USAF F16 pilot killed in crash near Bagram

US Air Force Captain James Michael Steel was killed on 3rd April 2013 in an air crash near Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan.

29-year-old Captain Steel, from Tampa, Florida, was an F-16 pilot with 77th Fighter Squadron based at Shaw AFB, South Carolina. He was on approach to land at Bagram after a mission late in the evening, when his wingman and air-traffic control lost contact with him. The incident happened approximately 10 miles south of the runway.

Officials later said there was no enemy action in the area at the time of the incident.

He graduated from the US Air Force Academy in 2006 and transferred to Shaw AFB in 2010.

More information to follow.

French Army Lieutenant Matthieu Gaudin

French Army helicopter pilot Lieutenant Matthieu Gaudin, age 37, was killed on 10th June 2011 when his Gazelle helicopter crashed in bad weather about 20km from Bagram, Afghanistan.

Lt. Gaudin, serving with a Regiment of Combat Helicopters (RHC) had previously served in Croatia (2002), Kosovo (2008), Cote d'Ivoire (2005 and 2010). He deployed to Afghanistan in June 2011.

His awards include the Gold Medal of National Defence, the Vermeil Medal with overseas clasp, the Yugoslavia Medal with clasp and the NATO medal.

Lt. Gaudin joined the military in 1997 and qualified as a helicopter pilot in 1998. He was described as a willfull and passionate officer.

He leaves a wife and four children.

U.S Army Spc. Andrew P. Wade

Andrew P. Wade

U.S Army Specialist Andrew P. Wade, aged 22, died on 9th March 2011 at Bagram, Afghanistan. He was injured in a non-combat related incident on 7th March in Kunduz, Afghanistan. 

Spc. Wade was with the 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division. 

He joined the U.S. Army in September 2008 and was deployed to Afghanistan with Operation Enduring Freedom in spring 2010. 

Wade's awards and decorations include the NATO medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon and the Combat Infantryman Badge.

U.S. Army Spc. Ryan Gartner

Ryan Gartner

The U.S. soldier killed on Feb 2nd in Bagram, Afghanistan has been named.

Specialist, Ryan Gartner, aged 23 was serving with the 201st Military Intelligence Battalion was from New Jersey.

Read more at NorthJersey.com

USAF Tech. Sgt. Leslie D. Williams

Leslie D. Williams

USAF Tech. Sergeant Leslie D. Williams, aged 36, from Juneau, Alaska died on 25th January 2011, in a non combat-related incident at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan.

Sgt. Williams was assigned to the 4th Maintenance Group and was based at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina. 

He had been in the Air Force for 14 years. 

He leaves a wife and three children.

South Korean army officer shot by fellow officer

Seoul: A South Korean army major on peacekeeping duties in Afghanistan accidentally shot dead a junior officer in an row over his telephone manner on Tuesday 28th January 2003, the Defense Ministry said.

Major Lee Kyu-sang, 37, fired at Captain Kim Hyo-sung, 33, in their barracks near Bagram Air Base north of the capital, Kabul, when the captain refused an order to speak quietly on the telephone while Lee was discussing the leasing of construction equipment with some Afghans, the spokesman said.

"It looks as if the major didn't know his gun was loaded and shot the captain by mistake," he said.

The major was immediately arrested, escorted home and referred to a court martial, he said. "We've sent an investigator to carry out further inquiries," the spokesman said.