October continues to be a deadly month for United States Air Force personnel deployed to Afghanistan. Tuesday, the Pentagon released the names of two Airmen who died when the British helicopter they were in crashed in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Killed in the October 11, 2015, crash was Maj. Phyllis J. Pelky, 45, of Rio Rancho, New Mexico, who was assigned to the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado. The other U.S. Airman was Master Sgt. Gregory T. Kuhse, 38, of Kalamazoo, Michigan. Master Sgt. Kuhse was assigned to the 3rd Manpower Requirements Squadron at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois.
In addition to the two U.S. Airmen who died, two Royal Air Force service members and one French civilian contractor also died in the crash. Anecdotal accounts indicate the British Puma Mk2 might have collided with an observation balloon near the airport however the crash remains under investigation by the military. Five other people onboard the aircraft were injured; their medical status is not known.
Earlier this month, six Airmen supporting Operation Freedom’s Sentinel, aka the war in Afghanistan, were killed when their C-130J Super Hercules aircraft crashed at the Jalalabad Airfield. While the Taliban claimed responsibility for the deadly crash, there was no evidence of enemy activity in the area that day. That incident remains under investigation by the military.
Killed in the October 2, crash were Capt. Jonathan J. Golden, 33, of Camarillo, California, Capt. Jordan B. Pierson, 28, of Abilene, Texas, Staff Sgt. Ryan D. Hammond, 26, of Moundsville, West Virginia, and Senior Airman Quinn L. Johnson-Harris, 21, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. All four were assigned to the 39th Airlift Squadron, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas.
Killed in the same crash were Senior Airman Nathan C. Sartain, 29, of Pensacola, Florida, and Airman 1st Class Kcey E. Ruiz, 21, of McDonough, Georgia. Both were assigned to the 66th Security Forces Squadron, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts.
