U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area

Courtesy Story

SAN DIEGO – The U.S. Coast Guard continues to coordinate a joint agency search operation for seven Coast Guard aircrew and two Marine Corps aircrew missing off the coast of San Clemente Island, Calif. after a suspected mid-air collision between a Coast Guard C-130 Hercules aircraft and a Marine Corps AH-1W helicopter.

The missing crew members from the Coast Guard C-130 are:

Lt. Cmdr. Che J. Barnes, age 35, Capay, Calif., Aircraft Commander.

Lt. Adam W. Bryant, age 28, Crewe, Va., Co-Pilot.

Chief Petty Officer John F. Seidman, age 43, Stockton, Calif., Flight Engineer.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Carl P. Grigonis, age 35, Mayfield Heights, Ohio, Navigator.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Monica L. Beacham, age 29, Decaturville, Tenn., Radio Operator.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Jason S. Moletzsky, age 26, Norristown, Pa., Air Crew.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Danny R. Kreder II, age 22, Elm Mott, Texas, Drop Master.

All are stationed at Coast Guard Air Station Sacramento, Calif., where their aircraft was based.

The missing crew members from the Marine Corps helicopter are:

Maj. Samuel Leigh, age 35, Kennebec, Maine.

1st Lt. Thomas Claiborne, age 26, Douglas, Colo.

The search effort has saturated an area totaling 644 square miles and includes surface and air assets from the Coast Guard, Navy, Marine Corps and Customs Border Protection Air/Marine Branch. The search has been continuous since the collision occurred at approximately 7 p.m. Oct. 28.

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