Officials identify 8 Air Force crew members killed in military aircraft crash near Japan
Military officials on Tuesday announced the names of all eight U.S. Air Force crew members who died aboard a CV-22B Osprey that crashed near the coast of Yakushima Island, Japan, during a training mission last week.
The remains of three airmen have been recovered, another three were located and two have not been found, officials said. Efforts will now focus on recovering all crew member remains and aircraft debris from the crash.
"I am deeply saddened by the loss of eight American troops," said U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin in a statement Tuesday. "The entire Department of Defense mourns alongside the families and the loved ones of those who lost their lives today in the service of their country. My heart also goes out to those who were serving alongside these brave men and women in Japan."
Military officials last week confirmed that one person had been recovered in the wreckage on Nov. 29. Seven other service members, who had been listed as "duty status-whereabouts unknown," were confirmed dead on Tuesday, according to the release. All families of the airmen were notified and offered support.
Last week, officials identified one crew member as U.S. Air Force staff Sgt. Jacob "Jake" M. Galliher of Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Galliher, 24, enlisted in 2017 and was a direct support operator based at Kadena Air Base in Japan.
On Tuesday, military officials identified the seven other crew members aboard the aircraft:
U.S. Air Force Maj. Jeffrey T. Hoernemann, 32, of Andover, Minnesota, was an Osprey CV-22 instructor pilot and officer in charge of training assigned to Yokota Air Base.
U.S. Air Force Maj. Eric V. Spendlove, 36, of St. George, Utah, was a trained flight surgeon and medical operations flight commander assigned to Kadena Air Base.
U.S. Air Force Maj. Luke A. Unrath, 34, of Riverside, California, was a CV-22 pilot and flight commander assigned to Yokota Air Base.
U.S. Air Force Capt. Terrell K. Brayman, 32, of Pittsford, New York, was a CV-22 pilot and flight commander assigned to Yokota Air Base.
U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Zachary E. Lavoy, 33, of Oviedo, Florida, was a medical operations flight chief assigned to Kadena Air Base.
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jake M. Turnage, 25, of Kennesaw, Georgia, was a flight engineer assigned to Yokota Air Base.
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Brian K. Johnson, 32, of Reynoldsburg, Ohio, was a flight engineer assigned to Yokota Air Base.
"In times like these, where service to our nation is not just a personal commitment but also a legacy woven into the fabric of our families, the depth of sorrow is immeasurable," Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind said in a statement Tuesday. "The honorable service of these eight Airmen to this great Nation will never be forgotten, as they are now among the giants who shape our history.”
Osprey mishap: US military aircraft crashes into the sea off southern Japan
Search and recovery operations
Japanese and U.S. ships and dive teams had searched for the aircraft since it crashed last Wednesday flying from Yokota Air Base on a routine training mission. On Monday, rescue teams located the wreckage, including the main fuselage – or body of the aircraft, officials said.
Officials began recovery efforts for the crew members aboard after days of intensive searching when it was determined that finding survivors was unlikely, according to a statement from Air Force Special Operations Command.
Austin said the Department of Defense will conduct a thorough investigation into the crash. The Air Force said assets across five military branches, along with Japanese allies, would continue search and recovery operations
Osprey fatalities: 3 US Marines killed, 20 injured after aircraft crash in Australia
Osprey’s history of military aircraft incidents
A V-22 Osprey is a military aircraft similar to a helicopter manufactured by Bell Boeing used to transport "troops, equipment and supplies from assault ships and land bases," according to the Marines. The hybrid aircraft is also flown by the U.S. Marine Corps and Navy.
The aircraft had several crashes that have led to fatalities in the last few decades. At least 16 people have died in five crashes involving Ospreys since 2012.
Last week’s crash comes about three months after an Osprey aircraft operated by the Marine Corps crashed in Melville Island, Australia, during a training exercise, killing three Marines and injuring 20 others.
In June 2022, five Marines were killed after an aircraft crashed in California because of a mechanical failure related to the clutch, the Associated Press reported.
Marines pause operations: Debris found from F-35 fighter jet that crashed in South Carolina
Contributing: The Associated Press
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Osprey crash near Japan: Air Force identifies 8 troops killed
