out of Swanton Township, Ohio and was deployed to 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing at Balad Air Base 50 miles North of Baghdad. The cause of the crash is still unknown, but he was believed to be flying a support mission for ground troops prior to the crash.
The name of the pilot has yet to be released, at the request of his family.
When I awoke this morning, I checked my email to find a message from one of my two teammates serving over with the pilot. In short, the email said "something horrible has happened to the 180th, I can't say what it was, all I can tell you is the I'm safe."
This accident hit really close to home for me, as I have two teammates and great friends that are currently serving alongside the squadron - as F16 mechanics - of the downed pilot as well as another great friend and teammate whom had previously served out of the 180th Fighter Wing with this pilot. I know they were all personally great friends of the pilot, and that he will be deeply missed out at the 180th.
A little more information on this tragic accident can be found at http://www.wtol.com/Global/story.asp?S=6664881
The reason I am writing this is the 180th has suffered a great loss and I
want to ask you all, if it is in line with your beliefs, to
pray for the families and friends of those involved. If you
don't believe in prayer I ask that you keep them in your
thoughts and do what you can to support those you know.
Take the opportunity to thank someone for their service, even
if you don't believe in the war. Those soldiers are there because they choose to serve our nation, not because we want this war. I'm not asking anyone to support the president or anything political, but simply asking you to thank those that you know whom are currently serving this country.
The name of the pilot has yet to be released, at the request of his family.
When I awoke this morning, I checked my email to find a message from one of my two teammates serving over with the pilot. In short, the email said "something horrible has happened to the 180th, I can't say what it was, all I can tell you is the I'm safe."
This accident hit really close to home for me, as I have two teammates and great friends that are currently serving alongside the squadron - as F16 mechanics - of the downed pilot as well as another great friend and teammate whom had previously served out of the 180th Fighter Wing with this pilot. I know they were all personally great friends of the pilot, and that he will be deeply missed out at the 180th.
A little more information on this tragic accident can be found at http://www.wtol.com/Global/story.asp?S=6664881
The reason I am writing this is the 180th has suffered a great loss and I
want to ask you all, if it is in line with your beliefs, to
pray for the families and friends of those involved. If you
don't believe in prayer I ask that you keep them in your
thoughts and do what you can to support those you know.
Take the opportunity to thank someone for their service, even
if you don't believe in the war. Those soldiers are there because they choose to serve our nation, not because we want this war. I'm not asking anyone to support the president or anything political, but simply asking you to thank those that you know whom are currently serving this country.