News-Info-Alerts

Re: 7 ID'd, 2 Missing

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci

(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Date: August 13, 2002

"Tuesday, August 13, 2002 7 crash victims identified

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. — The Air Force has released a partial list of the victims killed in the crash Wednesday of a U.S. Air Force MC-130H aircraft in Puerto Rico.

The aircraft was on a training flight from Naval Station Roosevelt Roads to the Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen on the west coast of Puerto Rico.

The following servicemembers have been identified and their next of kin notified:

¶ Maj. Gregory W. Fritz, navigator, 16th Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field, Fla.

¶ Maj. Michael J. Akos, aircraft commander, 16th SOW, Hurlburt Field.

¶ Capt. Christel A. Chavez, co-pilot, 16th SOW, Hurlburt Field.

¶ Capt. Panuk P. Soomsawasdi, Special Tactics liaison officer, Special Operations Command, Southern Command, Roosevelt Roads.

¶ Staff Sgt. Robert J. McGuire Jr., loadmaster, 16th SOW, Hurlburt Field.

¶ Staff Sgt. Martin Tracy, Special Tactics operator, Kentucky Air National Guard.

¶ Staff Sgt. Shane H. Kimmett, direct support operator, Air Intelligence Agency.

The names of three other members will be released pending determination of their status and notification of next of kin.

A board will convene to investigate the accident.

On Friday, rescuers recovered the body of an eighth American serviceman killed in the crash. Two more bodies are still missing.

The search team also found one of the aircraft’s two “black boxes,” said Adolfo Menendez, commander of a National Guard unit at the scene. He did not know if it was the data or voice recorder.

The bulky plane was flying in rain and fog when it struck a heavily wooded area on Mount Perucho, broke in two and erupted in flames, witnesses said."