Air Force identifies the eight US crew lost in Osprey crash in Japan
WASHINGTON – Air Force Special Operations Command has identified the eight service members who were lost in the recent Osprey crash off the coast of Japan. The focus has now shifted to recovering their bodies and the aircraft debris.
The CV-22B Osprey crashed on November 29 during a training mission, raising concerns about the safety of these aircraft. This incident adds to the history of Osprey crashes, including previous ones in Japan where they are used by both U.S. and Japanese military bases.
As of Monday, six of the eight crew members’ remains had been located, with three of them already recovered. However, the two remaining crew members are unlikely to have survived. The search for their remains is still ongoing, according to the Air Force.
The identities of the lost crew members have been released:
1. U.S. Air Force Maj. Jeffrey T. Hoernemann, 32, of Andover, Minnesota, served as a CV-22 instructor pilot and officer in charge of training. He was assigned to the 21st Special Operations Squadron, 353rd Special Operations Wing, Yokota Air Base, Japan.
2. U.S. Air Force Maj. Eric V. Spendlove, 36, of St. George, Utah, worked as a residency-trained flight surgeon and medical operations flight commander. He was assigned to the 1st Special Operations Squadron, 353rd Special Operations Wing, Kadena Air Base, Japan.
3. U.S. Air Force Maj. Luke A. Unrath, 34, of Riverside, California, served as a CV-22 pilot and flight commander. He was assigned to the 21st Special Operations Squadron, 353rd Special Operations Wing, Yokota Air Base, Japan.
4. U.S. Air Force Capt. Terrell K. Brayman, 32, of Pittsford, New York, worked as a CV-22 pilot and flight commander. He was assigned to the 21st Special Operations Squadron, 353rd Special Operations Wing, Yokota Air Base, Japan.
5. U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Zachary E. Lavoy, 33, of Oviedo, Florida, was a medical operations flight chief. He was assigned to the 1st Special Operations Squadron, 353rd Special Operations Wing, Kadena Air Base, Japan.
6. U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jake M. Turnage, 25, of Kennesaw, Georgia, served as a flight engineer. He was assigned to the 21st Special Operations Squadron, 353rd Special Operations Wing, Yokota Air Base, Japan.
7. U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Brian K. Johnson, 32, of Reynoldsburg, Ohio, also worked as a flight engineer and was assigned to the 21st Special Operations Squadron, 353rd Special Operations Wing, Yokota Air Base, Japan.
8. U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jacob Jake M. Galliher, 24, a native of Pittsfield, Mass, was the first crew member whose remains were found.
The depth of sorrow is immeasurable, said Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind, who heads Air Force Special Operations Command. The honorable service of these eight airmen to this great nation will never be forgotten, as they are now among the giants who shape our history.
The Osprey is a hybrid aircraft that combines features of a helicopter and an airplane. Japan has suspended the flights of its own fleet of Ospreys, totaling 14, and has requested the U.S. military to ensure their safety before resuming flights. However, according to the Pentagon, no formal request has been made, and the U.S. military continues to operate 24 MV-22s, the Marine version of the Ospreys, on Okinawa.
Pieces of wreckage from the crash have been handed over to the U.S. military for examination after being collected by Japan’s coast guard and local fishing boats. Japan’s military has also gathered debris that will be handed over to the U.S. authorities for further investigation.
The incident has sparked renewed concerns about the safety of Ospreys and has prompted a thorough review of their operations and maintenance procedures.
Sources:
– Tara Copp
– Mari Yamaguchi
– Associated Press
