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USAF KC-135R crashes in Kyrgyzstan


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Published: May 3, 2013

The Associated Press

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan — The emergencies ministry in Kyrgyzstan says a U.S. military plane has crashed in the country.

Kyrgyzstan hosts a U.S. base that is used for troops transiting into and out of Afghanistan and for C-135 tanker planes that refuel warplanes in flight.

A ministry official who did not give his name said the plane crashed Friday afternoon near the village of Chaldovar, about 100 miles (160 kms) west of the base.

The head of the region that includes Chaldovar, Kuralbek Khamaliyev, told The Associated Press by telephone that the plane broke into three pieces when it crashed into an uninhabited area.

The U.S. base, called the Manas Transit Center, said it had no immediate information.

Additional details indicate it was a McConnell AFB acft and possibly a MacDill crew. No word on survivors but pix do not look promising.

http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?226112-Reports-of-USAF-KC-135-crashing-near-Bishkek-Kyrgyzstan

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They only have three on a crew now???? Didn't they, at one time, have maybe five or so???? i guess upgrades reduced crew size. But it is still sad to lose fellow airman..........Certainly has been enough of that in that aprt of the world in the past few days. RIP!!!!!!

Giz

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Here is what was posted in today's AFA Daily Report:

Fairchild Airmen Killed in KC-135 Crash in Kyrgyzstan

Three airmen from the 93rd Air Refueling Squadron at Fairchild AFB, Wash., lost their lives in last week's crash of a KC-135 tanker near Chon-Aryk, Kyrgyzstan, announced Fairchild officials. Killed in the May 3 mishap were: Capt. Victoria A. Pinckney, 27, of Palmdale, Calif.: Capt. Mark T. Voss, 27, of Boerne, Tex.; and TSgt. Herman Mackey III, 30, of Bakersfield, Calif., according to the May 5 release from Fairchild's 92nd Air Refueling Wing. "We're a strong family here and it's truly heart wrenching when members of this family make the ultimate sacrifice for their nation," said Col. Brian Newberry, wing commander. He added, "These airmen leave behind an incredible legacy of service and honor in protecting our nation and the world. They show what we all know: freedom is not free." The cause of the mishap is under investigation. The crash occurred shortly after the KC-135 took off from the Transit Center at Manas, which is near Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan. Manas is a major air hub for sustaining coalition operations in Afghanistan. The Fairchild crew and the KC-135 were deployed to Manas.

Homer

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