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.

USAF Tech. Sgt. Larry Bunn

USAF Tech. Sgt. Larry D. Bunn, died from a heart attack on 7th March 2013 while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom from an undisclosed base in southwest Asia.

43-year-old Sgt. Bunn, from Bossier City, Louisiana, served with the 307th Maintenance Squadron at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana.

He was repatriated to the United States on 9th March 2013 when he was honored in a dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base.

Photo courtesy of USAF 917th Wing Public Affairs

USAF Tech. Sergeant Daniel Zerbe

28-year-old USAF Tech Sgt. Daniel L. Zerbe was killed in action on 6th August 2011 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, when the Chinook helicopter he was in was shot down by enemy forces.

Tech. Sgt. Zerbe was a Special Ops Paramedic, a position that is reserved for an elite few, who was trained to save the lives of injured soldiers.

Tech. Sgt. Zerbe, from Philadelphia, was living his dream military career according to family and friends.

More information to follow.

Third Kabul base shooting victim identified

Major Raymond Estelle, Jr., aged 41, with 20 years service in the US Air Force was one of nine Americans killed 27th April 2011 during a meeting in Kabul by an Afghan Air Force pilot.

The Afghan pilot killed eight U.S. military personnel and an American contractor at Kabul airport after they had argued at a meeting, officials said. An Afghan pilot who spoke on the condition of anonymity identified the gunman as Ahmad Gul from Tarakhail province.

The other two victims identified are US Air Force Academy professor, Major Phil Ambard (not officially confirmed) and Private Military Contractor, James McLaughlin

U.S Airman, Nicholas J. Alden

Nicholas J. Alden

USAF Senior Airman Nicholas J. Alden, aged 25, from Williamston, S.C., was shot dead on 2nd March 2011 at Frankfurt Airport, Germany.

He was assigned to the 48th Security Forces Squadron, RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom, and was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

The gunman, who is now in custody, was apparently a 21 year old Kosovo national, police said.

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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.