DoD has confirmed the deaths of four airmen who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The airmen died May 30 in the crash of an Iraqi air force aircraft during a training mission in eastern Diyala province. They are:

• Maj. William Downs, 40, of Winchester, Va., assigned to the 6th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
• Capt. Jeremy Fresques, 26, of Clarkdale, Ariz., assigned to the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
• Capt. Derek Argel, 28, of Lompoc, Calif., assigned to the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
• Staff Sgt. Casey Crate, 26, of Spanaway, Wash., assigned to the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.

All five crew members (four USAF and one Iraqi AF) on board the AeroComp CompAir 7SL were killed in what appears to be a weather-related crash of a rugged turboprop American SportPlane design configured for Recon use by the UAE and Iraqi military. The Iraqis have only recently begun to rebuild their Air Force, it having been reestablished just this last January. Four US Airmen and an Iraqi Airman were on board.

The Iraqi Air Force consists of a number of disparate aircraft, including 7 Comp Air 7SL turboprops, four Bell Jet Rangers and at least three C130Es. The aircraft went down in strong winds and sand-obscured visibilities about 80 miles NE of Baghdad, near the village of Jalula. The aircraft left Kirkuk Air Base at about 10 a.m. on a mission to Jalula.

An Iraqi civilian reported the crash to Joint Communications Center officials in Khanaqin at noon. Iraqi and coalition forces in the area responded to the crash site and secured the immediate area.

The aircraft involved was an AeroComp CompAir 7, powered by a 657HP Walter turboprop engine capable of allowing the CA7 to cruise at 250-275 mph at 21,000 feet and take-off in as little as 300-400 feet. It has a useful load (depending on configuration) of 1670 to 2050 pounds, a 150 gallon fuel capacity and seats for 6 or 7 people.

ANN has confirmed that this aircraft has a number of instruments that have limited data-logging capability. Several instruments, mostly engine-related, can hold as much as an hour to hour and a half's worth of flight data. The Air Force has been instructed as to how to access that information and it is expected that this information is likely to be very helpful in determining a probable cause for this tragedy.

The Comp Air 7SL's, 7 in all, were a gift from the United Arab Emirates to help Iraq’s Air Force continue to build its operational capability. The aircraft were delivered to Basrah Air Base Nov. 13th, 2004. The Comp Air 7SLs were equipped with a sensor suite enabling them to have a reconn capability, although intentions (at the time) saw them being used in a utility role. The seven aircraft represented one half of a gift from the UAE and were augmented by four Bell Jet Ranger Helicopters in late December.

The CompAirs, C130s, and Bell Jet Rangers comprise the Iraqi Air Force’s number 3 Squadron, which will operate in a utility light transport role from ‘New Al Muthana’ - the West BIAP Air Base currently being refurbished. The Iraqi Air Force also uses Seeker SB7L Seabird aircraft and AMD CH2000 aircraft built overseas, under license.

The cause of the crash is currently under investigation.

FMI: www.defenselink.mil, www.mnstci.iraq.centcom.mil