The Department of Defense identified Maj. John C. Spahr as the pilot of an F/A-18 that crashed in Iraq on May 2nd:
DoD—The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Maj. John C. Spahr, 42, of Cherry Hill, N.J., died May 2 from injuries received when the F/A-18 Hornet aircraft he was piloting apparently crashed in Iraq. He was assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 323, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif. His unit was embarked aboard the U.S.S. Carl Vinson. …
The Department of Defense also reported today that the body of a second pilot had been found. The pilot has not been identified at this time.
Two Marine F/A-18′s crashed in Iraq on May 2nd.
Our heart-felt condolences and prayers go out to the families of the four Marines involved. With two Marines still missing, hope remains that they are ok and will be found safely.
Update (5/5/2005 7:42pm):
The Department of Defense identified Capt. Kelly C. Hinz as the second pilot recovered after the crash of two F/A-18′s in Iraq Monday:
U.S. Navy—WASHINGTON (NNS) — The Department of Defense announced May 5 the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Capt. Kelly C. Hinz, 30, of Woodbury, Minn., died May 2 from injuries received when the F/A-18 Hornet aircraft he was piloting crashed in Iraq while flying in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 323, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif. His unit was embarked aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70).
This follows the May 4 announcement of the death of Maj. John C. Spahr, 42, of Cherry Hill, N.J., who also died May 2 from injuries received when the F/A-18 Hornet aircraft he was piloting crashed in Iraq. Spahr was also assigned to VMFA-323, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif. …
