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News Release
23rd Wing
Public Affairs
23 Flying Tiger Way, Ste. 218 Moody AFB, GA 31699
Commercial (229) 257-3395 DSN 460-3395
Fax (229) 257-4804
Release No.
100603
Date: June 10, 2010
Four Airmen Assigned to 23RD WG Died IN Aircraft
crash
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. –
Four Airmen were killed and three were wounded
yesterday when their aircraft, a HH-60G Pavehawk
helicopter, assigned to the 55th Rescue Squadron, at
Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., crashed June 9
in southeastern Afghanistan.
The Airmen were deployed in support
of Operation Enduring Freedom and were responsible
for casualty evacuation.
The Airmen killed are:
Tech. Sgt. Michael P. Flores, 31, of
San Antonio, Texas, assigned to the 48th Rescue
Squadron, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz.
1st Lt. Joel C. Gentz, 25, of Grass
Lake, Mich., assigned to the 58th Rescue Squadron,
Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.
Staff Sgt. David C. Smith, 26, of
Eight Mile, Ala., assigned to the 66th
Rescue Squadron, Nellis AFB.
Senior Airman Benjamin D. White, 24,
of Erwin, Tenn., assigned to the 48th
Rescue Squadron, Davis-Monthan AFB.
The wounded Airmen are assigned to
the 66th RQS from Nellis AFB.
“Our hearts go out to the families of
these brave Americans, and we express our deepest
condolences to them," said Col. Gary Henderson, 23rd
Wing commander. "All seven Airmen involved in this
incident embody the rescue motto ‘These things we
do, that others may live,’ and were on a life-saving
mission. These Airmen and their other rescue
teammates are highly trained to perform life-saving
missions in various situations. Protecting our
nation’s sons and daughters is a sacred trust and we
take that responsibility seriously.”
The Airmen and
aircraft involved are assigned to the 563rd
Rescue Group a geographically-separated unit of the
23rd Wing.
Nellis, Davis-Monthan and Moody Air
Force Bases will hold separate memorial services
next week.
The cause of the accident is under
investigation.
For more information, call the Moody
Air Force Base Public Affairs Office at (229)
257-3395.
For more information on Sergeant
Flores and Airman White, media may contact the
Davis-Monthan AFB public affairs office at (520)
228-3407.
For more information on Lieutenant
Gentz and Sergeant Smith, media may contact the
Nellis AFB PA office at (702) 652-2750.
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