Saturday, March 31, 2001

By Scott Schonauer, Stars and Stripes

Staff Sgt. William Greer / U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Paul Kielar, left, and Capt. Garren Roberts review the maintenance log book before a mission on Friday. The mission was the 493rd Fighter Squadron's first since the unit lost two F-15C fighters in a crash Tuesday in Scotland.

RAF LAKENHEATH, England — A break from blizzard-like weather conditions Friday helped rescue teams find a second body at the crash site of two U.S. Air Force F-15C fighters in Scotland.

The body is presumed to be that of Capt. Kirk Jones, one of two pilots reported missing on Monday. Medical examiners will make a formal identification following the recovery.

If it is indeed Jones, the discovery will end four days of gut-wrenching anticipation among family members, pilots and support personnel. As the search continued Friday, some people hoped for a miracle. But many knew that it was not likely he would survive the hellish weather conditions in the Scottish Highlands.

Highly skilled mountain rescue volunteers found the body of Lt. Kenneth Hyvonen earlier this week, several hundred yards from plane wreckage. Both pilots were attached to the 48th Fighter Wing, based at the Lakenheath base.

"It has been a trying and difficult time for everyone, especially the families," wing commander Col. John Brennan said.

The accident has cast a pall on the base, where flags flew at half-mast. But airmen in the wing said it also brought many on base closer together.

Other pilots and their spouses consoled family members of both aviators, some of whom flew from the United States to England earlier this week. Military personnel not part of the wing also offered to help any way they could.

Staff Sgt. William Greer / U.S. Air Force Airman First Class Paul Kielar, 493rd Fighter Squadron assistant dedicated crew chief, helps Capt. Garren Roberts of the 493rd prepare for the squadron's first mission on Friday.

"When something like this happens, it hurts us all," said Mai Fitzgerald, whose husband is the commander of the 493rd Fighter Squadron. "There’s a lot of fliers on this base.

"This is a very sad situation but with support like this there’s a lot of strength here. It’s like nowhere else."

People who have talked with the families of the pilots in the crash said that they are still in shock and declined interviews. A memorial service for both lost airmen is scheduled for Monday at 10 a.m. in Hangar 7 at the base.

The Air Force still does not know how both planes crashed while conducting low-level training. However, there is speculation that they collided before smashing into the ground.

Blinding snow and frigid temperatures during the week have kept Air Force investigators from the site, and officials said it could be several days before they can begin. Rescuers found the second body under 8 inches of fresh snow.

Police have cordoned off the crash site and have asked hikers to stay away from the debris. Investigators are treating the area like a crime scene and want nothing disturbed so they can mark the pieces and parts on a grid.

Making matters difficult will be the absence of a flight data recorder, also known as a "black box." Unlike commercial airliners, most military aircraft do not have the boxes, which record the plane’s instrument readings and the last radio transmissions before impact. The recorders have provided civilian investigators valuable clues in other accidents.

Staff Sgt. William Greer / U.S. Air Force An F-15C Eagle from the 493rd Fighter Squadron take off for a mission Friday at Lakenheath. It was the squadron's first flight since the unit lost two F-15C fighters in a crash Tuesday in Scotland.

The Air Force is in the middle of equipping its entire fleet of F-15 fighters with the data recorders but only 20 percent have been installed so far, according to Air Combat Command, which oversees all fighters in the Air Force. Neither of the aircraft that crashed in Scotland is believed to have had the boxes.

The Air Force will conduct two investigations. A Safety Investigation Board will look at the cause and try and determine how the accident might have been prevented. An Accident Investigation Board will determine who or what is to blame.

Although both investigations generally take 30 days to complete, the Accident Investigation Board results may not be released for as long as six months. The Safety Investigation Board’s determination is typically not open to the public.

Although flight training in Scotland will continue, weather permitting, the crash area will be avoided until the formal investigation is complete, Brennan said. Pilots routinely fly low-level missions over the Scottish Highlands because it is sparsely populated.

As more investigators planned to fly up to the crash site, the squadron took to the skies for the first time since the accident. Two groups of aircraft went out on training missions Friday.

As four jets returned to base, one F-15 peeled off from the pack and skyrocketed to the heavens in what aviators call a "missing-man formation." It was an impromptu tribute to two lost airmen, whom many people in the squadron considered brothers.

RELATED STORY:
          Tragedy draws condolences from U.K. and beyond

Back to March's stories
Page Two news roundup
Stories from February, 2001
Stories from January, 2001
Stories from December, 2000
Stories from November, 2000
Stories from October, 2000
Stories from August and September, 2000
Stories from June and July, 2000
Home