Courtesy Photo | The headstone of five airmen, four American and one Iraqi, killed when their plane...... read more read more
Five years ago, the Iraqi Air Force consisted of 35 officers and warrant officers and no planes.
The process of growing an Air Force has been filled with accomplishments and setbacks.
One setback occurred May 30, 2005, when an Iraqi Air Force Comp Air 7SL aircraft crashed in eastern Diyala province during an operational mission, killing all five airmen (four U.S. Air Force and one Iraqi Air Force) onboard.
This tragedy served as a catalyst for the Coalition and U.S. Air Force to commit its full resources to the Multi-National Security Transition Command — Iraq Iraq Training and Advisory Mission-Air Force mission. It was the beginning of the serious rebuilding of the Iraqi Air Force.
Members of the ITAM — Air Force, gathered for a remembrance ceremony on Forward Operating Base Phoenix May 30.
-U.S. Air Force Maj. William "Brian" Downs, 40, of Winchester, Va., assigned to the 6th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
-Iraqi Air Force Capt. Pilot Ali Hussam Ali Abbas Rubaie, assigned to Squadron 3, Kirkuk Air Base.
-U.S. Air Force Capt. Derek Argel, 28, of Lompoc, Calif., assigned to the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
-U.S. Air Force Capt. Jeremy Fresques, 26, of Clarkdale, Ariz., assigned to the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
-U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Casey Crate, 26, of Spanaway, Wash., assigned to the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. (S) Robert Kane, commander, ITAM-Air Force reminded those gathered, "We can take some comfort in the fact that good things often come from tragedies. In this case significant changes were made to our efforts here in Iraq—changes that strengthened our commitment to the mission of rebuilding the Iraqi Air Force and to ensure that we do this as safely as possible."
Kane also reminded the group that, "With a renewed focus on rebuilding of the Iraqi Air Force, our service chief of staff was personally involved with improving how this important mission would be done," Kane said. "And, although this is a somber moment, we need to celebrate the building legacy of how far ITAM-Air Force and the Iraqi Air Force have come since this accident. In part, based on their commitment and ultimate sacrifice, the Iraqi Air Force is on a path to once again provide air sovereignty for the people of Iraq. "
U.S. Air Force Maj. Tim Childress, chief of strategy, ITAM-Air Force was a friend of Maj. Downs and told the group of the special honor the fallen airmen received.
"While each airman had an individual funeral ceremony, unidentified remains from all five were also buried together with full military honors, including the presentation of Iraqi flags to Abass' parents and widow by Iraqi Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. Kamal Abdul-Sattar Barzanjy," Childress said. It is thought that Abass is the first Iraqi service member to be buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
The crew received another honor at Forward Operating Base Phoenix with a memorial wall near the ITAM-Air Force command office.
"It is in honor of these brave men that we gather here today, to celebrate their lives, remember their accomplishments and continue their legacy," Childress said.
| Date Taken: | 06.02.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 06.02.2009 23:15 |
| Story ID: | 34471 |
| Location: | IQ |
| Web Views: | 832 |
| Downloads: | 706 |
This work, Building the Iraqi Air Force: Learning from Tragedy, by Van Williams, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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