MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WDHN) — Three U.S. Air Force airmen, who lived and worked in Alabama, were killed in a military aircraft accident in western Iraq.
The crash occurred during Operation Epic Fury, on Thursday, March 12. The next day, the search and recovery mission for the servicemembers ended, and on Saturday, the Department of War released their names:
- Maj. John A. Klinner, 33, of Auburn, Ala.
- Capt. Ariana G. Savino, 31, of Covington, Wash.
- Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt, 34, of Bardstown, Ky.
All three were members of the 99th Air Refueling Squadron, which is located at Sumpter Smith Joint National Guard Base in Birmingham, Alabama. The 99th shares resources, personnel and infrastructure with the Alabama National Guard’s 117th Air Refueling Wing, according to the 117th.
“Alex, Ashley, and Ariana are, and always will be members of the 117th family,” said Col. Mike Adams, 117th Air Refueling Wing commander. “Even though they were not members of the Air National Guard, to us they will always be remembered as Vulcan refuelers and Alabamians.”…