i have to write about this. i have been thinking about this for the last couple days. i can not and will not let this day pass without acknowledging the memory of those who died today in 1995, 22 sep at 7:47 alaska time (i hope i remember the correct minute). this morning shortly before that time, i reflected again on that morning 13 years ago.
i used to be in the Air Force and that morning in 1995, one of our E-3 AWACS jets went down (first time in history that one went down) and every single person on that jet died that morning). these were people i worked with. none of them were my close friends, but i worked with them, and one was my dear sweet supervisor and he was soooo kind to me consistently.
all 24 or 22 souls on that jet died that morning. i can’t remember if the jet was full (24) or it had 22 people. i don’t remember everything.
i remember that morning. i was told that an AWACS had gone down and i stood outside in horror as i watched the black cloud of ick that stayed for so long over the area where they died. i wasn’t too close to it. i was across base, but to know that one of our jets went down, and to not know if anybody lived felt awful. i was sickened when i was shown the list that morning of the crew who died. my eyes ran down the list for familiar names and i knew ten of them. and when my eyes rested on my kind dear supervisor’s name, i just was crushed for him and his family.
he was an awesome example to me. he was one of those guys who always made me feel like i mattered when i was in his presence. he always made me feel better for being in his presence. he had a glow about him. he was a joy to be around. and he had waited until later in life (mid thirties) to get married and have their first child. the last time i had talked to him shortly before his death, he was showing me the baby pictures of there 7 or 9 month old. he was beaming and i was happy for him.
it was a tragedy that those souls perished that day 13 years ago as they tried to take off and geese were sucked into the engine, causing the jet to crash in the woods just past the runway. they had no chance. what came of this tragedy was the bird watch from that point on was taken seriously. i don’t believe birds have taken a jet down here again since.
it was so surreal to have 10 people who you used to work with die in the same day. it shocked this community to lose those 24 or 22 people in that one moment.
but i never want to forget the amazing kind example my supervisor gave me. he was a joy to be around and he felt good and positive to be in his presence. that is the way to live and be with your people.
honored to have served with you.
with respect,
Beautiful tribute and a terribly sad event. I’m sorry for your loss, k.
Beautiful tribute Kathleen
That is a day that I will never forget. My fiance at was on that plane his name was Darien Watson he was 20 years old. To this day I still find it hard to say that he was on that plane. Even though 13 years has past, I still feel a deep loss. Darien was a beautiful, smart, and talented person. He was loved by all who knew him. It seem that he had his whole life in front of him and the airforce was just a one of the many steps that he would take in his life. He planned to be an engineer. The loved that we shared was true and pure and still lives in me. I miss him even now. I will always remember him and the the friendship and love that we shared.
Lost alot of friends in the crash, some where really close and at sometime roommates in the early years. Nice site.
Take Care
Duke
I spent 3 wonderful years as a member of the 962 AWACS. I was TDY with most of the crew of the aircraft that crashed, at one time or other in those 3 years. I had moved on to a new assignment in England the year before the crash, and I remember feeling stunned when I read the crew list. I knew when it was mentioned the flight was a training mission, that the plane was most likely full. I wasn’t quite prepared to see names I knew from post flight debriefs, and TDY’s on the casualty list. I passed through Elmendorf on my way to Yakota for a TDY, but wasn’t aware of the Memorial. I would have loved to pay my respects, and some day I hope to be able to do just that. I am glad there are others that haven’t forgotten the 24 who died. God Bless their families and friends.
As a member of the Cadre who started the 962 in 1986, and as a radar tech for 16 years, it is hard for me to put into words the way I felt on that day when several friends perished. I knew a lot of those onboard as they came through the 966th, and had been TDY with them as well. I also spent quite a few hours working on that aircraft when it was at Tinker. I still think about that crash and the effects it had on so many in the AWACS community. My heart still goes out to those on board.